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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Shoals, by Barbara Blue, and it's some funky, R&B blues. Opening with The Shoals, Barbara Blue on lead vocal leads way with a stellar backing band featuring Bernard Purdie on drums, David Hood on bass, Clayton Ivey on keys and Will McFarlane on guitar. On Clarence Carter's Tell Mama, Blue adds a nice compliment of Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Brad Guin on sax plus Davor Hacic- Hutch on guitar for a solid rendition of the classic track. Shuffle track, Slide Man is a cool track featuring Blue on vocal and McFarlane on slide guitar. With it's catchy melody and smooth guitar work, this is a cool number. Too Far is my favorite track on the release with it's arpeggiated guitar submelody and excellent guitar lead by McFarlane and strong sax work by Guin. Wrapping the release is slow boogie, Trail of Tears with it's drone bass line by Hood and strong vocal lead by Blue, nicely accented by McFarlane and Hacic-Hutch.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rhythm Blues & Boogie by Dave Keyes and it's name says it all. Opening with Memphis flavored R&B on Shake Shake Shake on piano and lead vocal backed by Bernard Purdie on drums, Jeff Anderson on bass, and the power of Chris Eminizer on sax and Tim Quimette on trumpet. Solid opener. Another big swinger, Blues and Boogie has a little New Orleans spice and Keyes piano work shines again with power horns by Eminizer and Quimette and a real nice guitar solo by Early Times. Takin it to the street New Orleans style, Ain't Doing That No More has a great drum beat by Purdie and Eminizer and Quimette punch up the back. John Putnam on slide guitar really nails it and of course Keyes vocal and piano lead is terrific. Not Fighting Anymore is spiced up even more with a Latin beat by Pagano on drums and percussion adds backing vocals, with firm horn backing by Quimette and Eminizer and strong lead vocal by Keyes. David J Keyes has bass on this number and Popa Chubby guests on guitar. Doug MacLeod adds spoken word and lays in a cool acoustic guitar solo on Invisible Man and Keyes on vocal and straight up boogie piano sets the tempo for this one. Wrapping the release is 7 O'clock Somewhere, a rockin boogie with a cool piano lead and Wurlitzer by Keyes, Putnam ripping on guitar and Pagano on drums. This is a strong closer for a very enjoyable release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sun Come and Shine, from Jennifer Porter and it's a fine blend of pop, blues and R&B. Opening with title track, Sun Come and Shine, Porter shows a refined voice with easy presentation and soft clarity, backing herself on B3, and joined by Audrey Wheeler Downing, Layonne Holmes, and Kim Davis on backing vocals, Bernard Purdie on drums, Wilbur Bascombe on bass, Miho Nobuzane on piano, George Naha on guitars and Rob Paparozzi on harmonica. With a full King Curtis like sway, Satin Shoes is a real strong composition. Dan Boone's bass line leads the track nicely and Porter's voice seems to float above the instrumentation with Steve Jankowski on trumpet, Tom Timko on tenor sax and Downing, Holmes and Davis on backing vocals. Very nice. Another R&B style track, You're So Easy To Be With, features some fine piano work by Porter to compliment he solid vocals. Boone's bass line, complimenting C.J. Chenier on accordion and punctuation by Jankowski on trumpet and Timko on sax gives the track a real New Orleans flavor. Ballad, Something On Your Mind, has a really nice balance between Christian McBride on bass, Timko on soprano sax and Porter's softly phrased vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is an easy country waltz like ballad, I'll Be Here, featuring Porter singing backing to her own lead in very nice fashion. With Buddy Savino on bass Nobuane on piano and featuring Cindy Cashdollar on pedal steel, this is a solid closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fish in dirty H2O, from Barbara Blue and it's solid. Opening with My Heart Belongs To The Blues, Barbara Blue is joined by Will McFarlane on guitar, Dave Smith on bass, Lester Snell on keys and Bernard Purdie on drums. With it's smooth smoky feel, Blue displays the richness of her deep voice. Boogie blues, Accidental Theft features some really nice slide work compliments of Scott Sharrard giving the track a thick gutsy texture to compliment Blues own gutsy vocals. Dr Jesus has a gospel style with warm backing vocals by Maureen Smith, Candace Mache, Lorina McMinn and Lynette "Sue" McCracklin and some spicy guitar accents by Michael Tols. Shuffle, Gravy Train has a sparky pace with plenty of horn by Lonnie McMillan on tenor sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Jim Spake on bari sax, and Steve Graham on trombone. Another bluesy shuffle, That's Working On Me works really nicely with Blues vocals and tenor sax work by McMillan gives it a jazzy polish. Wrapping the release Blue pulls out Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen and with a slow, spiritual like twist and the warm backing vocals of Mache, McMinn and McCracklin and the B3 of Rick Steff give it a fresh appeal making it an excellent closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Coryell, from Larry Coryell. This of course is a new release of a 1969 Vanguard release of the same name. The name Larry Coryell has always been synonymous with jazz rock and this release shows exactly why. Being released just before Coryell's unexpected and untimely passing in late February while on tour, this release shows just how long Coryell has been making crate sized impacts on the music scene. With Coryell, an absolute maestro on guitar and with first class associates Bernard Purdie on drums, Albert Stinson, Chuck Rainey and Ron Carter on bass, Mike Mandel on keys and Jim Pepper on flute, this release is heavily weighted by heavy weights! Opening with Sex, Coryell shows raw adventurous fusion rock and takes the lead on vocal as well as guitar. With his phaser flaring, Coryell blasts off. Sensitive vocals and a quite melody on Beautiful Woman opens wide for Ron carter to lay out some really nice bass lead and Coryell's own raw guitar work, framed by Purdie on drums. One of my favorite tracks on the release, The Jam With Albert, is a very cool and structured guitar melody over Stinson's solid bass riff and Purdie's incredible drum line. Elementary Guitar Solo #5 is a particularly interesting track with Coryell starting the track with highly sensitive chord playing and them progressively adding instrumentation and grit. Bouncing off of Chuck Rainey's bass lines, Coryell continues to dig deeper with some of the rockiest jazz rock fusion riffs to hit the stratosphere. I never picked up on this before but there is a musical theme in this track that follows or crosses a Steve Marriott melody that really adds a certain additional interest. On No One Really Knows, Purdie really kicks up the beat and Stinson's thumping bass line gives Coryell the freedom to fly on guitar. Very nice. On funky, Morning Sickness, Rainey digs in, fattening up the bottom and Coryell shows his wild fusion side almost broaching John McLaughlin territory. Wrapping the release is Ah Wuv Ooh, a fluid, euro style jazz rock track with lead guitar melody. Purdie's strong command of the skins and Coryell are in perfect balance and Jim Jim Pepper's flute work adds just the right melodic touch. Very nice conclusion to an important release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just received the newest release, The World Moves On, from The Hitman Blues Band, and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Bad, Bad Man, The Hitman Blues Band stomps onto the scene with a real cool rocker. Led by Russell "Hitman" Alexander, this band has a great swagger with Hitman's strong vocal attack and slide guitar work, firmly backed by Kevin Bents on piano and organ, Mike Porter on bass and Guy LaFountaine on drums. That's What It's Like To Be A Man is a cool boogie track with a cool driving bass line from Glassman and great slide work from Hitman. Very cool! Rocker, Don't You Tempt Me, has a modern blues rock beat. Hitman really delivers on vocals and horn backing by Mikey Vitale on tenor and Nick Clifford on bari give the track full traction. Moving On reminds me quite a bit of I've been Down So Long By The Doors. Another gem, this track not only features super slide work from Hitman, Clifford and Vitale on sax but nice organ work from Kevin Bents on piano and Guy LaFountaine on drums. Two Minute Warning has an easy, Steeley Dan jazz rock feel with easy rhythm guitar, nicely stylized guitar solos and solid sax work from Vitale and Clifford. The World Moves On is a solid radio track with a classic sax solo from Vitale. Neil Alexander leads off Two Trains Running on harp and Mike Porters bass line holds down the beat under Clifford and Vitale on sax and Kevin Bents on keys. Another cool sax solo on this track gives it a poke in the arm and a double stop riddled guitar solo leading into a nice piano riff. Johnny Gale takes off on a nice bass solo supported by Bernard Purdie on drums. Very cool. Catch-22 Blues has a laid back feel with light drum work by Bernard Purdie under excellent sax work and cool lead vocals, Bobby Forrester on keys and stylized guitar lead by Hitman. Ray Alexander sets in some really nice vibes for a different feel altogether and this Charles Brown styled track sets a nice pace. Ballad, Angel In The Shadows features Richard Crooks on drums, Seth Glassman on bass, Murray Weinstock on piano and Kevin Rymer on organ. I really hear a lot of similarity to Donald Fagen on delivery and vocal timbre. Radio bound. Rock n Roller, Jenny Goodbye, has a strong boogie woogie beat and power horn saxs. Hitman slips in some real nice slide work but it's the sax solos by Michael Snyder that nails this one. Hitman brings the lights down low for I'm All About You with only piano and his vocals on the intro. Slowly building this soulful ballad with real nice piano work by Bents and cool guitar and horn accents give this track a great feel. Vitale rips out a great solo on this one and backing vocals by Joanna Alexander and Nancy Hampton really help to give this track a spiritual feel. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's Hoochie Coochie Man and you've likely not heard it done like this. A flat out boogie done LaGrange style, this track is laying down flames. Vitale is up first with a smoking sax solo cushioned by Bents on organ. Clifford doesn't let any grass grow under his feet either with a sky high bari sax solo that will set you back in your chair. Porter's bass line and LaFontaine's drums keep this train on the track and Hitman has the phrasing just right. Bents takes a real nice electric piano solo leading up to a smoking hot guitar closer by Hitman. Excellent closer to a real strong release!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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