Ruf Records artist: Jeremiah Johnson - Hi-Fi Drive By - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hi-Fi Drive By, by Jeremiah Johnson and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with rocking boogie, '68 Coupe Deville, with Johnson on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Allie Vogler, Emily Wallas and Mattie Schell on backing vocal and excellent piano by Victor Wainwright. Rounding out the mix is Joe Meyer on drums, Tom Maloney on guitar and piano, Paul Niehaus IV on bass and super sax by Frank Bauer. Excellent opener. With a super lope, Skippin' School, uses a solid mix of Meyer on drums and Niehaus IV on bass to set the pace. Strong vocal and lead guitars by Johnson makes this one of my favorite tracks which also features Kasimi Taylor on trumpet, Bauer on sax, Kevin O'Connor on bari sax and John Covelli and Dave Dickey on trombone. Very cool. Slinky blues, The Squeeze has a super bottom line by Niehaus IV giving Johnson a super bed to rip on guitar and he takes it. With full backing by Taylor, Bauer, O'Conner, Covelli and Dickey, this is a hot track. With some Latin spice and the addition of Tony Antonelli on percussion, Hot Blooded Love adds a really nice additional dimension to the release with Johnson getting into a Spanish flavored guitar theme. With Taylor, Bauer, O'Conner, Covelli and Dickey at the rear and Niehaus IV on the bottom, this is another terrific track. Funky swamper, Quicksand is another of my favorite tracks on the release with an excellent percussion/drum/bass line and power horns courtesy of Taylor, Bauer, O'Conner, Covelli and Dickey, setting up Johnson for the grand slam on slide. This track just gets in the groove and rides. Excellent! Easy closer, The Band, has a cool melody and a lightly funky rhythm lending itself nicely for radio play. With strings by Kevin Buckley and Johnson joined by Schell, Wallas and Vogler, and rolling into a super, Spanish flavored jam, 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”

 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

Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Wasted Youth - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth, from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues, Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth, has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself, a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wander, an easy blues rocker. Slow blues, Pieces of my Past has a real nice pace and Jensen plays a soulful lead solo on guitar over his rich chords. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Edge of a Razor, an acoustic blues featuring  Albert Castiglia on slide guitar. Very nice 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Endless Blues Records artist: Tennessee Redemption - self titled - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release Tennessee Redemption and its strongly written and performed. Opening with Glad To Be, a solid radio track, Brandon Santini is up front on  harmonica, backed by Jeff Jensen on lead vocal and guitar, Timo Arthur on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and David Green on drums. With it's rumbling bass line and funky wah wah guitar rhythm, We Got A Thing Going On has a real cool sound. A swampy overall sound and nicely woven instruments, under Santini's super lead vocals makes this one of my favorites on the release. A dark underpinning on Leave My Body and Jensen's nice lead vocals create a lot of tension with an active bass line, particularly nice drum work by Green and nicely crafted guitar lead. This isn't your basic blues track and really has a lot going no. Definite cool track. Gospel flavored Come On Up To The House has a real nice laid back country feel with soothing lead vocal by Jensen and warm vocal backing by Santini, Arthur Ruffino and Green. Very nice. Jensen takes control on You Don't Love Me giving it a strong guitar entry. His vocals are always warm and Santini's harp tones solid. With just a light funk underneath, this track is sneaky good. Blues stomper, Watch Yourself, features Jensen driving on guitar and Santini on vocal and harp. Keeping you focused with it's driving beat, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is I'm Going To Mexico with a light acoustic feel. Pairing Jensen and Santini on lead vocal with acoustic guitar and harmonica backing, 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Endless Blues Records artist: Tullie Brae - Revelation - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation, from Tullie Brae who mixes power vocals and a heavy rhythm section producing a solid rock sound. Opening with Price of the Blues, Brae belts with a  Grace Slick like swagger laying heavy on the bass line of Bill Ruffino, and adding her own slide work on with David Green on drums. Powerful opener. On ballad Mississippi Rain, we see the other side of Brae's sensitive vocals with excellent guitar phrasing by Jeff Jensen and bright piano highlights by Rick Steff. On blues rocker, Break These Chains, Brae strikes a nice medium with a bluesy vocals, deep raspy guitars by Jensen and nicely highlighted by Brandon Santini on harmonica. My favorite track on the release is soul track, New Shoes with it's straightforward radio melody. Smooth, gospel like piano work over the organ on this track really drives the bottom and Brae's vocals are spot on. My other favorite track on the release is Shine, another soul track with excellent backing pushing Brae to "Shine". Backing vocals by Mick Kolassa,  Dauniele Hill and Susan Marshall give this track that extra warmth and a sweet guitar solo by Jensen gives it a real Muscle Shoals kind of feel. Very nice.

  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

American Showplace Music artist: Brandon Santini - The Longshot - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review to most recent release, The Longshot, from Brandon Santini and it's a stripped down blues rocker. Opening with Don't Come Around Here No More, Brandon Santini is upfront on lead vocal and his vocals are particularly strong. Backed by Timo Arthur on guitar, Chuck Combs on bass, Reed Muchow on drums, John Ginty on keys and Moe Watson on backing vocal this is a super opener with hot harp riffs by Santini. With a country two step feel, Drive You Off My Mind has a cool open road feel with snappy drums and added percussion by Michael Bram. Greg Gumpel really adds nice slide guitar riffs under the lead vocal, paired with Santini's own harp work and saturated in Ginty's organ flow making this one of the best tracks on the release.  I really like Arthur's guitar tone on Back To You pushing into a foot stomping, lumbering drive. Santini works back and forth between lead vocal and crisp harp riffs giving the track a fine flow and Arthur's guitar soloing is pressing. Very cool. Another straight up rocker, My Worried Mind and cool jangly guitar riffs and a solid bass line with emphasis on the harp and modern blues guitar riffs. Willie Dixon's Evil (Is Going On) has a really nice funky bass line and glistening key work by Ginty under raspy distorted vocals by Santini. I really like this take on Dixon's classic and Santini seals the deal with his fluid harp soloing. Very nice. Wrapping the release is rocker, Somebody's Gotta Go in contemporary blues rock style. Laid back vocal delivery and a driving rock rhythm are the key here providing an open lane for Santini to close the show. This is a real solid release and one that should continue Santini's foothold as one of todays blues rock innovators.

  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

Blue Lotus Recordings artist: Ms Zeno the Mojo Queen - Back In Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back In Love, by Ms Zeno the Mojo Queen and it's powerful! Opening with a super, romping, R&B track, Back In Love, Zeno not only shows her powerful voice but her excellent sense of rhythm and phrasing. Backed by Roland Johnson on vocal, Mark Hochberg on viola, Abbie Steiling on violin, Andy Hainz on cello, Dustin Shrum on trumpet, Kevin O'Conner on drums and guitar and Paul Neihaus on bass, keys and horns, this is a super opener. In My Shoes is a terrific soul track which draws comparison to Gladys Knight and Aretha. That is serious treading territory and I think that Zeno deserves the comparison. Excellent! Slowing things down on Willie Brown, with more of a soulful blues feel, Zeno has an earthy delta feel, with harp work by Brandon Santini and guitar by Little G Weevil. Very nice. Mojo Queen has a cool new Orleans funky feel and Zeno really gets in the slot, pumped up by Tom Martin on accordion and super backing vocals. On high stepper, Call My Name, Zeno trades vocals with Gene Jackson, with high energy drum line and Santini on harp. Another feature soul track with strong feel is Mistress, with a solid bass line and rich lead vocal lines by Zeno. Wrapping the release is gospel flavored Father Time with just a light touch of twangy guitar giving it a slight country feel. This is a really cool track to close a 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Ghosts of the Riverside Hotel - New Release Review

I just received the most recent release, Ghosts of the Riverside Hotel, from Mick Kolassa. A cornucopia of blues like last years release by Kolassa, "Michissippi Mick" , the net proceeds will go to The Blues Foundation and Generation Blues. Opening with Hank Williams' Ramblin' Man, Kolassa on lead vocal and guitar, Jeff Jensen on Lead guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, Robinson Bridgeforth on drums and Chris Stephenson on organ, this is an interesting track with march like rudiments and tasty guitar work. Slow swinging blues track, Grapes & Greens, featured nice electric guitar and slide work from Jensen and Eric Hughes on harp coupled with solid lead vocals by Kolassa. Lou Singer's depression era, One Meatball, gets a light reggae rhythm treatment under the vocal harmonizing by Reba Russell and bright piano passages by Victor Wainwright. I Always Meant To Love You is a swinging 12 bar with some real jazzy riffs from Jensen, complimented nicely by Kirk Smothers on sax and Wainwright on piano. Lighthearted Trouble, written by Todd Snider, has a cool swing. Kolassa's vocals are spot on, Santini takes a real nice harp solo on this track and Jensen throws in a few country influenced riffs of his own. Nothing Left To Lose (Robin's Blues) is a smooth jazzy blues ballad featuring Smothers on melodic sax. Kolassa's most serious vocal of the release are restrained but well placed and pointers by Smothers and Jensen are perfectly executed. Very nice! If I Ain't Fishin' has a cool pace with Wainwright and Hughes teaming up with tension against the calm. Randy Newman's, Mama Told Me Not To Come, made popular by Three Dog Night, gets a modified Chicago blues remake and a totally different type of cover. Kolassa uses an almost spoken delivery and Santini really wails on this one giving it it's best showing to my ears. On Whiskey Woman, Cole Layman trades lead guitar lines with Jensen and Logan Lyman lays down some cool funk bass. Chris Stephenson's organ solo punches up the track eliciting nice guitar soloing and even more pluckiness from Layman. Walkin' (Dead) Blues capitalizes on the current zombie obsession. With an Elmore James basic track, Kolassa gets the band cranked up with his frantic vocal antics. Santini gets his harp rolling hard and Jensen kicks out his best set of riffs on the release. Tongue in cheek but the hottest track on the release! Following a Magic Sam format, Mama's Got A Mojo, is a cool track with shimmery guitar soloing by Jensen over solid organ work by Stephenson. Real nice! Wrapping the release is Delta Town featuring Watermelon Slim on dobro and harp. Bridgeforth and Ruffino give the track a bit more structure and Kolassa leads the way. This is quite an enjoyable release with a bit of something for most blues lovers.

   

  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”

 

Mississippi Fever - 300 Miles To Memphis - New release review

I just received the newest release, 300 Miles To Memphis, from Mississippi Fever and it's entertaining. Opening with funky, Feel Like Superman; guitarist, lead vocalist, Brent Barker kicks on the wah wah pedal and with supporting organ work from Steve Grimes; solid bass work from Ted May and tight drums from Tom May puts me in mind of a little Mahogany Rush. Very cool. A modern electric interpretation of Robert Johnson's Traveling Riverside Blues is up next and Barker takes a nice stretch on lead guitar actually bringing to mind Clapton's style. A real nice bass line by May is the trick on Steal Away Your Love. Barker's crisp acoustic guitar soloing on this track is a nice juxtaposition to the overall heavy feel of the track. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Downtown Train, has a real nice bass/drum bottom setting a solid platform for minimalistic vocal and guitar work by Barker. With the inclusion of a thin no nonsense guitar solo over absolute basics, I feel the track sounds a bit like early Black Keys which I feel is their best work. Till The Sunrise is an uptempo blues rocker sounding like a fusion of early Savoy Brown (vocals) and Robin Trower (rhythm). Again, a general stripped feeling brings the Keys into thought but this track has something special with super bass riffs from May. Another of my favorites is Black Dress with a real nice funky blues groove and a recurrent slick guitar riff. With it's warm melody and super groove this may be the breakout track for the release. Slow blues number Out All Night, has Tom and Ted May setting the stage for some of the most compelling vocal work on the release. Barker has a unique quality to his voice and paired with his guitar capabilities, they set this track on fire! Morganfield influenced and country styled, 300 Miles to Memphis has a acoustic picked flavor complimented nicely by Brandon Santini on harp. The Devil's Got You Now is a contemporary blues rocker which feels a lot like Savoy Brown from the early 70's. I happen to really like that band and this is a cool track with a cool rock beat and extended guitar soloing. What's not to like? Wrapping the release is ZZ Top's blues rock classic, Jesus Just Left Chicago. The basic arrangement on this track is mostly unchanged but Barker takes his guitar for a real nice walk throwing down some mighty licks and Rick Steff does a nice job on keys. Nice wrap to a fun 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”

 

Ghost Town Blues Band - Hard Road To Hoe - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Hard Road To Hoe from Ghost Town Blues Band and I really like it. Opening with title track, Hard Road To Hoe, lead singer and guitar player sets up the track. With a loose slide vamp on cigar box he is backed by Preston Ewing on drums, Jeremy Powell on piano and Alex Piazza. Unexpected texture added by Suavo Jones on trombone and Richie Hale on tenor sax tips a great opener. Up next is boogie track Big Shirley with all of the fire of Jerry Lee Lewis from Powell on piano. A real rowdy rocker, this track cooks with a nice flash of electric guitar from Isbell to boot! Tip Of My Hat has a Rumba rhythm with Isbell, McEwen and Vicki Loveland on vocal. Super showman Brandon Santini steps up his crankin harp adding a nice bite to this track. Very cool! Santini takes the one leads on vocal on My Doggy, an easy walker with a clever story. Marry Dog Isbell adds an authentic howl to the track and Santini is also in on harp but the horns on this track shine instrumentally. On old time rag track, My Handy Man, the horns get together for a really hot Dixieland blowout. One of my favorite intro's on the release. Hate To See Her Go is a cool R&B/blues track with that clever play on words "I hate to see her go, but I love to see (watch) her walk away". Jones, Hale and Isbell each take hot solo's on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Tied My Worries To A Stone has a cocky strut and Isbell's vocal/guitar interface is terrific on this track tightly reinforced by McEwen. Dead Sea is a gritty ballad with just a touch of country. Although easy on the slide work, this track puts me in minde of one of my old favorites, The Ballad of Curtis Lowe. Very nice! Nothing But Time travels into Gary Moore or Bonamassa territory with a slow screaming blues track. This has got to be the crowd favorite with a classic blues buildup and screaming guitar retort to a gritty but solid vocal melody. Powell on B3 adds a real nice tension to the track as well. Driving blues rocker, Dime In The Well, has vocal and guitar paired in a hard drive with MeEwen and Piazza chasing. Solid! Seventeen is totally different from the balance of the release but I really like it. Sounding like it was written to be a hit but with enough instrumental sophistication and guitar riffs that it attracts my attention with it's overall musical power and sting. Excellent! Road Still Drives The Same has an easy, JJ Cale like approach but with slick clean slide guitar work by Isbell and B3 by Powell. A well written and performed release that is quite interesting to listen to. Check it out!

  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”

 

VizzTone Label Group artist: Brandon Santini - Live and Extended - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (1/27/15), Live and Extended presented by Festival D'ete' De Quebec, by Brandon Santini. Opening with a funky version of Muddy Waters' One More Mile, Santini is cooking right out of the box on lead vocal and hot smokin' harp work. Great opener! Nick Hern on bass and Timo Arthur on guitar set a solid boogie rhythm nailed down by Chad Wirl on drums on This Time Another Year and Santini uses his solid blues voice and great harp phrasing to captivate the crowd. On Sonny Boy Williamson track, Elevate Me Mama, Santini really gets in the slow groove. This track is in excess of 6 minutes and Santini doesn't waste a note. Hot! On groove blues, Evil Woman, it's Hern and Arthur that set the pace and Arthur takes it for a nice ride with some flashy riffs of his own. The band drops back to nothing but drum and Santini takes a rid of his own. Very cool! Have A Good Time has a sassy 60's surf kind of sound rolled into a blues track. Arthur keeps it simple with rockabilly style riffs and Wirl keeps the groove. Help Me With The Blues is a solid flame thrower right out of the chute. Arthur is again right on the top with rock n roll guitar riffs and Wirl and Hern ride tight. Santini steps up with a hot hot harp solo. Excellent! Slim Harpo track, Got Love If You Want It, has a crisp early rock/blues feel. Santini really rocks the joint joined by Arthur on a screaming guitar solo. On No Matter What I Do, a cool Chicago style blues, Santini's vocal phrasing sets the bar and in call and response trades with Arthur on guitar riffs. Stepping up and unleashing a masterful harp solo is what this is all about. On shuffle track, What You Doing To Me, dials down the volume a bit and belts out the blues. In contrast his harp phrasing and easy going solo by Arthur gives this track a calming feel. Up next is Frank Frost's My Back Scratcher with a cool bass lead. Santini and Arthur each take very cool extended solos on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Hot number I Wanna Boogie With You is so hot it's on fire. There are flames coming off of the band. (Stilladog will be whistling this one and blowing someone's ears out). Excellent! Wrapping the release is Come On Everybody, a traditional Chicago style blues. Santini's vocal styling really deserves more notoriety but it is always overshadowed by his harp work. This man can really do it all. With a BB King like swing, Santini belts out the blues bringing the show to a close. This is an excellent recording and a great representation of Santini's work.  

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”

 

Soars High Productions artist: JP Soars - Full Moon Night In Memphis - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Full Moon Night in Memphis, from JP Soars and it's a blast. Opening with title track, Full Moon Night in Memphis, Soars leads the way with his raspy voice and melodic slide work, accompanied by Chris Peet on drums and Todd Edmunds on drums. Brandon Santini adds significantly with some hot harp riffs as well. Back To Broke is a funky track with rap like vocals. Mark "Muggy Doo" Leach adds a nice B3 edge and Soars clean picks a pretty nice solo. Makes No Sense is a really smooth slower blues with sumptuous chords and clean bluesy riffs. A really nice T-Bone Walker like approach to this track makes it stand tall with any of Soars earlier work. Somethin' Ain't Right has a strong blues rock feel reminding me of Mountain. Raul Hernandez adds some cool percussion to this track giving it a different texture. Soars really attacks the electric guitar on this with some real sting. Where's the cowbell? Very nice! Mean Old World has a Latin beat and cool simple chords supporting Soars on vocal. Lower octave guitar soloing and a light Spanish touch makes this track really shine. Savin' All My Lovin' is a nice loping shuffle and features Steve Laudicina on 2nd guitar. Nice Texas style blues riffs smoke this track and leave you wanting more. Classic, Reefer Man is really hopping and fleet fingered guitar soloing is really hot. Chaim Rubinov (Trumpet) adds nice top and Scott Ankrom (sax) and Soars each step up with hot solos making this one of the best tracks on the release. Way Back Home has a real gritty feel with Soars on cigar box and slide. This is bound to be one of the release favorites with hot licks like this! The Back Room is a R&B style track Leach on B3 and Soars ripping rock solid blues style riffs. Thorn In My Side is a straight up blues rocker, Detroit style, with unusual slide riffs over a clean blues rock beat. Another classic, Viper, is really well done. Soars vocals are perfectly suited for this track and Ankrom with a super solo on clarinet and Chaim Rubinov's solo on trumpet along with the strong bass work from Peet give this track a real period feeling. Really cool Django like gypsy guitar work from Soars ices the cake. The Road Has Got Me Down crosses over to country. Joined by Teresa James on vocals and Santini on harp, Soars plays it up and also adds a nice tinge of pedal steel. Cool! My favorite track on the release, Spanish style Lil' Mamacita really crosses the border into Latin style with real salsa. Smoking hot guitar riffs and all of the percussion you could possibly want from Hernandez makes this a track that's hard not to love! Wrapping the release is swing style track, Missin' Your Kissin', a real driver. Soars plays as hot a guitar solo as you'd dream and Terry Hanck joining on tenor sax literally blows the top off! Excellent!  

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”

 

Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Michissippi Mick - New release review

I just received a copy of the newest release, Michissippi Mick, from Mick Kolassa and it's got a lot of personality. Opening with New Beale Street Blues, vocalist/guitarist Mick Kolassa plays it easy but spunky with a nice rolling blues track featuring Eric Hughes on harp. Blues Are All Around You is a blues rocker featuring particularly stiff guitar riffs from Jeff Jensen backed by Chris Stephenson on organ, Bill Ruffino on bass and Doug McMinn on drums. Classic blues track, The Letter, has a slow easy pace and Kolassa and backing vocalist Reba Russell do a really nice job reworking this track. Stephenson really fills out the spiritual nature created by the vocalists. Nice job! One of personal favorites on the release, Reefer Man, has a ramblin' country sound with a light bouncy feel. Kolassa's vocals are perfect for this track complimented by Bill Rufino and Victor Wainwright weighs in with some really nice piano work. Johnny Mercer track, Blues In The Night, has a cool easy blues feel and Kolassa's vocals are right in the groove. Standout dixieland trumpet by Dedrick Davis is featured on this track. Burned That Bridge is a super cool boogie number and Ruffino and Doug McMinn have it all in the palm of their hands. Wainwright really sticks on piano and Brandon Santini steps up with so nice harp riffs. Land Of The Crossroads has a swampy sound featuring mostly vocal chants and Harp work by Brandon Santini. Baby's Got Another Lover is a great slow blues track featuring strong vocals and nice guitar work from Jeff Jensen. Certainly one of the standout tracks on the release. Blues rock track, Blowtorch Love, has a little funk to its step, Santini and Jensen trading lead instrumental roles. Redd Velvet comes on strong as a powerful 2nd lead vocalist on this track. WPD is a casual blues rocker with a twisted sense of humor. A solid rhythm and some flashy riffs make this a cool pop track. Time Ain't On My Side has an easy swing gate with Santini on harp. Wainwright is on guy you can always count on too contribute large and here he steps up with some really fat piano work. Wrapping the release is Jimmie Rodgers track Mississippi Rivers Blues done in a fairly traditional style (including yodel). This track has a real earthiness to it is a particularly friendly way to part with a comfortable release. Also worth mentioning is that 100% of the gross proceeds of this album will go to the Blues Foundation  split between the Hart Fund and Generation Blues .

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

 

Swing Suit Records artist: Brandon Santini - This Time Another Year - New Release Review

I just received the new release, This Time Another Year, from Brandon Santini and it's a cooker! Opening with Got Good Lovin', harpist Santini wastes no time taking a shot at contemporary harp champs like Magic Dick. A hot blues rocker, Santini has a cool voice and can really get the harp flaming. Bill Ruffino on bass and James Cunningham on drums hold down the bottom and Jeff Jensen flys through with some slick riffs of his own on guitar. This Time Another Year, along the lines of Help Me, is a great track with roots deep in the blues with really great harp tone. Santini holds the band back to a simmer as he builds the pressure vocally and then drop in on harp for the swat. Really masterful. Jensen coaxes some nice riffs from the strings and Santini has the control of Jim Morrison just waiting to unleash the dogs. What You Doing To Me, is a great New Orleans tempo track on chromatic harp. Santini has a real great sensitivity for when and how to reel in the track. Interesting guitar work backed by Victor Wainwright on vocal and piano makes this a particularly strong track. Late In The Evening, a slow blues track, really highlights Santini's vocal work and really makes you wonder how this guy isn't hugely successful already... or if you're living under a rock. (Maybe I am!) This is a terrific track and Wainwright plays as nice a blues piano solo as you've heard in years. I mean this is terrific. Jensen has a nice sensitivity to this track and plays a strong but sensitive guitar passage. Up pops Santini to take it home. All I can say is wow! This is really really strong! Dig Me A Grave moves into the R&B style and Santini shows his versatility and style. Jensen opens with a really nice solo and Santini has such a strong voice... instrumentation overall.. and particularly intermittent riffs by Jensen (great tone by the way) and ongoing lead harp work from Santini make this a particularly airplay worthy track... and I like it too! Bye Bye Bird, an old Williamson/Dixon track gets a light acoustic guitar, drums and harp treatment. This release is just consistently really super. Things You Putting Down is a great New Orleans blues style track and again Santini shows that he has a really super voice. A really strong harp player, Santini shows that you don't always have to be fast or high to get your point across. Jensen plays another solid solo on this track and the band remains contained. Been So Blue gets Santini out front right away and Jensen plays some really jazzy chords under the melody taking the blues to a richer spot. Santini gets his harp singing, showing a nice compatibility between the blues and it's jazz brother partner. Help Me With The Blues is a really hot track. This is the kind of harp track that even people who aren't hot on harp love. (Think Hoy Hoy Hoy or Wammer Jammer). This is a fast paced jump track and Jensen does his share of crankin the spring, followed by the superb Wainwright. Santini steps in and throws on the gas... ouch... that is hot!! Williamson track Raise Your Window (One Way Out) gets a Latin kind of beat and Santini again shines on vocal and harp. Taking it down low, Santini shows some real pyrotechnics. The final track on this outrageously cool recording is Fish is Bitin', a cross between Cajun and Rock a Billy. Showing a nod to Ledbelly, this track is a cool wrap up for a really enjoyable and remarkable release. Excellent!

  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 favorite band!