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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, Blu Ja Vu, from Tom Hambridge, and it's potent set of blues rock tracks with plenty of gusto. Opening with Ain't It Just Like Love, Tom Hambridge joins up with Buddy Guy on vocal, (Hambridge on drums and Guy on guitar) with bass by Tommy MacDonald, Kevin McKendree on on keys and featuring an explosive guitar solo by Guy. Strong opener. Rob McNelley on lead guitar really gets things cranking on Wear You Out with a driving beat and solid vocals by Hambridge. Shuffle, Blues Don't Care, features Kingfish on guitar and vocal and this track has great style. Hi power Brother John Boogie features harmonica superman, James Cotton with Glenn Worf on bass, Chuck Leavell on keys, and of course Hambridge on drums. Excellent! Another great boogie, Get Out Of Town features McKendree on vicious keys and Hambridge on vocal. Very cool. Stripped down blues, Johnny Winter, features excellent slide work by McNelley, Hambridge on drums and vocal and MacDonald on bass. Wrapping the release is End Of The Line, a laid back boogie with Hambridge on vocal and drums, nicely dresses with relaxed guitar riffs by McNelley. This is a solid closer for a really 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 newest release, The Blues Don't Lie, from Buddy Guy and it's full of fire. Opening with I Let My Guitar Do The Talking, Guy shows all of the energy of his youth with terrific vocals and screaming guitar lead. Backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Reese Wynans on B3, Michael Rhodes on bass, Rob McNelley on electric guitr and Max Abrams and Steve Patrick on horns, this is a terrific opener. Slow blues classic, The World Needs Love really falls into Guy's prime wheelhouse with excellent vocals and his trademark sound on lead guitar. Joined by Hambridge on drums, Glen Worf on bass, Kevin McKendree on piano and McNelley on backing guitar, this track screams. Follow The Money pairs Guy with James Taylor, on lead vocal, Guy on acoustic guitars with Hambridge on drums, Wynans on Wurlitzer, Michael Rhodes on bass and McNelley on electric guitar. With it's JJ Cale approach to the blues, this is a nice juxtaposition for the release. Driving rocker, Well Enough Alone has real sting like Cream's rework of Robert Johnson's Crossroads. Guy grabs it and flys. Very hot. Romping blues, House Party has great feel with Guy paired with Wendy Moten on lead vocal. McNelley sets a great groove on guitar and Guy steps up with a real nice solo. Excellent! Another slow blues, Rabbit Blood, plays nicely into Guys vocal butter and features great guitar piano interplay with Guy and McKendree. Another solid addition. Wrapping the release is I'm A King Bee with Guy taking it way down on vocal and acoustic guitar alone. His vocals just get more smooth as he gets older and his acoustic playing is clear and ringing. This may be Buddy's best release in years. Excellent closer for an excellent 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, The Blues Is Alive and Well, from Buddy Guy and it's strong. Opening with A Few Good Years, Buddy Guy pleads in song for continued good years to remain but his vocals are smooth and his guitar as vibrant as ever. Joined by Tom Hambridge on drums, Rob McNelley on guitar, Kevin McKendree on B3 and Willie Weeks on bass, this hits home. Shuffle track, Guilty As Charged shows a strong romp attitude and you can see that gold tooth glistening as Buddy shouts out guilty and fans his guitar wildly in one of his frantic guitar explosions. Very nice. Cognac, is a real nice 12 bar number featuring not one but two legendary guest guitar players, Keith Richards and Jeff Beck who along with Guy give this track real teeth. Richards' riffs are always standout and Beck's style is remarkable and an absolute signature. Excellent! Title track, The Blues Is Alive And Well is a great R&B fused track with Weeks' instinctual bass work leading the way. Guys' vocals are rich and pure and the backing by the Muscle Shoals Horns (Charles Rose on trombone, Steve Herrman on trumpet, Doug Moffet on tenor sax and Jim Hoke on bari sax really add depth to Guys personal guitar style. Very solid. Soul ballad, Blue No More features James Bay and Guy trading vocal and guitar lead. Smooth as silk and blue as can be, this track is a great radio track. Digging in the funk, Whiskey For Sale shows a side you don't often see but a great side it is. With McNelley on slide, Guy tearing up the lead and the McCrary Sisters on backing vocals this track may be one of my favorites on the release. Slow blues, You Did The Crime is classic Buddy Guy with terrific vocals and guitar, fat slide from McNelley and Mick Jagger on harp. With that rumbling bass line that I like to think as classic Buddy, Old Fashioned, is a great track with Guy conjuring up the notorious Buddy Guy guitar tone and riffs. The Muscle Shoals horns really pump up the volume and McKendree's B3 fills out the sound. Excellent! When My Day Comes is still another great track with Buddy on full throttle with expressive vocals and lead vocal and tight pointed drumming by Hambridge. Sonny Boy Williamson's Nine Below Zero sits solid in the Chicago sound with classic lines and riffs. Guy grew up in this stuff and knows just how to dress it right. His soloing is fresh, expressive and meaningful. Excellent! Boogie track, Ooh Daddy is a hard driver with Weeks leading the way and Buddy shows nothing but vitality with youthful yelps and pounding riffs. Super. Wrapping the release is End Of The Line and Milking Muther For Ya. Guy does it big time smooth band with horns honking and great guitar tone. Continuing his theme of nearing the end of his time, Guy shows no signs here to slowing or losing his fine talents as some of his predecessors have done. He ties into this last track his little ditty that he often sings in concert about the girl who tries to milk the bull. I've seen Buddy many times and he's always a great performer. My hopes are that he still has many more years to come. Excellent 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
A
Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood
coming to DVD on
September 8th
A live
concert tribute to the "godfather of the electric guitar" Les
Paul,
featuring
the world's best guitarists.
With a
legendary career as a hit-making musician, solid-body electric guitar
trailblazer, and an inventor of unprecedented recording techniques, he has
impacted and influenced the many facets of the music industry like none
other. Filmed live at what was then the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on
February 8, 2006, A
Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood
gives viewers a front row seat for an unforgettable night of powerhouse
performances, as some of music's biggest names come together to honor the
ultimate icon. The night is headlined by show-stopping numbers from an
all-star slate of Paul disciples, that includes Slash and Edgar
Winter teaming up on the Stevie Wonder staple "Superstition;"
Toto axeman Steve Lukather's rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Little
Wing;" and Joe Perry and Buddy Guy closing the night with
a soulful blues set. Other highlights include spirited performances by Joe
Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, recent Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame inductee Neal Schon, and more.
As part
of the night's festivities, A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios
Hollywood also features rare commentary taken from
several of Paul's final interviews recorded at New York's landmark Iridium
Jazz Club, as well as at Paul's home in Mahwah, New Jersey. The special event
was held to raise funds and awareness for the South Central charity A
Place Called Home, designed to give at-risk youth a safe and secure
environment they can thrive in.
The
program is produced by Icon Television Music, Inc., HD Net (now AXSTV), and
In Touch Entertainment and distributed by MVD Entertainment Group. The
award-winning production team includes Charles Carlini ("Les Paul's 90th
Birthday Concert at Carnegie Hall"), Bob Cutarella ("Les Paul &
Friends"), Howard Lipp ("Les Paul 90th Birthday Concert
at Gibson Amphitheater"), and Glenn Aveni ("Les Paul Chasing
Sound").
Michael
Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation stated, "It
is without a doubt that Les Paul is the 'Father of Modern Music' and that
musicians from every corner of the globe and in every genre of the music
industry stand upon his shoulders. He was an inventor, an award-winning
musician, an innovator and most importantly a very special man I also had the
privilege of calling my friend. The artists and producers who have made this
tribute program possible give us every reason to remember that Les Paul was a
man who influenced our music industry profoundly. I am thrilled that viewers
everywhere will have the chance to witness his greatest through the
performances and storytelling of this wonderful program."
We are delighted to announce that Buddy
Guy's "Born To Play Guitar" is nominated for two Grammy's -
"Best American Roots Performance" and "Best Blues
Album" - in the 58th Annual GRAMMY awards. The complete nomination
slate is at http://www.grammy.com/nominees.
The 39th Annual Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival returns
to Johnson’s Beach & Resort
in Guerneville, CA on September 12 & 13, 2015. Two great festivals over
one weekend – voted Best Music Festival in Sonoma Country by the readers of
the North Bay Bohemian. Join us for a weekend of incredible music, dancing,
wine tasting and loads of fun!
Headlining the Blues Day on Sunday, September 13th will
be the legendary award winning Blues icon, Buddy Guy, alongside friends Taj Mahal Trio, Jackie Greene and
more!
Music fans can purchase Single Day & Weekend Passes to the festival and
enjoy 2 stages of jazz, blues and roots music over 2 days at Johnson’s Beach
– a beautiful venue surrounded by California Redwoods. The festival also
features a Wine Garden with tastings from local wineries, a variety of craft
& merchandise vendors plus an eclectic food court.
I just received the newest release, Born To Play The Blues, from Buddy Guy and it's terrific! Opening with title track, Born To Play Guitar, Guy starts at his roots with a primitive blues track with basic blues picking supplemented by Rob McNelley on resonator and Guy on strat and super blues vocals. Terrific start! Wear You Out is a great boogie featuring Billy Gibbons trading vocals and guitar riffs with Guy. Backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Rob McNelley on guitar, Kevin McKendree on Clav and Glenn Worf on bass this track rocks! Classic styling on Back Up Mama features McNelley on slide and Guy on strat trading riffs. Buddy is just such an exceptional performer and his vocals are tight. His calling card frenzied guitar riffs kick this track in the back side giving it that extra punch and McKendree's piano is tight. Kim Wilson joins Guy on swing track, Too Late. His harp riffs blend nicely with Guy's vocals. Whiskey, Beer & Wine has a great groove driven by Doyle Bramhall II, McNelley, Hambridge and Michael Rhodes (on bass). Reese Wynans lays in some real nice B3 and Clav and Guy switches off to an uncharacteristic ES335 for a rounder tone blending nicely with his vocals. Shuffle track, Kiss Me Quick, shows some of Guy's best vocals on the release and his guitar tone from the 335 have a real nice roundness. Kim Wilson adds some hot harp riffs and McKendree's piano work is hot! Crying Out Of One Eye is a cool track with a trace riff from Otis Rush. With an overall R&B feel, this track has a clever concept in title. It reminds me of something that I supposedly said to my parents when I was a kid "I'm laughing on the outside but crying on the inside" as I was taking my punishment for a bad deed. Guys uses the one eye crying for the foolishness of someone who really doesn't hurt. I really like it. With it's almost BB King like guitar riffs and backed by the Muscle Shoals Horns this track packs a punch. On classic R&B track, Baby You Got What It Takes, Guy is joined by Joss Stone and her vocals are clear and sweet as honey. I'm not a big "star collaboration" guy, but Stone has joined another of my favorites, Jeff Beck, on his performances and in both cases she has shown not to be just a calling card on a piece of paper but a real cool singer who can hold her own with the real heavyweights. Turn Me Wild has a real nice strut with Guy nicely punctuating his own vocals on guitar and Billy Cox driving the groove on bass. Some of the slickest guitar work on the release is on this track with Guy taking his strat for a nice walk. Crazy World is an easy soulful ballad with Reese Wynans holding the course with B3 and Guy just singing his guts out. Short meaningful guitar work by Guy is smooth and articulate with a lot of grip. Smarter Than I Was has a vibrant rhythm part by Hambridge, and a cool underlying guitar part by Rob McNelley... and crisp guitar bursts from Guy set this track on fire. Excellent! The big R&B hammer is dropped with Thick Like Mississippi Mud. "Good Whiskey and Women"... shoot...you got me already! Guy gets into one of his classic grooves (Think Damn Right I've Got The Blues) and there's no holding him back. Guy works up a real guitar frenzy on this track literally blowing the lid off! McKendree on piano, Worf on bass and the Muscle Shoals Horns prod him along and he responds with flames! Easy going ballad, Flesh & Bone, in concert with Van Morrison is a nice ballad of both men's style. Trading lead vocal spots, this is probably (after Thick) the most radio likely track on the release. Thick because of it's power and F&B because of it's natural tenderness and melodic sensibilities. Wrapping the release is Come Back Muddy, a stripped down blues number featuring Wymans on upright piano, Bramhall II on 12 string, Michael Rhodes on electric bass and Guy on acoustic guitar and vocal. Classic blues chords and lines give it a primitive feel but it's "modern Guy" getting into a real nice acoustic groove with tight guitar solo's. The release is opened in easy style and closed in easy style. This is a really nice release from Guy and one with a lot of heart. 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”
DVD and Blu-ray Accompanying 2-CD Set Features 90
Minutes Of Live Concert Footage
Alongside An In-Depth Interview With Cray And His
Band, and Testimonials From Legends
Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Jimmie
Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt
New York, NY --- Open ears and an open mind are the essence
of singer, guitarist and songwriter Robert Cray, whose career spans from the
roots of the blues to the pinnacles of rock, from the 80s to this moment. He
grew up listening to the gospel of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Bobby
Bland's soul, Jimi Hendrix's rock guitar and the Beatles pop sounds. Those
influences and the signature sound Cray has imprinted on modern popular music
are brought together in the Robert Cray Band's double CD and video package 4
Nights of 40 Years Live.
The set will be available in a variety of formats - 2
LPs with digital download card, 2 CDs + DVD, Blu-Ray + 2 CDs and digitally. 4
Nights of 40 Years Live will be released August 28 on the Netherlands-based
Mascot Label Group.
The first CD is fresh, live recordings from four nights
recently recorded at four venues in the LA area. With his current band
--longtime bassist, collaborator and friend Richard Cousins, keyboardist Dover
Weinberg (who was in Cray's first band) and drummer Les Falconer (O'Jays, Keb
'Mo) – Cray fronts a group that is solid, seasoned and vital. The playing is in
the moment, and the sound is singular.
The thirteen cuts are selected from the Cray Band's
recording library of 20 releases. Among them are rock radio favorites
“Bad Influence” and “Right Next Door (Because of Me),” the soul searing “Love
Gone to Waste,” and “These Things,” a bluesy ballad that features one of Cray's
string-bending and mind-blowing guitar solos. The live CD is the fourth
Cray Band release produced by Steve Jordan, who plays drums on several cuts.
Also guesting are vocalist Kim Wilson and harmonica player Lee Oskar, tenor
saxophonist Trevor Lawrence, trumpeter Steve Madaio and saxophonist Tom Scott.
The bonus CD is a revealing glimpse of Cray's early career
and the promise of a future that would reward fans for decades. Selected
from the band's set at the 1982 San Francisco Blues Festival and a 1987
appearance on the Dutch TV Show “Countdown,” the music captures the band's
youthful presence and its ability to revive the blues without abandoning it.
Included are favorites from the Cray's Band 80s set lists; “Smoking Gun”
and “Too Many Cooks.”
The 94 minute video in 4 Nights of 40 Years Live is a Cray
Band convergence. Coming together are a mesmerizing blend of clips from the San
Francisco Blues Festival, the Dutch TV show and the four concerts featured on
the first CD. Between clips Cray comments on the band's history and his
personal philosophy of music. There is also behind the scenes footage of
the band collaborating with producer Jordan. And putting the Cray Band in
perspective are interviews with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt,
Jimmie Vaughan and Buddy Guy each giving their personal response to the music
and the man.
It is extraordinary for musicians to thrive over four
decades, and the Robert Cray Band is just that, extraordinary. The group has
won five Grammy Awards, put 15 studio albums on the Billboard Charts, sold
millions of records and toured the globe, playing clubs, concert halls,
festivals and large arenas. Whether opening for John Lee Hooker or Eric
Clapton, the band has captured audiences with music that is original, a sound
that is distinctively rootsy and a performance style that keeps fans flocking
back to see the Robert Cray Band headlining. 4 Nights of 40 Years Live is a
testament to the band's past success and proof that the Robert Cray Band is as
live as ever.
The track listing of 4 NIGHTS OF FORTY YEARS LIVE
features on Disc One: "Shiver," "I'll Always Remember You,"
"Poor Johnny," "Won't Be Coming Home," "On The Road
Down," "Sittin' On Top Of The World," "Wrap It Up,"
"Love Gone To Waste," "Bad Influence," "These
Things," "Right Next Door (Because Of Me)," "The Forecast
(Calls For Pain)," and "Time Makes Two." Disc Two presents
"I Guess I Showed Her," "Right Next Door (Because Of Me),"
"Smoking Gun," "Still Around," "Too Many Cooks,"
and "T-Bone Shuffle." For detail on the DVD track listing
visit: http://mascotlabelgroup.com/www.robertcray.com/
Robert Cray begins the North American leg of his global
tour on July 30 in Paso Robles, CA at the California Mid-State Fair.
Confirmed appearances include:
7/30 Paso Robles,
CA
California Mid-State Fair
7/31 Agoura Hills,
CA
The Canyon
8/01 Stateline,
NV
Harrah's Lake Tahoe
8/02 Mammoth Lakes,
CA
Mammoth Lake Festival of Beers
8/04 Roseburg,
OR
Music on the Half Shell
8/08 Lebanon, OR
Guitar Under The Stars (Cheadle Lake Park)
8/09 Snoqualmie,
WA
Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom
8/11 Boise,
ID
Egyptian Theatre
8/13 Breckenridge,
CO
Riverwalk Center
8/15 Boulder,
CO
Chautauqua Auditorium
8/16 Deadwood,
SD
Deadwood Mountain Hotel & Casino
8/18 Apple Valley, MN
Weesner Family Amphitheater @ MN Zoo
