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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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Booze, Blues and Southern Grooves from Reddog and Friends and it's a solid blues and R&B soaked release. Opening with R&B style track, Love, You've Got To Spread The Word, Reddog on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Carla Russell Mary Mason and Angela Hacker on backing vocals. Instrumentally, Clayton Ivey on keys, David Hood on bass and Justin Holder on drums fill out the band. This track could easily be from the Curtis Mayfield songbook with heavy Muscle Shoals influences. Bluesy, Down, Down, Down is one of my favorite tracks on the release with soulful vocals and tasty guitar riffs by Reddog. Still bordering on the soul sound, this is a real nice track. She's A Georgia Peach adds just a little country funk in it (think Elvin Bishop) with a solid lead vocal line and loose instrumental and vocal contributions giving it a real nice party feel. Adding slide guitar under the vocals by Reddog and this track is slick. Why Oh Why Are You Calling Me is a super candidate for the radio with a catchy soulful melody and a theme many people can relate to. The super backing vocals by Russell, Mason and Hacker really enrich the track and Reddog's feel for just the right riffs really flats this track. Instrumental, Don't Muscle That Shuffle has excellent tempo and gives Reddog a strong opportunity to flex his chops. It's not about pyrotechnics but style...real nice. Club style shuffle, Old School Blues has a great feel and Reddog's vocals and guitar really fly on this track. Wrapping the release is Honest Man, a Gregg Allman like ballad. Bill Stewart joins in on drums and Stevie Hawkins joins on congas. This release really is unusual and refreshing. It has a lot of the southern soulful charm of those old Muscle Shoals sessions with a lot of familiar faces. Nice job.
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 had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Occupied, from Eric Jerardi and it's sopping with sweet soul sound. Opening with Do Right By Him, a super soulful track, Eric Jerardi shows his vocal chops over the solid horn work of the Muscle Shoals Horn section (Charles Rose - Trombone, Steve Herman - Trumpet, Doug Moffet - sax) and his own tasteful bluesy guitar riffs. Marie Lewey & Cindy Walker add vital, rich backing vocals over a solid bass by David Hood, piano by Clayton Ivey, Kelvin Holley on rhythm guitar and Milton Sledge on drums. Excellent opener. Jeff Healey's Don't Take It Personally maintains the R&B feel but leaning more to the blues rock styling, Jerardi shows a funky, wah wah guitar edge with soaring delivery. Very nice. Title track, Occupied, really has great bones with soulful vocals, a solid melody and great backing vocals, dressed with warm organ work and excellent blues guitar lead. Ultra funky, Never Let The Old Man In, is definitely one of my favorites on the release with excellent rhythm by Sledge, tight vocals and really tasty guitar riffs. Really hot! Wrapping the release is the radio track for the release, In My Life with a light but memorable melody and soothing vocals. This really is a stand out release and one should take notice.
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, D.L. Duncan from Dave "D.L." Duncan and it has a good feel. Opening with I Ain't The Sharpest Marble, a rockin boogie track, Duncan lays down a cool groove on vocal and guitar with David Hood on bass and Vince Santoro on drums reinforcing the bottom. Kevin McKendree hammers out a real nice piano line making this a solid opener. Dickerson Road has a super guitar rock sound (think All Along The Watchtower) and Duncan sets his strings searing into the stratosphere. On Walter Vinson style blues track,You Just Don't Never Know, McKendree adds nicely to the texture on the track and the McCrary Sisters provide a warm background as Duncan sings lead, Delbert McClinton plays harp with Duncan's guitar adornment. Very nice! Your Own Best Friend has a distinctively Gregg Allman sound and Sonny Landereth adds a heaping share of his distinctive slide sound. McKendree takes a really nice piano solo over B3 and with the McCrary Sisters on vocals, this is certainly one of the best tracks on the release. I Know A Good Thing is a high stepping stripped down blues track with a solid bass line and drum beat keeping it tight. Duncan's own guitar work which rides the melody is quite effective. Super! Sending Me Angels is a solid blues based pop track sounding like an Eric Clapton hit. The McCrary Sisters really warm up the track along with Duncan's smooth vocals as well as resonator. McKendree on B3 and piano adds just the right touch of gospel style keyboards giving the track an embracing feel. Orange Beach Blues has a R&B sway with warm jazz overtones. Duncan's vocals are pure and his guitar work clean as a whistle. The McCrary Sisters again add just the right mix of warmth with McKendree on B3 and Duncan pairs with Guthrie Trapp on guitar giving the track a super overall sound. St. Valentine's Day Blues is an easy paced R&B style blues track with Duncan's vocals leading the way balanced nicely with McKendree on keys. Duncan does some of his nicest guitar work on this track throwing down some really sweet blues riffs. Sweet Magnolia Love is another track which to me has a distinctive Eric Clapton pop style. A nice hook and warm backing vocals from the McCrary Sisters along with twin guitar riffs from Duncan and Trapp make it perfect radio track. Wrapping the release is All I Have To Offer You Is Love, a simple bluesy ballad with nice acoustic slide guitar work and rich lead vocals from Duncan. McKendree always seems to have just the right amount of throttle on keys adding nicely to most anything he touches. The slide work on this track is sweet and well manicured making this an excellent closer for a solid 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”
