Blue Heart Records artist: Mike Guldin - The Franklin Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Franklin Sessions, from Mike Guldin and Rollin' and Tumblin' and it's a solid set of contemporary blues. Opening with The Franklin Shuffle, Mike Guldin leads the way on vocal and guitar, backed by Yates McKendree on drums, James Pennebaker on guitar, and David Santos on bass. With a nice guitar lope and sparkling piano work by Kevin, this track cuts a nice groove. With a nice soulful feel, The Right Thing finds The McCrary Sisters backing Guldin on vocals, Kevin on organ, Yates adding some real nice lap steel, Bill Sharrow on bass, Tim Hooper on piano and Billy Wear on drums. Very cool. Yates really shines on guitar on Blow Wind Blow with a super bass groove by Sharrow, and Wear on drums. Guldin on lead vocal and Kevin really getting the organ going makes this one of my favorites on the release. Smokin' Woman has a deep groove with Sharrow leading the way on bass. Guldin's vocals have just the right feel Tim Hooper really pumps the organ and Guldin's guitar solo adds a real swing. R&B track, Two Hearts, sets up a real nice vocal duet between Guldin and Su Tears and The Philadelphia Funk Authority Horns (Dale Gerheart on trombone, Kyle Hummel on bari sax, Neil Wetzel on tenor and Andrew Kowal on trumpet) really add punch. Wrapping the release is Diving Duck Blues with a romping bass line by Sharrow. I think that Guldin's vocals on this track are my favorites on the release and with Hooper on organ and Kevin on piano there is a great foundation for Mikey Junior to solo on harmonica. Wear on drums keeps a tight ship and Guldin's own gritty guitar work is perfect for this 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

Blue Heart Records artist: Mike Guldin - Tumblin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Tumblin', by Mike Guldin and it's a cool mix of blues boogie and country. Opening with title track, Tumblin', Mike Guldin on lead guitar, backed by Billy Ware on drums, CJ Clark on bass and with some great organ by Tim Hooper these guys are jammin. Taj Mahal's She Caught The Katy really sounds great with Guldin on lead vocal and guitar with Hooper on piano and organ, with a great bass line by Bill Sharrow and featuring some real nice slide by Bill Thatcher. Very nice. Two stepping, Raise a Ruckus is a cool country rocker and features James Pennebaker on slide guitar and Kevin McKendree on B3 and Tim Hooper on piano. Another country flavored rocker, You Just Can't Lose, has solid radio appeal with a stomping rhythm and a strong hook. With Guldin on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Sharrow on bass, Hooper on piano and Wear on drums, this is a strong track. Wrapping the release is Waterfall, a quiet instrumental featuring Guldin on acoustic guitar, Thatcher on acoustic guitar and Sharrow on bass. Solid closer for a cool 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

Blue Heart Records artist: Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Rose-Colored Glasses Vol.1

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 17, 2021), Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1, by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps and it's a smooth blend of blues, rock and R&B styles. Opening with Show Me How You Do It, Teresa James on keys and lead vocals shows why her newest releases are widely anticipated. With Yates McKendree putting up some real nice lead guitar, and backed by Jay Bellerose on drums, Kevin McKendree on B3, Paulie Cerra on sax,  this is a solid opener. R&B flavored title track, Rose-Colored Glasses, really has a nice feel that I would expect to garner strong airplay with some nice slide guitar work by James Pennebaker. With a cocky strut, Wish It Into The Cornfield features Anson Funderburgh playing up the guitar starch and McKendree's B3 giving flow under the horn work of Cerra. Goes without saying that James has a natural voice for this and she really works it on this track. Really nice. Dean Parks, well known session man, pops up on Once The World Stops Ending, adding some hot punctuation under some of the best vocal blending on the release. Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Richard Millsap on percussion add some nice juice on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Soul track, When My Baby Comes Home is another solid entry with strong vocals by James and the addition of Michael Starr on violin, viola and cello. Wrapping the release is Gimme Some Skin driven by heavy tom tom work by Bellerose and with some cool, stylized guitar work by David Millsap, punched up by Leonard on trumpet. Cool 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

Biglittle Records artist: Andy Peake - Mood Swings - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 20, 2021), Mood Swings, from Andy Peake and it's a mixed bag of  rock, blues, reggae and pop. Opening with radio style track, Make Peace With The Blues, Andy Peake, drummer, lead vocalist and songwriter makes his debut. With John Prestia providing shimmery guitars and James Pennebaker with a really hot guitar solo , Al Hill on keys, and Paul Ossola on bass Peake lays down a cool drum line. Two stepper, If the Blues Was Green is a cool, country flavored rocker with Kevin McKendree laying down some real nice piano work, Pennebaker with some tight twangy riffs and cool doubled vocals by Peake. My favorite track on the release is Bob Dylan's I Shall Be released with strong lead vocal shared with John Cowan, Phillip Wolfe providing really nice piano and organ, Will McFarlane and Prestia again with essential guitar riffs, Bob Marinelli on bass and of course Peake on drums. Light islander, Untangle The Line, features Prestia on guitar, Al Hill on keys and John Marcus on bass with it's memorable melody and soft vocals for the top radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is a New orleans shaped remake of Johnny B Goode. With Hill on piano, Prestia and Pennebaker on guitars, Ossola on bass and Peak on vocal and guitar, the track moves. A cool accordion solo and work on this track adds a nice seasoning but I think is uncredited. Cool closer for an interesting 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