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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, The Sun Is Shining Down, from one of the fathers of modern blues, John Mayall and it's quite good. Opening with Hungry and Ready, Mayall on harmonica and lead vocals, Melvin Taylor on lead guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, Jay Davenport on drums and Carolyn Wonderland on rhythm and with Ron Dziubla on sax, Mark Pender on trumpet, Richard Rosenberg on trombone providing a power horn sound. Dynamic opener. Markus King really hits hard on Can't Take No More with slashing guitar riffs over the tight rhythm by Davenport. With it's driving bass line by Rzab, Chills and Thrills, Mayall plays a nicely phrase piano solo and adds B3 warmth and Mike Campbell lays down a strong guitar lead. Very nice. Slower blues, A Quitter Never Wins showcases Mayall on lead vocal nicely, floating on his own key backing and intuitive harmonica punctuation. One of my favorites on the release is Driving Wheel again featuring Melvin Taylor on lead guitar. With a full horn backing and Mayall's solid vocals, this is another strong contender for top track on the release. Wrapping the release is title track, The Sun Is Shining Down with it's swampy rhythm and featuring Wonderland on lead guitar. This is a cool track that really simmers. 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 most recent release (February 22, 2019), Nobody Told Me, from John Mayall and it's quite good. Opening with Magic Sam's, What Have I Done Wrong, a solid blues rocker, Mayall on lead vocal, keys and harp is joined by Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums and features Joe Bonamassa on guitars. Great opener. Larry McCray joins on The Moon Is Full with blistering guitar riffs over a really hard driving bass line by Rzab. Excellent! Rush veteran, Alex Lifeson joins on Evil And Here To Stay, a lumbering blues track with a healthy dose of Mayall on vocal, harp and piano. Lifeson shows an excellent adaptability from his hard driving rock sound to soulful blues riffs. Very nice. Little Milton's That's What Love Will Make You Do has a funky bass line by Rzab and tune master Todd Rundgren fires off some blistering blues guitar riffs of his own. Gary Moore's, The Hurt Inside, is one of my favorites on the release again with McCray on lead funky hot guitar and some of Mayall's best vocals on the release. Original Boogie track, Like It Like You Do has super vocals and piano by Mayall, a solid bottom and great boogie riffs by Carolyn Wonderland. Very cool. Wrapping the release is another original and title track, Nobody Told Me, a slow blues featuring Mayall way out front on vocal and piano with only the basic of backing and really soulful guitar soloing by Wonderland. This is a super wrapper for a very strong release by a certain father of the modern American blues revival in the 60's.
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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Blues Hall of Fame Member John Mayall Announces New
Album, Nobody Told Me
Featuring
Todd Rundgren, Little Steven Van Zandt, Alex Lifeson and Joe
Bonamassa.
On February 22nd Forty Below Records
will release Nobody
Told Me, the new studio album from The
Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall.
As with his last handful of albums, Mayall again shares production
duties with Forty Below Founder Eric Corne who also handles engineering
and mixing duties.
The album boasts an impressive and diverse list of guest guitarists,
all personal favorites of Mayall’s including Todd Rundgren, Little
Steven Van Zandt of The E Street Band, Alex Lifeson from Rush, Joe
Bonamassa, Larry McCray and Carolyn Wonderland who
will be joining the band on tour. Also, on hand are Mayall’s dynamic
Chicago rhythm section of Greg Rzab on bass guitar and Jay Davenport on
drums, along with Billy Watts (Lucinda Williams) on rhythm guitar
and Mayall’s regular horn section, moonlighting from their day job
in The Late
Show with Conan O’Brien’s house band.
“This project has been a true labor of love for me and I can’t wait for
people to hear the fireworks that took place,” beams Mayall. Nobody Told Me is an
apt title for the blues icon who suffered a recent unexpected health
scare shortly after recording the album. But, the seemingly ageless
road dog, who famously takes no days off and carries his own gear on
tour, has been given a clean bill of health and plans to return to his
usual grueling touring schedule to support the release. Tour dates
can be found at johnmayall.com
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Three For The Road, a new live album from John Mayall and it's quite cool. Opening with shuffle track, Big Town Playboy, Mayall is back full and strong on vocal, keys and harmonica with Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums. Classic, I Feel So Bad, is up-tempo and Mayall's piano playing gives it a jazzy feel. On piano boogie, The Sum Of Something, Rzab really nails the bass line and Mayall's piano rolls are super. A terrific display of what Mayall is all about. On Latin flavored, Streamline, Davenpot sets the stage on drums, accented by Rzab and Mayall's organ work balances nicely with his vocals. Extended organ soloing by Mayall really makes this track shine. Very nice. Bringing the tempo way down, Tears Came Rolling Down, on a great Sonny Boy Williamson bar is my favorite track on the release. Mayall's definitive vocals and poised piano phrasing coupled with Rzab and Davenport give this 9+ minute track solid traction. With a broad swing, Don't Deny Me has a great groove. Mayall rides high on organ and Rzab's bass work drives the snap on Davenport's snare. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Congo Square, with Mayall's classic harp riffs and snappy New Orleans like snare drumming. Mayall has been out there playing as long as I can remember and his sound is every bit as strong now, possibly stronger than much of his past 25 years. Keep going John.
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, Talk About That, from John Mayall and it's diverse with a wealth of blues. Opening with title track, Talk About That, John Mayall steps up with a funky blues track, bucked by Rocky Athas on guitar, Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums. Mayall's vocals are solid with super funky organ and cool bass riffs. Blues rocker, It's Hard Going Up has a nice guitar vamp and cool horn work from Ron Dziubla on sax, Mark Pender on trumpet and Nick Lane on trombone. Funky blues number, The Devil Must Be Laughing has a sweet guitar intro and soloing by Joe Walsh and with it's dark overtones, is one of my favorite tracks on the release. New Orleans flavored, Gimme Some Of That Gumbo, highlights the drum work of Davenport and Mayall's piano playing is super of course with terrific horn work. Athas breaks loose with hot riffs of his own on this one adding flame to an already smoking track. Chicago style blues track, Goin' Away Baby, features light drum work and Mayall on harp and vocal. Very cool! Cards On The Table features Joe Walsh again on slide this time with a cool rolling rhythm. Walsh has a really distinctive style and he lays it out here nicely. Shuffle track, Don't Deny Me has a great swing with crisp riffs from Athas and super rolling piano by Mayall, backed nicely by Pender on trumpet and over a super walking bass line by Rzab. another track with a cool rocking beat is Across The County Line. With Rzab and Davenport setting the stage Mayall really delivers on vocals and piano and Athas nails the guitar lead with super horn punctuation. Very nice. Wrapping the release is You Never Know, an easy piano shuffle with only the basics of bass and drums supporting Mayalls vocals.This is different from the most recent two Mayall releases that I have reviewed but very enjoyable.
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
Forty Below
Records Set to Release John Mayall’s Talk About That Album on Vinyl
February 17
Vinyl Package
to Include Free Download Card
LOS ANGELES, CA – Forty Below Records announces a February
17 release date for the vinyl edition of iconic musician and Blues Hall of Fame
member John Mayall’s latest album, Talk About That. Originally
released on CD January 27, the vinyl version will also include a free download
card.
Joining Mayall (vocals, keyboards, harmonica and guitar) and
Greg Rzab (bass), Jay Davenport (drums) and Rocky Athas (guitar) as special
guest is legendary guitarist Joe Walsh, who plays on two tracks, “The Devil
Must Be Laughing” and “Cards on the Table,” both John Mayall compositions.
John Mayall will begin a lengthy European tour in early
February. His most-recent American dates included several days onboard the
“Legends Cruise,” and featured an exciting special guest appearance from
another legend – Todd Rundgren – who jammed on guitar with John and the band on
the Otis Rush classic, “All Your Love.”
Talk About That is drawing rave reviews from
the press and extensive radio airplay. “…Mayall continues to work tirelessly to spread the blues gospel…the 11 tracks
offer a master class in contemporary blues, topped off with a helping of
Mayall’s trademark lyrical wit and even a guest appearance by Joe Walsh”
- People.com.
“Talk About Thatranks with the best.
Some may talk about that statement all day, but in the end, it’s true.
Everything that defines a great album is here. Mayall wrote some songs that
matter, and interspersed three smart covers. His quartet, aided by a trio of
brass as needed, smokes every one with remarkable potency.” – Elmore
Magazine
Watch a special musicUcansee.com
video of the making of Talk about That
Produced by John Mayall (who also designed the album
package) and Forty Below Records president Eric Corne (who also engineered and
mixed), Talk about That was recorded at House of Blues Studio in
Encino, California, and contains 11 tracks: eight originals, plus covers from
Memphis soul music songwriter Bettye Crutcher (“It’s Hard Going Up”), blues
great Jimmy Rogers (“Goin’ Away Baby”) and rock singer/songwriter Jerry Lynn
Williams (“Don’t Deny Me”). The album also showcases a three-piece horn section
that adds extra punch on several tracks, including the infectious New
Orleans-flavored “Gimme Some of that Gumbo.”
“When I first had
the idea for the title track, ‘Talk about That,’ I wanted to write lyrics that
were about aspects of life that were running through my head,” John Mayall
recalled. “I also wanted to give the song a modern groove that would convey the
fun mood driving the piece. Greg and Jay laid down a really infectious
rhythm for me to feature my keyboard chops and bring the song to life with a
really funky feel driving it.”
Throughout
his career, John Mayall has always written timely songs that reflect what he
sees going on in the world around him, whether it’s war, poverty, social
injustice or personal introspection. Such is the case with “The Devil Must Be
Laughing,” which deals with the current political and world climate. And that
incentive also brought him in touch with Joe Walsh, who contributes some
percolating guitar work that melds perfectly with the song’s theme.
“A day
before we recorded ‘The Devil Must Be Laughing,’ we got a message through the
studio owner that Joe Walsh wanted to come by and possibly play on a track or
two as a guest,” Mayall said. “Who was I to say no to that idea! So, Joe
turned up at noon on the appointed day and with only a quick listen, plugged in
and we did the song in one take. The second song closely followed, and
with a smile and a quick photo, Joe was done and on his way. What a kick
for all of us that day!”
For Joe Walsh, playing on a session
with one of his musical heroes held a special place. “It
has been a bucket-list item since 1970 to play with John Mayall,” Walsh
said. “John had a run of GREAT British guitarists (one after another)
with his ‘Bluesbreakers’ albums, and that’s how many of us in the States
became aware of them. Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor - I
studied them all for hours and became a much better guitarist as a
result. The albums were legendary stuff and I have wanted to work with John for
years and years, wondering what it would be like.
“Finally got the chance - and he
was the complete gentleman and fine, fine musician I had always hoped he would
be. When you meet a hero who helped shape your career – it’s a wonderful
feeling to find they’re even cooler than you always thought they were.”
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Man of the World: The Peter Green Story and it's riveting. Many blues fan have been listening to the original Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Peter Green for a long time and most have seen video clips of their performances but this release is seriously great! Rather than paste together more clips with music that may or may not be released, this film takes a totally new direction playing Peter Green's music in full fidelity between and behind excellent candid interviews with John Mayall, Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Peter's brothers and many others. This film is focused and fresh, showing the band as it was ... up close and really personal questions regarding Green, his talent, his problems and how the band Fleetwood Mac got it's name. It's tormented yet sensitive. It's done in an organized fashion so that it's easy to follow but not oversimplified to be repetitive or slow.
Last but not least, you get a personal tour by Green of his guitar collection. It's curious to see his wonder with each guitar as if they are new but then his recall of stories related to each. Another extra is the reading of a letter that Green wrote to his manager when he was in Hawaii, explaining his interest in remaining clear of money. Lastly, there are further discussion of his prec=vious bandmates which were left out of the film.
I see a lot of film and this one is really top notch with necessary live footage showing the band in performance. I highly recommended this film for anyone with even remote interest in British blues and modern blues roots.
Excellent!
Blues Hall of
Fame Member John Mayall Set to Release New CD, Talk about That,on
January 27, 2017, from Forty Below Records
Latest Album
Features Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member Joe Walsh as Special Guest on
Two Tracks
LOS ANGELES, CA – Iconic musician and Blues Hall of Fame
member John Mayall will release his latest CD, Talk about That,
on January 27 from Forty Below Records. Joining Mayall (vocals, keyboards,
harmonica and guitar) and Greg Rzab (bass), Jay Davenport (drums) and Rocky
Athas (guitar) as special guest is legendary guitarist Joe Walsh, who plays on
two tracks, “The Devil Must Be Laughing” and “Cards on the Table,” both John
Mayall compositions. The songs showcase Walsh’s amazing guitar work and are
destined to be two of the many highlights on this new disc. Talk about
That will be available for pre-orders at both Amazon.com and iTunes
starting December 9.
Watch a special preview video of
the making of Talk about That:
Produced by John Mayall (who also designed the album
package) and Forty Below Records president Eric Corne (who also engineered and
mixed), Talk about That was recorded at House of Blues Studio in
Encino, California, and contains 11 tracks: eight originals, plus covers from
Memphis soul music songwriter Bettye Crutcher (“It’s Hard Going Up”), blues
great Jimmy Rogers (“Goin’ Away Baby”) and rock singer/songwriter Jerry Lynn
Williams (“Don’t Deny Me”). The album also showcases a three-piece horn section
that adds extra punch on several tracks, including the infectious New
Orleans-flavored “Gimme Some of that Gumbo.”
“When I first had
the idea for the title track, ‘Talk about That,’ I wanted to write lyrics that
were about aspects of life that were running through my head,” says John
Mayall. “I also wanted to give the song a modern groove that would convey the
fun mood driving the piece. Greg and Jay laid down a really infectious
rhythm for me to feature my keyboard chops and bring the song to life with a
really funky feel driving it.”
Throughout
his career, John Mayall has always written timely songs that reflect what he
sees going on in the world around him, whether it’s war, poverty, social
injustice or personal introspection. Such is the case with “The Devil Must Be
Laughing,” which deals with the current political and world climate. And that
incentive also brought him in touch with Joe Walsh, who contributes some
percolating guitar work that melds perfectly with the song’s theme.
“A day
before we recorded ‘The Devil Must Be Laughing,’ we got a message through the
studio owner that Joe Walsh wanted to come by and possibly play on a track or
two as a guest,” recalls Mayall. “Who was I to say no to that idea! So,
Joe turned up at noon on the appointed day and with only a quick listen,
plugged in and we did the song in one take. The second song closely
followed, and with a smile and a quick photo, Joe was done and on his way.
What a kick for all of us that day!”
For Joe Walsh, playing on a session with one of his musical
heroes also held a special place. “It has been a
bucket-list item since 1970 to play with John Mayall,” states Walsh. “John
had a run of GREAT British guitarists (one after another) with his
‘Bluesbreakers’ albums, and that’s how many of us in the States
became aware of them. Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor - I
studied them all for hours and became a much better guitarist as a
result. The albums were legendary stuff and I have wanted to work with John for
years and years, wondering what it would be like.
“Finally got the chance - and he
was the complete gentleman and fine, fine musician I had always hoped he would
be. When you meet a hero who helped shape your career – it’s a wonderful
feeling to find they’re even cooler than you always thought they were.”
The recording sessions for Talk about That also
represent the last recordings with Mayall’s quartet band lineup, as shortly
after they were completed, guitarist Rocky Athas left the band to pursue his
solo career. Starting with the recent fall tour dates of the British blues
“Godfather,” his band became a trio with Mayall, Rzab and Davenport.
In September, John Mayall issued the following statement:
“By now, many of you will have heard the dramatic news that
I will now be performing live shows as a trio. I feel I should explain how it
all came about in a chain of events that led to my decision. Due to
severe storm conditions recently, guitarist Rocky Athas was unable to get out
of Dallas for my recent festival shows that led to my performing as a
trio. Having never performed anywhere or at any time without a guitar
sidekick, I found that I was able to explore new territories in a trio
configuration playing organ, keyboards, harmonica and guitar. Needless to
say I was surprised at how different and stimulating the experience was for me
as a performer.
“When I told Rocky Athas of my decision, he was very
understanding and hopefully his popularity in my band for the past seven years
will be increased as he resumes his solo career. To me it seems fitting
that the final guitar position in my band featured one of the nicest and most
talented guys I’ve known and the best in his field. We all wish him well.
“So now, as Greg Rzab, Jay Davenport and I embark on several
weeks of intensive touring all around the States, we hope you all will enjoy
the fireworks coming your way as my live show calendar brings us to your
expectant ears.”
The John Mayall trio will continue to tour throughout the
fall and into early 2017 in the U.S., followed by a lengthy European tour in
February. The American tour includes several days onboard the “Legends Cruise,”
leaving Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and sailing from January 19 – 23.
THE BLUES FOUNDATION 2016 BLUES HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND 37TH BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
SET FOR MAY 4 AND 5
Best in blues recording,
songwriting, and performance to be celebrated at the Memphis' Cook
Convention Center.
All six living Hall of Fame
inductees will be in attendance
MEMPHIS,
Tenn. — On Thursday,
May 5, 2016,
the Blues Foundation will present its annual Blues
Music Awards at the Cook
Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The Awards are universally
regarded as the highest accolade afforded to blues performers, and the
awards ceremony is widely recognized as the premier event for
professionals, musicians and fans from around the world. The mission of
the celebration is to honor the rich cultural tradition of the blues by
recognizing the past year’s outstanding achievements in performance,
songwriting and recording.
On
May 4, at the Halloran
Centre for Performing Arts, the Blues
Foundation will induct five legendary artists into the Blues Hall of Fame: Elvin Bishop, Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson, John
Mayall, Memphis Jug Band, and
Malaco Records' Tommy Couch Sr. and Wolf
Stephenson.
Elected by a select group of respected blues scholars and industry
veterans, Hall of Fame inductees are recognized for their musical
achievements and their contributions to blues history.
Leading
this year’s award nomination count are James Harman with five, and Anthony Geraci and Sugaray
Rayford,
who each have four. Harman and Geraci will go head to head in three
categories: Best
Song, Best Album, and Best
Traditional Blues Album. Harman’s gift for musical storytelling, combined
with the soulful sound of his newest release, Bonetime, propelled him to a nomination as Best Traditional Male Blues Artist, and his strong musicianship
set the stage for his nomination as Best Instrumentalist — Harmonica. Geraci's piano finesse led
to a nomination for the prestigious Pinetop Perkins Piano Player award.
Vocalist-songwriter Rayford is nominated for Contemporary Blues Album and Contemporary Blues Male Artist, as well as Best Song and the B.B.
King Entertainer Award.
Cedric
Burnside
and Shemekia Copeland, 2016 Grammy nominees,
each have three nominations here, as do Doug MacLeod, the Cash
Box Kings,
Victor Wainwright and Wee Willie Walker (see below for a complete list
of nominees).
The
five new Blues
Hall of Fame inductees have all had long and influential careers
that have elevated each to seminal status in the blues world. Elvin Bishop was honored with the 2015 Blues Music Awards for Song of the Year. Bishop and his fellow 2016
inductees Clearwater, Johnson and Mayall all have bodies of work spanning
more than half a century, and each continues to create new music and
perform for new audiences. The legendary Memphis Jug Band’s music crossed
racial divides during the first half of the 20th century, and inspired
countless musicians to follow in their footsteps.
For
their behind-the-scenes contributions, Malaco Records partners Tommy Couch Sr. and Wolf
Stephenson,
who founded a Southern R&B empire that continues to be an influential
force, are also Blues Foundation honorees this year.
This
year’s literature entry into the Blues Hall of Fame is Jeff Todd Titon’s book Early Downhome Blues: A Musical and Cultural Analysis, which has been widely
recognized as one of the most important analytical studies of the blues
ever written.
The
Blues Hall of Fame is also honoring several historic blues recordings:
The classic Big
Bill Broonzy/Memphis Slim/Sonny Boy Williamson album Blues in the Mississippi Night (Nixa, 1957: United Artists,
1959), and the vintage singles “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith (OKeh, 1920), “That’s All Right” by Jimmy Rogers (Chess, 1950), Billy Boy Arnold's “I Wish You Would”
(Vee-Jay, 1955), “Blues Before Sunrise” by Leroy Carr and
Scrapper Blackwell (Vocalion, 1934) and “Merry Christmas Baby” by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers (Exclusive, 1947). The last
disc, with Charles
Brown
on vocal and piano, is the first Yuletide song inducted into the Blues
Hall of Fame.
The
Memphis-based
Blues Foundation is internationally renowned for its tireless efforts
in preserving blues heritage, celebrating blues recording and
performance, expanding worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensuring the
future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Blues Foundation has approximately 4,000
individual members and 200 affiliated local blues societies, representing
another 50,000 fans and professionals around the world.
The
Blues Foundation’s signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, International
Blues Challenge and Keeping
the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international capital of blues music.
The recent opening of the Blues
Hall of Fame Museum in Memphis, Tenn., now adds the opportunity for music
lovers of all ages to interact with the music and its
history.
Major
funding is provided by
ArtsMemphis and the Tennessee
Arts Commission. The 37th Blues Music Awards is also sponsored by AutoZone, BMI, First Tennessee Foundation, Legendary
Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Sony
Legacy Recordings.
HOF
tickets are $100 each, reception at 5:30pm with ceremony beginning at
6:30 p.m. BMA tickets are $150 each, tables of 10 for $1500; a special
pre-party will begin at 5:30 p.m.; the BMA begin at 6:30 p.m..
