Blue Heart Records artist: Mike Bourne Band featuring Johnny Burgin - Crusin' Kansas City - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crusin' Kansas City, from Mike Bourne Band and it's straight up rockin' blues. Opening with laid back title track, Crusin' Kansas City with my man Johnny Burgin on guitar with Mike Bourne, Patrick Recob on bass, and Dave Creighton on organ. Cool opener. Swing track, Lose Your Rings, Keep Your Fingers features Bourne on lead vocal and beefy organ work by Creighton. Burgin steps up with his hot, stylistic guitar soloing giving the track real sting. Morganfield sound permeates, Hollow Man with John Paul Drum on harmonica and Bourne on vocal. Adam Hagerman on on drums and Recob on bass keep the bottom tight and understated slide work adds nicely to the set. Loose With The Truth is absolutely my favorite track on the release with real nice vocal work by Bourne, a featured trumpet solo by Greg Hopkins a cool sax solo and Johnny Burgin loose with some of the signature, blistering guitar work that makes him one of my contemporary favorites. Sam Treinen blows some righteous R&B style sax on The One and Burgin really digs in deep with a rich solo of his own giving Bourne a strong platform for his soulful vocals. Dangerous Game is another of my favorites with it's swampy indie rocker feel. I really like how the track just lays in it's discolored groove and Bourne rides high on his vocal style. Burgin again steps in with reckless abandon on guitar and this is really something that he shines at. Great contrast for the release. Wrapping the release is slow blues, Kansas City Grease, featuring Johnny Iguana on delicious piano, Big D Ericson on lush harmonica, solid guitar work from Bourne, Rob Lorenz on drums and Mike Grinns on bass. This is a strong closer for a real entertaining release. 

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Blues House productions artist: John Primer - Hard Times - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hard Times, from John Primer and it's a fat slice of Chicago blues. Opening with contemporary blues rocker, You Got What I Want, John Primer on lead vocal and guitar  set up another solid blues performance with  the Real Deal Blues Band. Steve Bell on harmonica lays down some real nice harmonica riffs, backed by Lenny Media on drums and David Forte on bass. Title track, Hard Times, has a cool driving blues feel with Primer on slide and vocal and featuring  Johnny Iguana on piano. With an aggressive bass line by Forte on I Won't Sweat It, Primer sings the blues at half tempo over a double time tempo. A cool solo by Bell on harmonica and a nice guitar solo of his own gives this track traction. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful, Tough Times featuring Primer's daughter on her vocal debut. Primer lays in some real nicely phrased guitar lead on this one diving it another dimension. All Alone is a strong Chicago blues with firm footings and some of Primer's vocals on the release. His Elmo James' influenced slide playing always gets my attention and there's plenty here. Very nice. Another real tasty track is You Mean So Much To Me with it's Chicago lope and featuring Primer upfront on guitar and vocal and with some real tasty piano work by Iguana. Hot Meal is a nice, slow blues with great vocal work by Primer adorned and complimented by Bell's harmonica. This track has just the right pace and Primer's slide work again is featured and cool. Wrapping the release is shuffle track, Whiskey, with it's "party" lyrics. With a great tempo and crowd appeal, this is likely the select track on the release and a great 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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Delmark Records artist: Johnny Iquana's : Chicago Spectacular! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release from Johnny Iguana, Chicago Spectacular! and it's a cool mix of styles and packed with blues notables. Opening with Roosevelt Sykes' 44 Blues, featuring John Primer, Bob Margolin and Michael Caskey, Iguana does a great job on keys and Primer's lead vocals are super. On Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom ,Primer has the mic again and with cool guitar lead and with Michael Caskey on drums another cool entry. Gil Scott- Heron's Lady Day and John Coltrane has a cool, laid back jazzy feel and features Phillip-Michael Scales on lead vocal and guitar. Iguana really rocks the piano on this one with simple rhythms by Caskey. Lil' Ed guests on Burning Fire with flaming lead guitar and vocal. Rolling piano work by Iguana and solid drum work by Kenny Smith makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lil' Ed is back on Elmore James' Shake Your Moneymaker and Ed knows how to make that slide talk. Very cool. Sonny Boy Williamson's Stop Breakin' Down slides in nicely with Matthew Skoller on harmonica and lead vocal and Billy Flynn on lead guitar. Closing the release is Big Bill Broonzy's Hot Dog Mama with lead vocals by Billy Boy Arnold and lead guitar by Billy Flynn. Iguana did a really nice job putting htis set together and his piano work throughout is strong. 

  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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