Dialtone/VizzTone artist: Bloodest Saxophone - Texas Queens 5 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Texas Queens 5, from Bloodest Saxophone and it's powerful. Bloodest Saxophone has been playing old school sounds since 1998. Opening with I've Got A Feeling and Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals these guys show that they mean business. With Koda Shintaro on tenor sax, Coh on trombone, Osikawa Yukimasa on bari sax, Shuji on guitar, The Takeo on upright bass, and Kiminori on drums and percussion this track has real punch. Lead vocalist Crystal Thompson really pounds out the blues on Losing Battle with really nicely presented guitar by Johnny Moeller on guitars over strong brass and sax work. Excellent! Instrumental, Pork Chop Chick is a terrific jump track with super horn solos, driving rhythm and a real nice guitar exchange between Moeller and Shuji. Very nice. Lauren Cervantes is upfront on Latin track, Run Joe. Masterful rhythms, authentic vocals, tight percussion and wild powerful horns give this track real spunk. A really tasty guitar solo on It's Your Voodoo Working leading to a sassy sax solo by Shintaro give Jai Malano all the support she needs to carry the lead on this one. Don't Move Me gets a real swing and Moeller gets the track moving behind Thomas and the punchy brass on this one. The Grapevine really gets the feet tapping with Cervantes leading the way on an extremely horn lively route with a wild bari solo byYukimasa. Excellent! Wrapping the release is soulful, Cockroach Run, with it's grinding sax work and an aggressive guitar solo by Moeller capping off a really fun and bluesy release. 

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Station House Records artist: Dany Franchi - Problem Child - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Problem Child, from Dany Franchi and it's quite good. Opening with Back To The River, a full bodied R&B, horns and all with Dany Franchi on guitar and vocal,  Anson Funderburgh with round tone soloing and the Texas Horns chasing. Super opener. Give Me A Sign has a real nice piano rhythm by Jim Pugh and excellent guitar riffs by Franchi, backed by Nate Rowe on bass and Wes Starr on drums. With it's solid texas lope, Big Town Playboy features strong harp work by Greg Izor and rich lead guitar work by Franchi giving this track real traction. Soul ballad Real Love features some of Franchi's best vocal work on the release, with warm horns by Kaz Kazanoff, John Mills & Jimmie Shortel and a nice melodic guitar solo by Franchi. Very nice. Another favorite, Don't Steal My Time, has a great blend of warm vocals, great guitar riffs and fat horns. Excellent. Freddie King's Sen-Sa-Shun has real snap. Franchi has excellent guitar diction and with a fat organ solo by Pugh, this track sails. Excellent! Slow and expressive, My Only One is intense with super vocals and gripping guitar lines. Very very nice. Another strong entry is Everything Gonna Be Alright with excellent blues phrasing and hair raising runs. Excellent! Wanna Know is a sure footed blues rocker with an almost Paul Rodgers sureness. This release is super strong and shows unusual strength. This guy is gonna make some money! 

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Stony Plain artist: Sue Foley - The Ice Queen - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Ice Queen, from Sue Foley and I think it may be her best yet. Opening with Come To Me with Charlie Sexton joining on vocal and slide guitar, Foley adds a little funk to her already bluesy deal with Chris Maresh on bass, Chris Layton on drums and Kyle Thompson on maracas. Run has a country 2 step feel and Foley really drives this one with her ambitious guitar rhythm. Slow blues and title track, The Ice Queen, shows Foley at her purest with George rains on drums and Billy Horton on bass. Her riffs are right off a Hooker release and her vocals are simple and direct. Very nice. Shuffle track, The Lucky Ones features Jimmie Vaughan trading lead vocal and guitar riffs. With the addition of Mike Flanigin or organ, the track has an additional dimension and Foley's guitar riffs play nicely against Vaughan's. Billy Gibbons joins on Fool's Golds and his vocals really work great with Foley's. his solo work is always distinctive and effortless giving this track a nice sparkle. Blues ballad, If I Have Forsaken You is the strongest melodic track on the release giving it solid radio potential and Vaughan's distinctive playing style and tone shine. An updated cover of Bessie Smith's Send Me To the 'Lectric Chair is cool and fun. With Spanish and classical influences, The Dance highlight's Foley's acoustic guitar proficiency and also adds nicely to the overall texture of the release. Wrapping the release is Carter family's Cannonball Blues, again only Foley on acoustic guitar and vocal. This is a real nice closer for a totally enjoyable release.

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Blind Pig Records artist: Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Numbers Man - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Numbers Man, from Andy T - Nick Nixon Band and it's super. Opening with blues driver, Shut The Front Door, Nixon leads the way on solid vocals pushed along nicely by Kaz Kazanov (tenor sax), Al Gomez (trumpet) and John Mills (Bari sax), Larry Van Loon on B3, Jim Klingler on drums and Sam Persons on bass. Anson Funderburgh joins in with a tasty solo trading riffs with Andy for a hot opener. Devil's Wife has a flavor of new Orleans courtesy of piano work by Christian Dozzler and Klingler on drums. van Loons' B3 work complimented by The Horns lays it wide open for a nice solos by Kaz and Nixon. Tall strutting, Deep Blue Sea, is a great track to showcase this bands style with Nixon's vocals and The Horns holding down the bottom. A stylized solo from Andy and B3/piano from van Loon round out the track nicely. Dozzler's lead on accordion gives Tall Drink of Water a real Cajun flavor. Andy stirs the pot with few quick riffs but this track is all Nick. R&B track, Numbers Man, has a great groove. Nixon really catches the wave on this one, punched by The Horns. With super feel, Andy takes the track on full on and lays in some really soulful riffs. van Loon's B3 it hot and throaty and the horns balance the track out nicely. Excellent! Eugene Church R&B track, Pretty Girls Everywhere, is driven by Persons' solid bass line. This track borders on rock with a real swingin' feel and a killer sax solo by Kaz. Don Robey penned, Blue Monday has a really nice slow blues pace giving the band a great chance to stretch out a bit. Not only are Nixon's vocals super but Andy's guitar work on this track is excellent! Dozzler's sensitive piano work cleanly highlights the overall feel of the track, anchored by Klingler and Pearsons. Super! Hightailin' is a really nice instrumental with Andy taking the reins on van Loon's B3 setup. This track is a really nice showcase. Sundown Blues has a really nice lope and features "Mr Kim Wilson" of harp. Wilson, never the wallflower steps up and lays in a really nice harp solo working nicely with Nicks vocal lead. T-Bone Walker's, Tell me What's The Reason is a super track for this band setup. Andy really cooks the groove and with van Loon's feel on B3 and the Texas Horns punching it up, this track is a nice cooker! Funky rocker, Be Somebody Some Day, has a little bit of an Albert King style. Conversely, Andy's guitar solo's are all his own and Mills plays a few real nice bari solos adding real depth. Dozzler is back on accordion on What Went Wrong and with New Orleans flavored drumming by Klingler, the track has a real funky feel. Nixon's solid R&B style vocals and sweet guitar soloing by Andy and Dozzler add nicely to the mix. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Gatemouth Brown's Gate's Salty Blues has a real swagger. Nixon has the bull by the horns vocally and is swinging it at will. Andy has the response on guitar and then takes the lead throwing down a tasty guitar solo leaving you wanting more. Wrapping the release is the excellent, This World We Live In. With heavy feel like Jimmy Oden or Bobby Bland, this track really counts on Nick to deliver and he definitely has it covered. Backed by Denise Fraser on drums, Rick Reed on bass and Steve F'dor on piano Kevin McKendree takes a really nice B3 solo before turning over the lead to Andy for some of his most heartfelt riffs on the release. Nixon returns on this track making it and 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”