3 On The B Records artist: Omar Coleman & Westside Soul - Westside Soul - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Westside Soul, from Omar Coleman & Westside Soul and I quite like it. Opening with Sweet Little Woman, a cool gospel like R&B track with a Ray Charles/Billy Preston feel, Omar is front and center on lead vocal backed by Neal O'Hara on keys, Ari Seder on bass, Marty Binder on drums and Pete Galanis on guitar. On Ashford and Simpson number, Let's Go Get Stoned, Coleman takes the pace up with a bit of high steppin' and his vocals are super. Let The Babies Live is a driving R&B track with a super bass line by Seder grinding guitar riffs from Galanis. Funky, Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone has a grooving bass line and O'Hara sets up some real nice organ work. Soul track, I Let A Good Girl Go, is one of my favorite tracks on the release, really highlighting Coleman's vocals nicely. Galanis steps up nicely on Rotten Old Lady with fluid blues riffs giving the track a nice kick. Another favorite on the release, Good Provider has particularly cool vocals by Coleman and with hard working bass lines by Seder, and cool keyboards work by O'Hara this track just has that right feel. R&B track, Give Me The Green Light, is another track that just gets in your blood. Coleman's phrasing, O'Hara's organ and that funky bottom by Seder and Binder is tops. On Don Nix's Goin' Down, Coleman sticks very close to Jeff Beck's arrangement from the 70's which is quite effective. No attempt is made by Galanis to put up Beck like pyrotechnics but his own guitar work is really quite cool with O'Hara's keyboard work shoring up the track over driving bass and drum work by Seder and Binder. Wrapping the release is Whisper To A Moan, a bluesy rocker with soulful vocals and a frenzied keyboard solo by O'Hara for a cool closer to a real nice 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

Delmark Records artist: Omar Coleman Band - Live At Rosa's Lounge - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Live At Rosa's Lounge, from Omar Coleman Band and it's quite good. Hot on the heels of his super 2015 release, Born & Raised , Coleman has put out a dynamic live release flexing his power.

Opening with Guy/Wells composition, Snatch It Back And Hold It, with some pure soul on vocal Omar leads the way over a great bass line from Dave Forte. Neal O'Hara takes a nice organ solo, with Marty Binder on drums and Omar wraps it up with harp. Cool opener. On Willie Dixon's, I'm Ready, OCB stays the course of Morganfield, adding a real nice piano solo by O'Hara. On funky, Born and Raised, Coleman gets a great James Brown feel going with wah wah and Preston style organ. His vocals are nicely crafted and delivered. This track has some really nice harp soloing as well and a hot guitar solo by Pete Galanis. Very cool. Rocker, Slow Down Baby, has solid drive and Chuch Berry like guitar riffs by Galanis and hot piano riffs from O'Hara. Sit Down Baby/Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone is ultra funky and Omar is running the show. A cool organ solo by O'Hara gives the track a hot side and Coleman's harp work wraps the track. Cool. Easy jazz swinger, Raspberry Wine, has old school roots and vocals but with tight bass lines by Ari Seder and drum work by Binder and a smooth organ solo by O'Hara has a great groove. High stepping, Lucky Man, gives Galanis a wide open range to rip the guitar and he steps up to the plate nicely. Omar's vocal/ harp exchange is relentless making this track one of my favorites on the release. Deep soul track, One Request, showcases Coleman's vocals nicely and Galanis steps in with a particularly nice blues solo capping off the track. Very nice! Rufus Thomas' Give Me The Green Light has a strong funk pushed nicely by the funky rhythm of Galanis, O'Hara and Seder. Seder's bass lines on this track are reall funky and Coleman really hits the groove. Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's Two Headed Woman with a bit of country flavor. Galanis even throws down country guitar riffs before turning back to a more traditional Morganfield "Mojo" feel. Nice closer to a hot live 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" 

 

Delmark artist: Omar Coleman - Born & Raised - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Born & Raised, by Omar Coleman and this guy can sing! Opening with Shuffle track, Tryin' To Do Right, Coleman exhibits his solid vocals and harp work complimented by Pete Galanis on guitar, Neal O'Hara on keys, Ari Seder on bass ad Marty Binder on drums. Man Like Me has a pure Chicago sound with nice harp work from Coleman and a tasty guitar solo from Toronzo Cannon. Funky Sit Down Baby is anchored by O'Hara's organ work and nicely driven by Seder and Binder. Coleman rides the top with great vocal style and Galanis pops off some stinging riffs along with Colemans harp work pulling the track together. Soulful, I Was A Fool, blends a light funk and soul into the blues for a really strong track. Guest guitarist Mike Wheeler plays some really soulful riffs on this track, making it one of my favorites on the release. A bit more funky, Wishing Well, has a down right limp. It gets so funky you may need an air freshner and Wheeler is right there with fluid guitar riffs keeping the track tight on. Rocker, Slow Down Baby, finds Dave Herrero laying down a solid Chuck Berry riff and O'Hara rides the 88's as Coleman delivers on vocal and harp. Herrera rips a nice solo on this track making Coleman holler for help! Cool track! Another funky track, Lucky Man, with perfect drum riffs by Binder digs a real nice groove. Galanis plays a perfect response to Coleman's vocal call and O'Hara lays right in the groove on organ. Galanis steps up with heated guitar riffs giving the track another dimension altogether making this another favorite on the release. Upbeat shuffle track, You Got A Hold On Me, opens with a real nice harp intro from Coleman. Cannon's back setting the pace with a nice guitar lead and Binders drums are particularly crisp. The coolest harp work on the release falls right into place on this one making it the complete package. Title track, Born & Raised, is a high stepper with Coleman keeping his feet high. Galanis rips a real nice guitar solo on this one over the wah wah rhythm. Very cool! Slow soul track, One Request is the most memorable melody on the track making it my choice for radio track of the release. I really like Coleman's vocal leads on this track and the light organ support by O'Hara on this track is perfect. His piano work is nicely presented, Seder's bass hand is right there and Binder is spot on. Again Galanis steps up with a nice guitar solo on this track but just enough to emphasize the dynamics on the track. Nicely done. Funky jazz track, Tell Me What You Want, has a nice bass line from Seden which really sets the table for me. Coleman's vocal phrasing on the track as well as his harp work is nicely complimented by hot guitar riffs from Herrero. New Orleans infused, I Know You Been Cheating, has an almost rhumba feel with a nice harp solo from Coleman. Seder on snare and O'Hara on piano really emphasize the cultural richness and Galanis throws down a tasty solo to ice the cake. Wrapping the release is full out jazz track, Raspberry Wine, with Coleman showing that his vocals can carry off even the more challenging style. Galanis steps up again with a real nice guitar solo on a carrier of organ and piano by O'Hara. O'Hara pulls off a real nice solo of his own on organ and then as is traditional Coleman steps back up to take the track home and the band joins in on vocals. Really nice 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”

 

Sean Carney Band Feat. Omar Coleman

Omar has established himself as one nation's premier harmonica players and authentic, dynamic blues performers alive today. With a voice soulful beyond his years, Omar has been blowing away audiences across the nation with his distinct, fiery harmonica skills. You may have seen Omar Coleman working throughout ChicagoLand & Northwest Indiana and across North America with the likes of the Kinsey Report, John Primer & the Real Deal Blues Band or the late-great Chico Banks, among many others. The future of Chicago Blues is being redefined by this harmonica virtuoso and the word is out!
The 2007 International Blues Challenge, held in February in Memphis, Tennessee, explaining that Carney and his crew are no newcomers to Blues. The IBC is presented by The Blues Foundation, who also awarded 34 year-old Carney the Albert King Best Guitarist Award and Best Dressed in their 23rd annual competition, before an audience of 1,700 blues lovers from all over the world.

A Columbus, Ohio native and veteran of the scene, like Carney, drummer Eric Blume has been performing with Carney in Columbus venues for over a decade, backing blues and R&B artists Christine Kittrell, Hank Marr, Jimmy “T-99” Nelson, Willie Pooch, Big Joe Duskin, Joe Weaver and Johnnie Bassett. In his early twenties, Carney’s passion for the Blues extended beyond the stage as he bolstered the scene in his hometown, organizing concerts featuring the likes of Jimmy Witherspoon and Charles Brown, writing blues-related articles, co-hosting a radio program called Spontaneous Combustion on WCBE 90.5 FM, organizing fundraisers for ailing artists and serving three terms as President of The Columbus Blues Alliance. When Hubert Sumlin and Henry Gray were recently in need of a backing band at The Soul Shine Blues Festival in Bascom, Ohio, organizers knew to look no further than The Sean Carney Band for professionalism and musicianship. Producer/guitarist Scott Cable also selected The SCB as backing band band for pioneering R&B vocalist Nappy Brown for a number of 2008 festival dates - unfortunately, it was not to be as the blues world recently lost Mr. Brown following a lengthy illness.

Like my Facebook Page, Post your video on my Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! Share your favorite posting and get more exposure for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”