Great Western Recording Company artist: Mike Eldred Trio - Baptist Town - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Baptist Town, from Mike Eldred Trio and his stuff just keeps getting better. This new release is gritty, bluesy and raw. Opening with rockin' boogie, Hunder Dollar Bill, Eldred is really cranking with excellent harp soloing from John "Big Nick" Samora and backed by John Bazz on bass and Jerry Angel on drums. Excellent! Papa Legba has a really swampy, sweaty sound with excellent backing harmonies from Jarvis Jernigan. Eldred steps up with a really nice stinger of a guitar solo on this track as well. Eldred and Jarvis share lead vocals on the slave blues sounding, Somebody Been Runnin' with terrific backing vocals from the Emmanuel Church Inspirational Choir featuring Vicki Dove and Michael Buccowich. Absolutely excellent! Simple acoustic blues track, Run Devil Run is Eldred and resonator joined by Lauren Brown tap dancing and James Pennebaker on mandolin. Very nice. Ballad, Roadside Shrine, is a quiet break in the center of wild dark creativity. John Mayer adds simple electric guitar and nicely presented lap slide creating a warm ambiance. Bess is an upbeat, Cajun flavored country track. With David Hidalgo on accordion and Jarvis and Tracy on backing vocals, this track has a pure sensitivity. Primitive blues based, Black Annie, starts off very quiet with only vocal and percussion almost like from a transistor radio but burst open full and heavy. Backing vocal by Jervis and spontaneous raw guitar work on this track gives it real life. Excellent! Hoodoo Man has a great rhythm with cool vocals and fat slide guitar work. This track is really hot! Hard driving, Sugar Shake, is a direct rocker with scorching rock guitar riffs, solid guitar rhythm, bass and drums. This track would be the track where everyone gets up and dances so you cant see the band. Very nice! Blues rocker, Kill My Woman, is a blend between Roy Head and Hound Dog Taylor. Raw blues rock, this track has a great feel and snappy guitar riffs. Title track, Baptist Town, has a bluesy Latin rhythm and clean, neck pickup electric lead by Robert Cray. His distinct styling against the light rhythmic backing is magical. Heavy and lumbering, Lennon and McCartney's Can't Buy Me Love gets a raw, bluesy rework. Hard worked lead guitar riffs, heavy guitar and bass runs and killer cymbal work take this track places the Beatles never thought of. Creative and well done, this track will surprise you! Wrapping the release is the gospel fused, You're Always There, featuring Lead vocals by Jarvis Jernigan, Vicki Dove and Michael Buccowich on vocals with Eldred and inspired organ work from Papa John De Francesco. Excellent closer to an excellent release!



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Delta Groove Music artist: Bob Corritore - Taboo - New release Review

I just received the newest release (April 15, 2014), Taboo, from Bob Corritore and I have to say it's absolutely spectacular! I won't have to review this in my car a month from now to know whether I will like it next time around. It is simply that good! Living in the Phoenix metro area for a long time, I have seen Corritore many times and been to his famous blues club, The Rhythm Room many times as well. I have to say that this is surpasses every live performance that I have ever seen Bob do, and will easily make it into one of the must have releases of the year. This all instrumental, yes, all instrumental release opens with Potato Stomp, a cool Chicago style blues track with Junior Watson on guitar, Doug James on sax, Fred Kaplan on keys, Kedar Roy on bass and Ray Innes on drums. Corritore is forward in the mix and playing strong. A nice sax solo leads to a stutter stepped guitar solo from Watson. Excellent! Many A Devil's Night, one of my favorite tracks on the release has a real bluesy ballad feel to it. Corritore really hits the note on this track and Junior Watson plays some really outstanding riffs on this track. Kaplan lays down some mean keys and it's not just filler. This is the real deal guys. Harmonica Watusi pretty clearly describes what you might expect. Corritore grabs that famous tone and bouncing against Kaplan they get a good groove on. Slamming guitar riffs ... surf style give this track a fun feel and is a cool sorbet cleansing the palate for the next bite of blues. Taboo  is a quiet tune with understated harp and beautiful light guitar chords with tom tom. This song has that 50's soundtrack feel and I really like it. This release really is excellent! Harp Blast is a straight off Chicago boogie. Corritore is leading the way with great harp work and supported by solid work from Kedar Roy. If this doesn't get your foot stompin... get someone to check your pulse. Mr. Tate's Advice is a really nice Chicago style number with Corritore again taking a strong position with some of the clearest harp playing I have heard in a long time. James keeps a strong horn riff going under the melody and also plays a tight solo to be reckoned with. Papa John supports the bottom with organ and Dowell Davis plays clean articulate drums as well. Jimmie Vaughn lays down some really tasty guitar riffs on this track trading off with DeFrancesco on keys leading back to a unified ending. Really nice! 5th Position Plea has a slower blues gate and smooth T Bone Walker like guitar riffs from Watson. Corritore lays down some less conventional harp sounds that give the track a whole different feel and Kaplan really does a nice job on piano. This track is a slow burner.... yeah! Fabuloco has a bit of Latin rhythm mixed into the track giving Corritore a clean slate to solo over. A bright little blues track with spunk. Shuff Stuff is a hot shuffle track with a solid bottom. Corritore blows a mean harp on this track and Doug James is right on his tail. Fluid guitar riffs are the name of the game for Watson on this one and the boys pull it together Chicago style for the big ending. (Looking forward to see what Stilladog thinks of this one.) T-Town Ramble has a strong Morganfield feel a Corritore shows he's definitely one of the big boys. Great tone and muted amplification make for a great sound leading to a nice clean piano solo from Kaplan. Wrapping the release is a down and dirty Bob's Late Hours. Watson lays back on guitar with Kaplan on piano laying a bed of music for Corritore to play the blues. This is really a strong showing for Corritore. I believe that he has never been captured at full potential and that this recording will do a lot to elevate his acknowledgement as one of the best blues band leaders today.

  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”