Ilya Portnov - Strong Brew - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strong Brew, from Ilya Portnov and it's quite good. Opening with shuffle track, Sunny Afternoon Blues, Ilya Portnov leads on melody on harmonica, joined by Kid Anderson on bass, Chris Burns on keys, Ben Andrews on violin and June Core on drums. Cool key work and sinuous violin work give this track an earthy feel. Surfin' the Baltic Sea is a real cool surf track with a definite twist. Dynamic harp work and a great melody, spanked along by snappy drums and a smoky organ solo and a super guitar add by Andersen makes this a real killer. Dance of a Lonely Doll is a particularly cool track featuring Portnov on chromatic harp and it's old world charm makes it one of my favorites on the release. Andersen's bass work and classic handling of piano riffs really emphasize the beauty of the track. Very nice. Rev. Gary Davis' Cincinnati Flow Rag is a cool and loosely flowing acoustic track with slappy drum work giving it real charm. Bouncy harp work by Portnov works really nicely with the rhythm and Rob Vye adds nice guitar work. Another really strong track, In A Town Garden, transports you to eastern Europe and a quieter time. Portnov masterfully plays his harp and Core's drums work is excellent. Burns works in a really nice organ solo and Andersen really captures the spirit on a nicely stylistic solo of his own. Terrific. Chicago style blues, Behind The Wall really gets a groove going with Robby Yamilov on bass, and Portnov really digs in showing a solid feel for the blues. Very nice. Title track, Strong Brew, has blues roots but with a Euro/jazz undertone. Harmony by Portnov is complex and expressive, giving way to the round tones of Burns on organ and the fluid jazz runs of Kid Andersen. Excellent! 1928 has a definitive tango style rhythm and with it's rich melody and Portnov's beautiful harmonica work, complimented by Andrews' violin styling makes for another solid entry. Wrapping the release with a Bo Diddley beat on Till The Early Morning, Portnov creates a cool, train like tone and Andersen's shimmery guitar work, and bouncy piano contributions by Burns and drumming by  Core and percussion my Vye make this a solid closer. I really like this release, not only for it's musicianship and execution but for it's unique melodic beauty. Very nice job. 

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Sweet Home Chicago - Blues Cousins

In 2000 the Blues Cousins was awarded the best blues band at “Blues Sur Seine” festival in France among 57 bands from all over the globe. Few weeks later Levan Lomidze (lead guitarist and the singer ) was awarded by the Moscow government for the gig –“Blues Against the Drugs” In 2003 and 2004 the band made two big (three month) tours in USA performing more than 70 gigs and took part in 15 blues festivals in Washington , Idaho , Montana and other states. In the summer of 2004 Blues Cousins singed contract with “Jazz Stream Records” ( USA ) and recorded and released live CD in USA . In January 2005 the Blues Cousins made another tour in Washington and Montana . This way The Blues Cousins became the first Russian blues band recognized and demanded in US - the homeland of blues and jazz. 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 favorite band!

Help Me - Blues Cousins

In 2000 the Blues Cousins was awarded the best blues band at “Blues Sur Seine” festival in France among 57 bands from all over the globe. Few weeks later Levan Lomidze (lead guitarist and the singer ) was awarded by the Moscow government for the gig –“Blues Against the Drugs” In 2003 and 2004 the band made two big (three month) tours in USA performing more than 70 gigs and took part in 15 blues festivals in Washington , Idaho , Montana and other states. In the summer of 2004 Blues Cousins singed contract with “Jazz Stream Records” ( USA ) and recorded and released live CD in USA . In January 2005 the Blues Cousins made another tour in Washington and Montana . This way The Blues Cousins became the first Russian blues band recognized and demanded in US - the homeland of blues and jazz. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

San-Ho-Zay - Kirk Fletcher with Vladimir Rusinov & the Jumping Cats

Vladimir Rusinov & The Jumping Cats were formed in 2003 in Moscow by guitar player Vladimir Rusinov. Since then the band has played numerous club gigs and successfully participated in festivals all over Russia and abroad. Some of the highlights include Himalayan Blues Festival 2011 (Nepal), August Blues 2011 (Estonia), Moscow International Blues Festivals (Russia), Belgrade Blues Festival 2009 (Serbia), Blues Nights 2009 (Lithuania), Minsk Blues Festival 2009 (Belarus), Neva Delta Blues festivals (St Petersburg), Empty Hills festivals and all the festivals organized by the Russian Blues Society (blues.ru).

Every week the band presents a blues show "The Jumping Tuesdays" at the Moscow's renown Roadhouse Blues Club. More than 40 musicians from Russia, Norway, Belarus and Ukraine were featured in these series of gigs as special guests. The Jumpin' cats earned a reputation of a very reliable band, which is why the foreign musicians often choose it as an accompanying band when touring Russia. Band played with John Nemeth, JW Jones, Kirk Fletcher, Robert Lighthouse and many others.

Vladimir Rusinov is a powerful and soulful guitar player and singer. After winning the Russian Hendrix Contest in 2002 he has shifted to west-coast blues style and spent a lot of time playing jump and swing blues with different bands. Later he started his own project entitled "The Jumping Cats" which delivers a mixture of blues styles spicing it up with swing, funk, surf and soul. Vladimir has shared the stage with such artists as Rick Holmstrom, Enrico Crivellaro, Tad Robinson, Alex Shultz, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Eddie C. Campbell, Phil Guy, Vidar Busk, Kid Andersen and many others.

Mikhail Belov (bass) and Ksenia Dubrovskaya (drums) form one of the best rhythm-sections in Russia. They add the right groove and swing to the sound of the band. The lineup of the band hasn't changed since the day it was formed. Jumping Cats is a solid band that has proven that it can can rock small venues, as well as big open-air festivals.
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Let Me Be Your Romeo - ARSEN SHOMAKHOV

Arsen Shomakhov, Russian singer & guitar player extraordinaire, in the past five years has become a major force as a blues artist, performing for Russian Federal TV, Moscow's legendary BB King Club and blues festivals throughout Russia, Norway, USA and Canada. In 2007, after performing at the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, Arsen Shomakhov was announced as the Best Emerging Artist by the Sonny Boy Blues Society. In 2008 Arsen Shomakhov moved to Vancouver, where he formed the Arsen Shomakhov Trio. His new album entitled "On the Move" was released on Blues Leaf Records in July 2010 and reached #1 in the Canada Roots music charts and #2 in the American top 50 Blues Chart for the week of August 6, 2010 (source: rootsmusicreport.com). In November 2010 Arsen was nominated New Artist of the Year by the Maple Blues Awards Blues Review testifies: "Shomakhov's singing is strong and his excellent guitar work pays rare attention to tonal variety and to creating strong rhythms as well as fleet-fingered, inventive solos.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Magic Carpet Ride - John Kay & Steppenwolf

John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, 12 April 1944, Tilsit then Germany, today Russia) is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf. Kay has lived since 1990 in Franklin, Tennessee.

In the Evacuation of East Prussia in early 1945, in harsh winter conditions, his mother first had to flee with the baby boy from the advancing Soviet troops. In 1948, the two also fled from Arnstadt in the East German Soviet occupation zone to resettle in Hanover, West Germany (as recounted in his song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf Seven). Located in the British occupation zone, teen aged Joachim, suffering from eyesight problems, listened to music broadcast by the British Forces Broadcasting Service before his family moved to Canada in 1958.

He joined a blues rock and folk music group known as The Sparrows in 1965, which had moderate success in Canada before moving to California in the USA, augmenting its line-up and changing its name to Steppenwolf in 1967. With music that pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, Kay's Steppenwolf had international success with songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", "Monster", "The Pusher", and "Rock Me". This was multiplied by the use of "Born to Be Wild" and "The Pusher" in the 1969 movie Easy Rider.

Kay recorded both as a solo artist and with Steppenwolf during the late 1970s, and wrapped up Steppenwolf's 40th year of touring with what was to be a final gig in October 2007. However, Kay and Steppenwolf appeared July 24, 2010, at the three-day HullabaLOU music festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 2004 he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, in recognition of his early years as a Canadian citizen and the beginnings of his musical career in Toronto. Kay was present at the induction ceremony in Toronto, and reiterated his strong affection for Canada.

Kay suffers from increased sensitivity to light, so he wears his trademark sunglasses. He also has congenital achromatopsia, complete colorblindness, a defect of the cone cells in the eyes which causes him to see in black and white, and results in legal blindness. Despite this condition, he is an avid videographer.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Stopadjiiski Blues - Barabi Blues Band

Russian blues band. Bio not available. Check this guy out playing the fast riffs and behind his head!!
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Have You Ever Loved A Woman - Boris Bulkin

Look at all this gear!!! This is how men would live if there were no women!!

Love it!! (And he can play!!)

Boris N. Bulkin - is one of most famous musicians on russian blues stage. He got a very spicy kind of vocal and own "non-classical" guitar playing style. Very long time Bulkin has got many followers, that are now Russian famous blues and rock guitarists. Boris and “Stainless Blues Band” played in "Russia" concert hall in together concert with Chuck Berry, that had Moscow tour at 1997. Bulkin began his musician one's career since 1970. Since 1982 'till 1986 - B.B. was a guitarist in famous russian blues group "Liga Bluza" ("Blues League") of Nikolay Arutyunov. From 1974 before today Bulkin created four serious projects:
1974 - 1982 “Weekend”
1986 - 2002 “Volnyi Stil” ("Free Style")
1994 - 1995 “Hot Style Вand”
Since 1994 - “Stainless Blues Band”
Now “Stainless Blues Band” plays about 20 concerts monthly in the different Moscow night clubs and at other cities stages.
15 years of stage activity made SBB a regular club band in Moscow. The group has got a big experience of the work on the different stages - from the little pubs to the stadiums.
“Stainless Blues Band” music - is a fusion of old blues spirit and new rock traditions power. In group's playlist You can find the songs of world music stars : Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Santana, Sting, Stevie Wonder, “Animals”, "Rolling Stones"... But any old hit in SBB version sounds absolutely different way, sometime in really hard performance. But always SBB plays in the concerts traditional blues numbers.
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"Everyday I have the BLUES"!! :-)

Spotlight: Russia Got the Blues

Sergey Voronov, Blues musician and Leader of the CROSSROADZ blues band
1961 - Born in Moscow
1983 - Graduates, Maurice Thorez Foreign Languages Institute
1986 - Joins the "Stas Namin group" Soviet band
1987 - Forms the Blues League with his friend, Nikolay Arutyunov
1990 - Forms Crossroadz
1992 - Tours France with Crossroadz and changes the band's name to X-roudz
1993 - Releases first official recording, Paris
1995 - Releases album Between, Russia
1996 - Performs as a special guest with ZZ top and Nazareth, also jams with Sting in Moscow
1996 - Featured performance with Dan Akroyd and the Blues Brothers band at the opening of the House of Blues, Chicago
1997 - X-roudz signs with the Rise Music Russian record label
1997 - Performs with Noel Redding from the Jimi Hendrix Experience
1998 - Releases album Iron Blues-Conversations
1999 - X-roudz becomes the first blues band in history to tour China
2000 - X-roudz changes back to Crossroadz
2004 - Crossroadz headlines at an 8 hour blues marathon dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the B.B.King club - the oldest blues venue in Moscow
2004 - Crossroadz performs at the Douarnenez Festival, France
2005 - Crossroadz celebrates it’s 15th anniversary
2006 - Crossroadz has another successful London club tour with the Woodstock legend, Barry "The Fish" Melton, joining them on stage

Today we will talk about blues music. A band named CROSSROADZ was once called the only Russian band that can play the blues and rock’n’roll for real. Blues veteran B.B. King and many other music celebrities have enjoyed playing with the band. Sergey Voronov, a blues musician and leader of CROSSROADZ, who has just released his new solo album, is the guest in our studio today.

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Я чирикаю пост фаворита болельщиков недели каждый понедельник.

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Удачного дня!

Бман
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If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”