Grindstone Records artist: Wayne Nicholson - Gin House - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gin House, from Wayne Nicholson and I really like it. Opening with Gin House Blues, Wayne Nicholson is upfront on vocal, joined by James Logan on guitar, Bruce Dixon on bass, Neil Robertson on drums, Kim Dunn on piano and Hammond, Bill Stephenson on grand piano, Tony Diteodoro on guitars, Steve Marriner on harmonica and guitars and Lisa MacDougall on backing vocals. This is raw energy focused in a strong blues rock package. With it's Robert Johnson like construction, Cream like attack and Stones like finesse, this is a solid opener.  Mother Earth Blues has a deep rock rhythm with a stiff rim shot by Robertson driving the train. Warm Hammond tones by Dunn and Logan's slide work fill the track with raw energy and Nicholson eggs it on. Jimmy Reed's Honest I Do, provides a solid platform for vocal duet by Nicholson and MacDougall. With Dunn on piano and Logan laying down Reed like riffs, this track is a cool break. Forty Days and Forty Nights is a low slung shuffle with full harmonica work by Marriner and Dunn on piano giving Nicholson a great undercarriage and Logan's guitar work adds nice pinning. Invisible Blue is one of the stand out tracks on the release with it's quiet approach. Nicholson carries the melody over Dunn's Hammond work and a heavy bass line by Dixon. Quietly coaxing, Logan makes his appearance with really nice round Gilmore like tone topping off the track. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Wayne and Bill's Gin House Blues, a stripped down rework featuring only Nicholson on vocal and Stephenson on grand piano. This is a cool release that doesn't follow the main road...and I like it.

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Blue Heart Records artist: Rick Vito - Cadillac Man - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cadillac Man, from Rick Vito, and it very cool. Opening with Love Crazy Baby, a solid shuffle Rick Vito on lead vocal and guitar takes command of the track, backed by Mojo Johnson on drums, and Jim Hoke on sax. Blues rocker, Little Sheba has a cool mix of blues, rock and ethnic overtones, with Steve Marriner on harmonica working nicely together with Vito on guitar and vocal. A tight drum line by Jackson and Vito on bass makes this an ideal radio track. Slow blues, Crying at Midnight, is a real nice track with a super melody showcasing Vito's vocals as well and his Fleetwood Mac guitar influence. Very nice. Chicago style blues, Barbeque'n Baby had a great feel with Vito on slide guitar and vocal. This is a pretty hopping track and surely a favorite. Instrumental. Just Another Day is one of my favorites on the release featuring the lead slide work of Vito, backed by Hoke on sax, Jackson on drums, and Kevin MacKendree on B3. Very nice. Another track with wide radio appeal is You Can't Stop a Guitar (from Playing the Blues). With a romping beat led by Lynn Williams on drums, Vito again lets the slide loose. Wrapping the release is slow blues, Sliding Into Blue with Vito playing melody on slide. This is a really nice track and a strong closer for a solid release. 

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True North Records artist: Crystal Shawanda - Midnight Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Midnight Blues, from Crystal Shawanda, and it's a strong R&B flavored blues release. Opening with title track, Midnight Blues, Crystal Shawanda brings her soulful vocal style to a radio oriented track with a solid melody, with Dave Roe on bass, Dwayne Strobel on guitar, and Peter Keys and Jesse O'Brian on keys and Pete Abbot on drums. Rumpshaker is a soulful track with a strong bass line by Roe and nice harmonica contributions by Steve Marriner. Why Do I Love You is a really super ballad with strong vocal harmonies by Angela Hurt, Zhaawande Strobel Nd Dewayne Strobel. Hold Me has a R&B rhythm and really has a great groove. Shawanda's vocals are powerful and backing vocals are just right with strong piano and drum support by Keys and Becket. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Walk With The Moon, with a sweet melody and ballad formation. With glistening keyboard work, rich guitar chords and a melodic guitar solo, a solid closer. 

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Stony Plain Records artist: The Strongman Blues Remedy, Volume 1 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Strongman Blues Remedy, Volume 1, from The Strongman Blues Remedy and it's chocked full of foot tapping blues. Opening with blues rocker, Hard Luck, leader Steve Strongman adds great slide riffs, bass and harmonica to his solid lead vocal efforts for a super radio track. Joined by Dave King on drums and Jesse O'Brien on keys this is a great opener. Dawn Tyler Watson has the mic on Fine Young Man, a solid radio track with country and blues roots. Slick slide work by Strongman and with O'Brien on keys and King on drums, another fine track. Slow blues, White Lightnin' is my favorite track on the release with Strongman's best vocals on the release and strong, soulful, fluid guitar lead, backed by Alec Fraser on bass. Excellent! Crystal Shawanda has the mic on Tell Me I'm Wrong and her vocals are sassy and powerful against the bluesy riffs of Strongman. Wrapping the release is Love Comin' In with it's poppy shuffle feel. Strongman is back up front on vocal and his guitar work is bluesy and slick. With grinding rhythm work and a driving bottom, this is a solid closer for a cool release. 

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Stony Plain artist: Sass Jordan - Bitches Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Bitches Blues, from Sass Jordan and it's really quite good! Opening with Johnny Winter's, Still Alive and Well, Sass Jordan maintains Winter's gritty approach, joined by Steve Marriner on bass, Cassius Pereira on drums, Jesse O'Brien on keys and stinging guitar riffs by Chris Caddell and Jimmy Reid. Strong opener. O'Brien really digs on on piano on Even, a slow piano blues giving the spotlight to Jordan's vocals and she really shines on this one. Excellent! Mississippi Fred McDowell's You Gotta Move has a great delta feel with Caddell on slide and only the simplest percussion on the bottom, supporting Jordan's vocals. Very cool. Lowell George's Sailin Shoes is really a great selection for this band with strong slide work by Caddell and great vocal harmonies by Jordan, Caddell, Reid, Marriner and O'Brien. The band really pulls together tightly on this one but of particular note is the piano work by O'Brien with a strong Payne feel. Wrapping the release is up tempo, Change Is Coming with a bit more of a rock feel. Caddell on slide and Marriner on harmonica really set the pace and whip cracks by Pereira and organ work by O'Brien make this a solid closer for a really entertaining release. 

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Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns - Self Titled - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns and I really like it! Opening with Temperanceville with it's cool New Orleans march rhythm anchored by N. Jay Burr on tuba and Jim Casson on drums, Mike Branton on slide guitar and Wayne Deadder on guitars exchange leads on this making this a terrific opener. Funky, Marshville Station, again has an incredible groove set by Casson and Russ Boswell on bass and with the addition of Brent Barkman on organ and Bernie LeBarge adding solid lead guitar lines over the top, this is a great track. Deadder Branton and Burr are back on The Right Road to Boyle has terrific, easy flowing slide over a solid New Orleans beat. White Pigeon gives Deadder a solid opening to lay down some real nice jazz style riffs and Branton's slide work, doubled with Burrs tuba sets a funk rocky Southern feel. Wrapping the release is The Dream of Chantler with eerie slide work by Branton balanced with the harmonica work of Al Lerman over the keys and sampling of Casson. This is an unusual release and one that you should really check out.  

( What if Dark Orchard (Jim Casson’s experimental music project) and “The Blues” got together in New Orleans and watched Twin Peaks with Daniel Lanois? This is the question that inspired “Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns”. The story – During the COVID19 lockdown, musicians were trying to find ways to keep busy. Drummer Jim Casson was asked to record some backing tracks in his home studio "The Cherry Pit" for his friend, guitarist Steve Grisbrook with bassist Russ Boswell. After recording a few cover songs for Steve, Jim approached Russ to see if he wanted to try to write something original. Russ was game so Jim improvised a drum take while thinking with song form in his head, but with no firm idea of a song, just a funky New Orleans vibe. Jim sent this track to Russ who then added a bass line with chord changes to Jim’s track. They decided that the right person to add a guitar part was their old band mate Bernie LaBarge. Brent Barkman was then asked to contribute an organ part and the song “Marshville Station” was born. Excited at the success of this first experiment, Jim decided to try another one, but this time the same magic was not repeated and the project was shelved. Meanwhile, tuba player Jay Burr was working on a singer songwriter album and had asked Jim to contribute drum parts. Jim decided to ask Jay if he would try to add a tuba part to the shelved project. Jay agreed and it was magic again. They continued to collaborate on several more songs using the same formula of improvised drum takes and then adding form with the tuba. Jim decided that the complimentary instrumentation for this project would be guitar (Wayne Deadder) and slide guitar (Mike Branton). With their additions, the project had a solid foundation. Other contributors to become “Green Lanterns” were Steve Marriner (harmonica), Al Lerman (harmonica), and Stephen Miller (dobro). Jim felt that this album should in some way pay tribute to his home, The Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. “Davis Hall” was the name of the community centre in his hometown where he attended nursery school and “The Green Lantern” was the soda shop in town when he was a kid. All of the song titles are names or former names of villages in the Niagara Peninsula. The “Dark Orchard” element is the addition of samples, loops and spoken word elements into the songs. Everything came together when Jim discovered a recording from 1963 of local disc jockey Bob Bowland from CHOW radio in Welland, the station that was most played in his home while growing up).

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Stony Plain Records artist: Colin James - Open Road - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Open Road, from Colin James and I really like it. On James' landmark 20th release, James covers some classic blues tracks and adds some of his own. Opening with Tony Joe White's As the Crow Flies, James cranks out a real driving boogie with stinging lead guitar, backed by Geoff Hicks on drums, Norm Fisher on bass and Simon Kendall on keys. Strong.  Albert King's Can't You See What You're Doing To Me, is up next and with Chris Caddell on rhythm, Steve Hilliam on sax, this is another potent track with excellent phrasing by James. Magic Sam's That's Why I'm Crying fits in perfectly with it's slower pace, giving James a chance to stretch a bit with soulful vocals and nicely crafted solo lead. Excellent! James original, When I Leave This House, has a country rocking honky tonkin feel that will get you moving. James really plays guitar to this one with a nice flair and the addition of Jesse O'Brien adds real sauce. Very cool! Otis Rush's It Takes Time, a long time favorite on the blues rock scene, gets a moderate workover and James it right there with his guitar to add the spark. Fisher really lays heavy on the bass which is great and the addition of harmonica by Steve Marriner and bari sax by Jerry Cook, cooks the track. Another original James track, There's A Fire, really brings the pace down but turns up the heat. James' vocals are really strong and his lead guitar work is smoking. This is definitely one of my favorites on the release and likely to be a fan favorite in concert. A really cool take on Bob Dylan's It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry brings to mind Leon's redo of this track back in the 70's. I don't think anyone's come close since but this is a real nice deal. The rhythm is loose and slinging and with James on slide, and some hot sax work by Hilliam, a great track. Wrapping the release is Eddie Floyd's classic,  I Love You More Than Words Can Say, again really parlaying the strength of James' soulful vocals and includes a brief but potent dash of guitar edge. This is a fine release and one I really enjoy listening to.

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Stony Plain artist: Steve Marriner - Hope Dies Last - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity t oreview the most recent release, Hope Dies Last, from Steve Marriner and it's a  blues fuzed rocker. Opening with Take Me To The City, Daniel Neill sets a stiff snare beat, Joined by Jim Bowskill on lead guitar and Ian McKeown on bass and of course Marriner on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica. Strong opener. High energy rocker, How High is one of my favorites on the release with Glenn Milchem on the drum kit and Bowskill again on lead guitar. Marriner has a markledly more rocking sound and it's tight. Samantha Martin guests with Marriner  on lead vocal on Enough with Jesse O'Brien on piano and B3, Darcy yates on bass, Boswkill on steel guitar and Milchen on drums. This is the definite radio track on the release with a solid melody and smooth presentation. Another really cool track is Uptown Lockdown with it's funky bottom courtesy Yates and Milchen and fat lead guitar work by Boswkill. Very cool. Petite Danse has a definite French/New Orleans flavor with great slide style added by Bowskill. Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, Long Way Down, with Marriner on vocal, guitar, bass, and piano with Brittany Brooks, Roxanne Potvin, Bowskill and Moa Blucher on backing vocals. With a strong melody and solid vocals by Marriner, a very nice closer.

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VizzTone Label Group artist: AJ Fullerton - The Forgiver and the Runaway - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Forgiver and the Runaway, from AJ Fullerton and it's a solid blues rocker with a rural feel. Opening with Remind Me Who I Am Again, AJ Fullerton on lead vocal and guitar exudes confidence with Anna Ruddick on bass, Glenn Milchem on drums, and strong key work by Jesse O'Brien as well as warm vocal backing by Chantal Hendricks and the Marrinaires. Very nice. Slippin' Away is a cool, contemporary shuffle with a super melody and great lead vocals. A smooth balance between the solo guitar work and the piano lead really works nicely. Rocker, Say You'll Stay is one of my favorites on the release with  harmonica work by Paul Reddick and vibrant guitar lead by Fullerton and Steve Marriner. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Never Was with a distinct C Berry rhythm pattern that makes you feel the beat. An excellent solo of excellent pedal steel work by Aaron Goldstein contrasts really nicely with soft backing vocals work great with Fullerton's lead vocal. With a bit of influence of the laid back country rock of JJ Cale, Homesick is likely the top radio track on the release, with a solid melody and again, super steel acoustic guitar work by Fullerton. Wrapping the release is Hook's In The Water with a laid back country blues styling. With hints to Taj Mahal or other like contemporary blues artists, this is a solid closer. 

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Landslide Records A Tribute to Sean Costello - Various Artists - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Landslide Records Tribute to Sean Costello and it's really cool. Opening with Same Old Game, Albert Castiglia puts up a rumbling 2 step and lays down some real nice guitar work for an excellent opener. Steve Marriner brings How In The Devil with it's perfect shuffle beat great vocals and harp work. Title track, Don't Pass Me By has an almost spiritual feel with Victor Wainwright leading the way. This is an excellent blues ballad with great tension and stinging guitar work. Bob Margolin's guitar work on Low Life Blues is really outstanding with super Muddy Waters like slide and riffs. I always love the Mississippi All Stars and their rural approach and their treatment of Father is no different. With fat slide work and excellent vocals over a basic essential drum beat and keys make the track my favorite on the release. Debbie Davies brings shuffle track, Don't Be Reckless With My Heart and does a great job with strong vocals and slick Davies riffs. Wrapping the release is Oliver Wood and Amy Helm on Feel Like I Ain't Got A Home, a great soulful number with raw, freewheeling guitar work. This is a solid tribute release and great music. 

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Stony Plain Records artist: Manx Marriner Mainline - Hell Bound for Heaven - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Hell Bound for Heaven by Manx Marriner Mainline and it's solid. Opening with Nothing, a cool blues shuffle, Harry Manx has the lead on vocal and banjo with Steve Marriner on harmonica and electric guitar and timed by Moe Duella on drums. This is a real nice opener showcasing some real nice riffs by Marriner on both harp and guitar. Title track, Hell Bound for Heaven, has a darker delta style feel but with a more contemporary Paul Rogers spin. Manx injecting the eccentric sound of the Mohan Veena adds mystery and even more with slide. Marriner's lead vocal and harp is solid. Rattlesnake is a easy rocking two step blues with Marriner on Baritone guitar, harp, drums and vocal and Manx on slide, backed by Clayton Doley on Hammond. This track has really nice changes in addition to a solid melody. With it's Latin beat and some of Pops Staples' original gospel structure, Wish I Had Answered is one of my favorites on the release. All of the vocals on the track are rich and Doley's Hammond work stands out nicely against Mariner's baritone guitar growl. Mariner makes Rev Gary Davis' Death Don't Have No Mercy his own vocally and using Davis' preferred 12 string backing but Manx's slide work really adds a nice texture. Wrapping the release is a strong ballad, Rise and Fall In Love with Manx on vocal, Marriner on electric guitar and Jim Bowskill on viola and violin.  A warm closer for a nice release. 

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Sue Foley, Crystal Shawanda, Jenie Thai, Harry Manx & Steve Marriner, Earle & Coffin to perform at Maple Blues Awards

Sue Foley, Crystal Shawanda, Jenie Thai, Harry Manx & Steve Marriner, Earle & Coffin to perform at Maple Blues Awards Raoul Bhaneja hosts Koerner Hall National Blues Gala February 4 Montreal’s Guy Bélanger to host lobby afterparty "Winner’s Circle Jam” (Toronto) – The Toronto Blues Society has announced the performers who will grace the stage at Koerner Hall in Toronto for the 22nd annual Maple Blues Awards gala and concert, to be held on Monday, February 4th, 2019. Heating up the cold February night will be performances from some the of the hottest Canadian blues artists including, Steve Marriner of MonkeyJunk with Harry Manx, guitarist/singer-songwriter Sue Foley, who is nominated in six categories, Jenie Thai, who is nominated for Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year, blues-belter and Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Crystal Shawanda and Newfoundland’s New Artist of the Year nominees Earle & Coffin. The evening will also feature a performance from Raoul Bhaneja, actor and bandleader of Raoul & The Big Time, who will be hosting the gala for the fourth time. Providing the MBA’s musical background and theme, The Maple Blues Band also accompanies all the special guests who perform as part of that special night. The Maple Blues Band has been a cornerstone of the annual Maple Blues Awards Ceremony in Toronto since 1999. This world-class, eight-member group includes some of Canada’s highly respected blues musicians, all of whom are multiple Maple Blues Award winners and nominees including Gary Kendall, Teddy Leonard, Lance Anderson, Chris Murphy, Al Lerman, Pat Carey, Jim Casson, and Howard Moore. Following the not-to-be-missed gala event is the popular afterparty and jam, hosted by Montreal’s Guy Bélanger. Canadian blues fans can vote for nominees online in the eligible categories until December 1st, at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. Register at www.mapleblues.ca. The Maple Blues Awards will be held on February 4th, 2019. The gala event is considered to be the premier blues event of the year.  Tickets for the Maple Blues Awards are available online at rcmusic.com or at the Koerner Hall box office (The Weston Family Box Office, located in The Royal Conservatory building at 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto) or by phone at (416) 408-0208. TBS Charter Members can benefit from the ongoing exclusive pre-sale and purchase best available seats for a discounted price, $35. Koerner Hall is The Royal Conservatory’s 1,135-seat performance venue. It is beloved for its architectural beauty and architectural acoustic excellence. Since opening, it has hosted hundreds of concerts and events reaching more than one million individuals around the world. Koerner Hall is celebrating its 10th anniversary season in 2018-19. To learn more or purchase tickets, please visit rcmusic.com/performance.

True North Records artist: Colin James - Blue Highways - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Highway, from Colin James and it's super! Opening with Freddie King's Boogie Funk, James is really ripping with excellent guitar tone and pace. Craig Northey is on rhythm guitar, with Norm Fisher on bass and Pat Steward on drums. Simon Kendall's organ work is tops and Steve Marriner's harp is vital. On Peter Green's Watch Out, James steps up on lead vocal and the pace is just right. Jesse O'Brien is up or organ with Steve Pelletier on bass and Geoff Hicks on drums. James lays down a solid guitar solo and Simon Kendall lays in a nice organ solo as well. Tommy Johnson's Big Road Blues gets a more modern rocking beat with James on vocal and slide. With an almost JJ Cale feel, this track could see a multi channel radio play. Made famous by Freddie King and Jeff Beck, Don Nix's Going Down is up next with a solid blues rocking drive. O'Brien's piano work is tight and James' vocals are clear, paving a broad street for some lightning guitar riffs. Very cool! Retreating into the basics of the blues, Muddy Waters' Gypsy Woman is up next and James shows his basis understanding of the blues on both guitar and vocal holding his own...old style. I particularly like O'Brien's piano riffs on this track as well as Marriner's harp work. Very cool. On Jimmy Rogers, Goin Away, James takes a little bit of an Eric Clapton approach to the track with nice slide work and backing vocals by Chris Caddell and Coleen Rennison. Memphis Slim's Lonesome gets a big swing and James steps up with monster guitar riffs. His vocals are smooth, nicely complimented by O'Brien's piano. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Junior Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues. This track is really tight to the original and James vocals and guitar riffs work nicely, highlighted by the masterful harp work by Marriner. Setting a cool acoustic blues set is Willie Dixon/ Jimmy Reed, Riding in The Moonlight / Mr. Luck. Light and snappy, James holds down acoustic guitar and vocal balanced with Marriner's harp. Very nice. Soulful William Bell track, Don't Miss Your Water gives James a chance to really show off his vocal chords and smooth they are. With simple arpeggiated chords and with horn backing by Jerry Cook and Derry Byrne this track has a super sound. Blind Willie McTell's Ain't Long For Day is up next and of course drawing out a really nice slide solo by James. It is more soulful than bluesy but heartfelt had solid. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Robert Johnson's Last Fair Deal done in standard Piedmont style. With James only on guitar and vocal, he gives the track some acoustic flair but holding true to the blues. A nice little closer to a really nice release.




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Better For You - Chris Antonik - New Release Review

I just received the new release (released formally on March 26, 2013), Better For You, by Chris Antonik and it's quite interesting. The release opens with Long Way To Go, a funky rock track with some really cool guitar by Antonick and harp work by Steve Marriner. Turn To Shine has the warm feeling of a Delaney and Bonnie track and it really feels like you're taking a bite of the old ATCO/Muscle Shoals/Capricorn stuff. Josh Williams' vocals are great and his guitar playing has the over driven sound of Duane and the rhythmic pacing of Dickey. Very cool! Come From A Good Place is a softer edged song with a lot of airplay potential. Like the song before, sweet horns back the track and in this case, lead vocals are handled by Shakura S'Aida who is obviously solid and Antonik grinds in some really hot guitar riffs. Broken Man features Mike Mattison singing a soulful ballad over a quiet background and light jazz rhythm. Up next is Walter Horton's Have A Good Time, a simple understated blues track and Josh Williams steps up on harmonica and vocal to compliment Antonik on guitar. Shake Me Down is a very cool track with a strong back beat and featuring Williams on organ. This is a warm backing for Antonik to not only sing but to lay out some funky wah wah guitar riffs. This track has a bit of jazz under the wool and that adds to the general texture of the track giving Antonik a bit of room to flex his fingers. Better For You is a bluesy ballad with an easy soul feel. I really like this track. It lays nicely in the groove and Antonik plays smoothly through the track drawing out some real nice blues riffs. Nothing I Can Do is another track with a bit of funk in the stew featuring Williams on keys and vocals and a bit of horns. Antonik takes a nice extended guitar solo on this track. Tell Me What You Need is a easy going radio style ballad. A lonely electric guitar playing in the field of openness behind Antonik's voice, not unlike an effect created by Dire Straits (different riffs of course) is really nice. Julian Fauth joins Antonik on piano for I'll Help You Through, a blues ballad (along the lines of New York State Of Mind). This is a nice smooth ballad with an equally smooth guitar solo to compliment Antonik's vocals on this track.   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!
This is not from the new release but I was unable to find something that is. This is a good example of Chris' work.