Stony Plain artist: Taj Mahal - Savoy - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Savoy, from Taj Mahal and it is a radical departure from his earlier releases with blues related jazz tracks from the earlier part of the past century. Opening with Ellingston's, Stompin' At The Savoy, Taj Mahal lays back and swings on vocals surrounded by period correct vocal backing by Carla Holbrook, Leesa Humphrey and Charlotte McKinnon. The band is tight with Erik Jekabson on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Sheldon Brown on clarinet and sax and a strong sax solo by Charles McNeal. Danny Caron on guitar, Ruth Davies on bass, John Simon on piano and Leon Joyce Jr. on drums. On Gershwin's Summertime, Mahal pushes the pace up and with a simple rimshot by Joyce and swinging vocal by Mahal, this track is cool. Lincoln Adler really lays out a strong sax solo and Caron on guitar hits the guitar just right backed by Jekabson on trumpet and Brown on sax. Possibly my favorite tack on the release. Maria Muldaur joins Taj on Baby It's Cold Outside with a nice duo between Evan Price on violin and Jekabson on trumpet. Louis Jordan's, Caldonia really hits this set nicely with Taj on harmonica and vocal and terrific trombone solo by Rinta and sax solo by McNeal. Excellent. Wrapping the release is One For My Baby with Taj really laying back in the slot and letting the soul ooze out. Caron lays in an excellent bluesy guitar solo with rich trumpet, Trombone, bass clarinet and sax by Jekabson, Rinta, Brown and McNeal respectively. Very fine. 

  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”

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Stony Plain artist: Eric Bibb - Ridin' - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ridin', from Eric Bibb and it's a good one. Opening with Family, Bibb really has it going here. With a cool bass line creating an apprehensive sense and his rich vocals and great backing vocals, this is an excellent opener.  Shuffle, The Ballad of John Howard Griffin, featuring Russell Malone, has a cool slickness with jazzy guitar chords and lead. With a tall tale, this track is introspective and positive. Country style blues, Call Me By My Name features Harrison Kennedy, on vocal and guitar trading with Bibb. This is a strong track reviewing the slave plight of human recognition. Wrapping the release is Church Bells, a cool acoustic guitar outro backed by fiddle and bass. Bibb has his own style and his own theme and that's what makes him Bibb. Very nice. 

  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”

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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. 

  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”

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Stony Plain Records artist: The Hogtown Allstars - Hog Wild - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hog Wild, from The Hogtown Allstars and it's super. Opening with New Orleans flavored, Mr. Lucky, featuring Chuck Jackson on lead vocal, Gary Kendall on bass, Pat Carey on sax, Teddy Leonard on guitars, Howard Moore on trumpet, Jim Casson on drums and featuring super piano work by Tyler Yarema on piano and backing vocals by Quisha Wint, Jill Zadeh and Selena Evangeline. Shuffle, Real Good Night has a party feel with solid horn backing by Carey and Moore and prominent placement by Wint, Zadeh and Evangeline. Moore lays in a real nice guitar melody on this track but this tune really is prime for airplay. Subway Casanova is one of my favorite tracks with it's swampy, funky rhythm and great slide work by Leonard. Chicago style blues, Biscuits and Beans is stripped down with Jackson on vocal and harmonica and Leonard on guitar. This is as pure and simple as it gets. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Ain't Lyin' a driving boogie. With Jackson, Kendall and Moore on vocal and the music being carried by Yarema, Kendall and Casson with some real nice horn work by Carey this is a solid closer for a strong 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”

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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.

  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”

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Stony Plain Records artist: Duke Robillard & Friends - Blues Bash - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Bash, by Duke Robillard & Friends and it may be his best recent release. Opening with Do You Mean It, Chris Cote is up front on lead vocal with Robillard on guitar, Bruce Bears on piano and Hammond, Mark Teixeira on drums and Jesse Williams on bass. With it's up tempo shuffle feel and super lead work by Robillard, super opener. Piano boogie, What Can I Do showcases strong piano by Bears and super sax by Greg Piccolo, Rich Lataille and Doug James and again. With Cote on lead vocal again and some really hot guitar riffs by Robillard, this track spins. With it's bluesy lope, Rock Alley is a great track to show Robillard at his best. His guitar phrasing is terrific and his feel is soulful. A bluesy sax solo by Lataille really adds great spice on this track. Very nice. Michelle Willson steps up on lead vocal on swing track, You Played On My Piano giving it a great feel and a rich, fat, sax solo by James really kicks this track up another notch. On I Ain't Gonna Do It, Mark Braun really sets the pace on piano with Marty Richards on drums, Marty Ballou on bass, Al Basile on cornet and Sax Gordon on sax. Hot track. Robillard handles lead guitar and vocal on Give Me All The Love You Got with it's sturdy blues feel and fat sax bottom. Robillard dances stylistically on the fretboard showing that fluid finger work that he's well known for. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Just Chillin', a cool, instrumental blues jam with a relaxed feel. Piccolo lays in a really nice sax solo, followed by nicely phrased guitar soloing by Robillard. A Hammond solo by Bears adds real texture to the track making this a strong closer for a solid 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”

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