Ollee Owens- Nowhere To Hide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nowhere To Hide, from Ollee Owens, and it's cool R&B treasure. Opening with title track, Nowhere To Hide, Ollee Owens gets things rocking with sassy vocals, backed by Will McFarlane on guitar and Bobby Blazier on drums. Cool opener. A solid radio track, Some Days has a strong melody and gritty vocals by Owens, Chris Rodriguez on guitars, Craig Young on bass, Delmarco Johnson on keys, and Blazier on drums. My favorite track on the release is soulful, Still In Pieces, getting the best from Owens' voice and featuring McFarlane on guitar. Rahsaan Barber is featured on sax on The Neighborhood, a driving blues with cool trumpet work by Roland Barber supporting Owens on vocal. Backing vocals by Gene Miller and McFarlane on guitar gives this track that something special. Wrapping the release is soulful, Lord Protect My Child with Cord Martin on sax working nicely with Rodriguez on guitar and Owens on vocal. This is a solid release with plenty of heart. 

  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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Big Blue Records artist: Barbara Blue - From The Shoals - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Shoals, by Barbara Blue, and it's some funky, R&B blues. Opening with The Shoals, Barbara Blue on lead vocal leads way with a stellar backing band featuring  Bernard Purdie on drums, David Hood on bass, Clayton Ivey on keys and Will McFarlane on guitar. On Clarence Carter's Tell Mama, Blue adds a nice compliment of Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Brad Guin on sax plus Davor Hacic- Hutch on guitar for a solid rendition of the classic track. Shuffle track, Slide Man is a cool track featuring Blue on vocal and McFarlane on slide guitar. With it's catchy melody and smooth guitar work, this is a cool number. Too Far is my favorite track on the release with it's arpeggiated guitar submelody and excellent guitar lead by McFarlane and strong sax work by Guin. Wrapping the release is slow boogie, Trail of Tears with it's drone bass line by Hood and strong vocal lead by Blue, nicely accented by McFarlane and Hacic-Hutch. 

  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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Biglittle Records artist: Andy Peake - Mood Swings - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 20, 2021), Mood Swings, from Andy Peake and it's a mixed bag of  rock, blues, reggae and pop. Opening with radio style track, Make Peace With The Blues, Andy Peake, drummer, lead vocalist and songwriter makes his debut. With John Prestia providing shimmery guitars and James Pennebaker with a really hot guitar solo , Al Hill on keys, and Paul Ossola on bass Peake lays down a cool drum line. Two stepper, If the Blues Was Green is a cool, country flavored rocker with Kevin McKendree laying down some real nice piano work, Pennebaker with some tight twangy riffs and cool doubled vocals by Peake. My favorite track on the release is Bob Dylan's I Shall Be released with strong lead vocal shared with John Cowan, Phillip Wolfe providing really nice piano and organ, Will McFarlane and Prestia again with essential guitar riffs, Bob Marinelli on bass and of course Peake on drums. Light islander, Untangle The Line, features Prestia on guitar, Al Hill on keys and John Marcus on bass with it's memorable melody and soft vocals for the top radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is a New orleans shaped remake of Johnny B Goode. With Hill on piano, Prestia and Pennebaker on guitars, Ossola on bass and Peak on vocal and guitar, the track moves. A cool accordion solo and work on this track adds a nice seasoning but I think is uncredited. Cool closer for an interesting 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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NOLA Blue Records artist: Meg Williams - Take Me As I Am: The Muscle Shoals Sessions - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take Me As I Am, by Meg Williams and it's a solid R&B/rock entry. Opening with radio track, Come On Over To Me, a slide guitar infused (Dan Wecht) R&B track, Williams leads the way on vocal and guitar, backed by Clayton Ivey on organ, Bob Wray on bass, Justin Holder on drums and Sara Rogers on backing vocals. Solid opener. Funky, Shame, is a bit sassy with Will McFarlane joining Wecht on guitar. With a snappy rhythm this track us upbeat and catchy. Little Bit Of The Devil is another radio strong track with a solid beat, and flashy slide work giving Williams a solid base to show her vocals over. Title track, Take Me As I Am, paired with What About Me are a great pop duo with super melody and nice vocal delivery by Williams. I like the additional complexity of Make A Move with it's vocal duet with Rogers and rock style guitar soloing giving it just a bit more textural bite. Wrapping the release is country flavored ballad, Take A Chance On My Love with it's smooth, easy tempo and warm vocal melody. A real nice melodic guitar solo by McFarlane gives this final track just that little kick making it a super closer for 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”

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