Bman's Blues Report

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Mesa / Blue Moon Recordings artist: Bill Banfield's Jazz Urbane - Take Time To Listen - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take Time To Listen, from Bill Banfield's Jazz Urbane, and it's warm and bluesy. Opening with This Time, a solid track featuring Bill Banfield on a big box guitar, milking all of the rich tone on each chord as he picks himself up and down the fretboard. A nice melody and nice articulation make this a strong opener. Gershwin's Summertime is lushly presented with a slight flavor of Latin with rolled picking and rhythm. Joseph Kosma's classic Autumn Leaves also has a Spanish flavor with strong phrasing and plucked melody followed by rich chords. Very nice. Elton John's Your Song is a cool change up with plenty of finger picked runs and chord reinforced phrasing. Song For Earl is a soulful tribute to Earl Klugh with parallel octave hits and fleet fingering. Wrapping the release is an adventurous romp on Churchill's Someday My Prince Will Come, a certain classic with deep roots. A total rework and new arrangement gives this track a fresh face and makes it a cool closer.

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Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Shifting Paradigm Records artist: Philip Weberndoerfer - Tides - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tides, from Philip Weberndoerfer and it's mature, lush and pleasing. Opening with Little B's Poem, German native, Philip Weberndoerfer paints a rich melody with his guitar, backed by Richard Mikel on bass and Peter Traunmueller on drums. A jagged time signature strengthened by Mikel and Traunmueller provides Weberndoerfer a clear canvas to illustrate his craft. A tight bass solo by Mikel really adds nicely to the landscape making this a super opener. Peace Of Constance is a understated composition led by Dayna Stephens on sax. Interweaving of Stephens and Weberndoerfer on guitar, supported by Mikel really makes for a satisfying listen. Salted Sweets slowly builds whisper with Stephens taking the melodic lead on sax. Weberndoerfer joins on guitar further embellishing and extending the concept with carefully placed bass and drum rhythm and a really strong drum solo accentuating the playful nature of the track. Very nice. Simple Task is the most direct track on the release with Stephens on sax and Weberndoerfer on guitar setting up the melody. Mikel and Traunmueller set a firm footing and Weberndoerfer created a perfect bop melody. Stephens takes the second lead over a great walking bass line by Mikel. Mikel gets his turn up front and plays a really strong solo of his own wrapping back to the base melody with Stephens. Excellent. Wrapping the release is One Of These Days, with warm guitar chords by Weberndoerfer and an active bass line by Mikel. Clear guitar lead and crisp drum work make this a solid closer for a real solid release.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Eastlawn Records artist: Planet D Nonet, Echoes Of Harlem, Vol.2 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Echoes of Harlem (A Salute to Duke Ellington), Vol. 2 by Planet D Nonet and it's tasty. Opening with Happy Anatomy, Michael Zaporski on piano leads the way with Sean Perlmutter on drums and Trevor Lamb on bass. Charlie Miller on trumpet and Chris Tabaczynski play hot solos and Alex Colista (sax), Goode Wyche III (sax), James O'Donell trumpet, and John Paxton (trombone) build the wall of sound. Tight opener. Camille Price has the mic on bluesy, Rocks in my Bed, with Colista, Paxton and Tabaczynski each weaving in solid solos. Addi features Colista with really meaty alto lead and rich horn backing by the band. Very nice. Juniflip really does get a strong groove going featuring solos by Miller, Colista, Wyche, Zaporski and Lamb. Whew! On Latin flavored Caravan, Tbone Paxton has the lead vocal with Sean Pearmutter on cowbell, bursting into full swing and back with excellent solos by Colista, Miller and Wyche. Very cool. The Shepherd is a sassy blues featuring O'Donnell screaming muted trumpet. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Ellington classic, Sophisticated Lady showcasing Zaporski on piano. This is a solid release with plenty of juice.

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Inner Nova Music artist: Circuline - C.O.R.E. - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, C.O.R.E. by Circuline and it's a complex progressive rock release. Opening with Tempus Horribilis, a well crafted prog rocker with an infectious rhythm courtesy Shelby Logan Warne on bass and Darrin Brannon on drums, this track uses the best of everything to make a dynamic opener. Dave Bainbridge on guitars plays searing lead, Andrew Colyer on keys adds depth and Natalie Brown on lead vocal with Colyer add terrific vocal lead and harmony. Excellent opener. Say Their Name blends Brown's vocals with clean guitar work by Bainbridge and minimal supplemental instrumentation by Warne, Brannon and Colyer. Warne really has some aggressive bass work on the track and Bainbridge and Brannon add substantial tension and depth. Very nice. You is another of my favorites on the release with an even blend of structured guitar/bass rhythm, heavy tom tom work by Brannon and balanced keys and vocals. Wrapping the release as we began with a well crafter rocker, Transmission Error, Bainbridge sets the pace followed by Warne, Colyer and Brannon and strong vocal contributions by Brown. Solid release.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Sugar Darlings: Thirsty For Your Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thirsty For Your Love, by The Sugar Darlings and it's a playful blend of R&B, soul, rock and funk. Opening with Why, Miche Love Dennery, on vocal, leads the way with a powerful horn barrage including Kaven Jalbert on tenor and bari sax, Paul Lucyk on guitar and vocal, Danick Tardif on drums, Neil Robinson on bass and Clerel Djamen and Janelle Lucyk on backing vocals. Rocker, Grow Up has a cool R&B beat but it's pure radio pop. Dennery on vocal shows real poise, Jalbert lays down a real nice tenor solo, and Paul L lays in a solid guitar solo of his own. Funky Darling is my favorite track on the release with hot rhythm by Robinson, Tardif and Paul, and Jalbert sails on tenor before returning to the bottom on bari adding that heavy noise we all love. To Be Free is a cool bluesy track with arpeggiated chords by Paul L and soulful sax work by Jalbert. Dennery on vocal sings the melody as her showcase on the release and Paul gets the chance to lay it out there as well. Very nice. Wrapping the release is funky rocker, Oh Lord with solid rhythm guitar by Paul and smokey sax by Jalbert, and Janelle and Clerel singing great backing to Dennery's lead. Solid closer.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Farm 189 Records artist: The Trevor B. Power Band - Are We Ever Free - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Are We Ever Free, from The Trevor B. Power Band, and it's a solid blues rocker with a pinch of country. Opening with Let Yourself Fly, Trevor B. Power kicks off his latest release with radio ready vocals and solid guitar, backed by Dave Fields on bass , Steve Holley on drums, Bob Lana on guitars, Tim Timko and Baron Raymonde on sax, and Will Wilde on harmonica. Solid opener. Mystery is a hot rocker with plenty of kick. Power on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace and an excellent back beat on drums and hot guitar lead by Bob Lanza gives this track a lot of appeal. Blues shuffle, Going To Washington is one of my favorite tracks on the release with that Elmore James vamp and a driving rhythm. Wilde's harmonica work on this track sets it apart and Fields on organ adds considerable depth. Heavy bottomed shuffle, Trouble To The Core, plays a cool call and response between Power's vocal and guitar. Sweaty guitar riffs and a pounding drum line make this another favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is rocker, Man Goes Blind with a tight rock rhythm and great vocals by power. Fields on piano and organ adds a lot of bite to this ricking closer.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Fort Sumner Music artist: Doug Duffy and Badd - Ain't Going Back - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Going Back, by Doug Duffy and Badd, and it's pure contemporary blues. Opening with Whirlpool, with it's droning bass line by Ben Ford, and Adam Ryland on drums. Doug Duffy plays keys and has lead vocals which really are solid, Dave P. Moore on harmonica and Dan Sumner how has great tone and lays in critical riffs. Acoustic blues, The Wishing Game features Duffey on vocal and Sumner on guitar crafting nicely, adding light snare work by Ryland. Very nice. Rock It All Night is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a firm blues rock beat with plenty of backbeat, reinforced by Ford and solid harmonica work by Moore. Another solid blues rocker is No Mercy with it's heavy kick by Ryland. Duffey's vocals really work the pocket and Sumner's guitar lead adds real grit. Gallus Pole is a cool boogie with a great bass line by Ford and Moore on harmonica sailing in a swirl around the dynamic vocals of Duffey. Wrapping the release is title track, Ain't Going Back, with it's pure, acoustic blues feel. Simple acoustic guitar lead by Sumner, minimal bass work by Ford, wailing harmonica by Moore and solid vocals by Duffey make for a solid closer.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Hard Times Records artist: Piper & The Hard Times - Revelation - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation, from Piper & The Hard Times, with a solid mix of rock, R&B, funk, soul and blues. Opening with New Orleans flavored, Trouble Man snappy snare work by Dave Colella, Amy Frederick on piano and Hammond, Parker Hawkins on bass and Piper Green rich, soulful vocals. Steve Eagon lays in a real nice guitar solo with nicely saturated tone and plenty of blues and Eddie Meyer adds great depth on tenor sax. Strong opener. Funky, Heart For Sale, has a great bottom thanks to Hawkins and Colella and with nicely added rhythm by Eagon and Frederick and a hot sax solo by Dick Aven, Piper really rocks this track. Crave You has a great driving bass line and I love Eagon's guitar attack and Chris Floyd on harmonica complimenting Piper's vocals. Come Back Knockin' is another romping track with Floyd really sounding off on harmonica and super lead work by Eagon on guitar. One of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is slow blues, Twenty Long Years which really is a nice showcase for Piper on vocals. Frederick's key work on this track is really clean and Eagon's guitar phrasing really adds nicely to the track. Excellent closer.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Cleopatra Records artist: Cactus - Temple Of Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Temple of Blues, from Cactus, and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Bukka White's Parchment Farm really rocks. Using Mayall's basic arrangement, Carmine Appice on drums really drives it hard with Billy Sheehan on bass, Jim McCarty on guitar, Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar and Jim Stapley on vocal and harp. Excellent opener. Willie Dixon's Evil gets a real nice heavy makeover with heavy weight drum work by Appice and great guitar lead by McCarty. Dug Pinnick on bass really sets the groove and Dee Snider on lead vocal is outrageous. Coopper and White's country anthem, No Need To Worry is now a slow blues with excellent vocal and guitar phrasing by Warren Haynes with Jorgen Carlsson on bass and Appice on drums. Cactus original (from their 70's album) Big Mama Boogie (Pts 1&2) is a great track with Appice in his own seat at drums and James Caputo on bass. Stapley on vocal and harp does a real nice job and Pat Travers on slide really winds it out when Appice kicks it in gear. Dixon's You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover really kicks it featuring Stapley, Caputo and Appice and featuring Artie Dillon on guitar. Solid. Little Richard's Long Tall Sally gets that real "Cactus" treatment with a dynamic heavy bottom by Appice and Kenny Aaronson, Mark Stein on lead vocal and Fernando Perdomo on guitars. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Guiltless Glider with Tim Owens and Appice tearing it up. This is a great closer for one of the most fun real blues rock CDs to hit my desk in a long time.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Goldenlane Records artist: Sammy Kershaw - Cross Road Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cross Road Blues, by Sammy Kershaw and it's strong. Opening with Albert King's (Booker T) Born Under A Bad Sign, and it's screaming. Kershaw on vocal has a rich voice and with excellent guitar backing by Danny Harvey really hits on all cylinders. Pierre Peligrin holds the bottom tight on bass and Adam Hamilton on drums rounds out the band. I Can't Quit You is a favorite by Willie Dixon and made massively popular Led Zeppelin via Otis Rush. Kershaw's vocal styling has it's own twist and Harvey doesn't follow Rush's lead with his own feel for the blues. Alexia Nikitakis on piano adds great body on piano and Pelegrin and Hamilton add solid bottom. BB King's Be Careful With A Fool is a real nice addition and Kershaw's vocal interpretation being quite similar to King's. Harvey keeps it clean on guitar with solid blues riffs, unlike another famous blues cover by Johnny Winter. Very nice. Don Nix's Going Down is a rock tower having ben covered by the late Jeff Beck. With the same driving bass line as Clive Chaman by Pelegrin and drums as Cozy Powell by Pelegrin and piano reinforcement as Max Middleton by Nikitakis, Kershaw adds his own vocal signature and Harvey his own guitar phrasing. Robert Johnson's Crossroads is up next with a rendering of Cream's massive hit with this track. Pelegrin's bass line gives the track a different flavor and Kershaw's vocals again add a new spin. Wrapping the release is Hank Williams Jr.'s, Blues Man. A solid ballad, Kershaw switches gears on this track but chooses a smooth closer.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Treated and Released Records artist: Reverend Freakchild - Bare Bones - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bare Bones, by Reverend Freakchild, and it's a cool acoustic, blues rocker. Opening with All I Got Is Now, Reverend Freakchild is live with no edits or overdubs, playing his acoustic steel bodied guitar and singing the blues. Solid opener. All Across America, really kicks up it's heels with RF rocking out on his steel body and solid rocking vocals. My favorite track on the release is Amsterdam Blues with RF on rhythmic slide and some of his best vocals on the release. Skyflower is an interesting rocker with a tastes of Lou Reed mixed with The Stones, and articulated nicely on guitar with ringing harmonics. Wrapping the release is Keep On Truckin', RF's inspired mantra on Blind Boy Fuller's / Robert Hunters compositions. This set also includes an extra disc, Odds, Ends and Interviews. This is a cool, raw slice of Freakchild's performance and very enjoyable.

Friday, November 1, 2024

Sam Joyner - Come What May - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come What May, from Sam Joyner, and it's a cool mixture of blues, soul, and R&B music. Opening with It's That Mojo That Makes Me Stay, Sam Joyner on lead vocal and keys sets a funky rhythm. With cool slide guitar by Marc Stone, and a great bass line, this is a cool opener. Title track, Come What May (I'll Always Love You), is a solid soul track with great blues guitar riffs and super vocals by Joyner and a healthy sax solo by Brian Wingard. As Long As You Are Here has a strong funky groove featuring Joyner with the Saint Anthony Singers, keys by Kevin Hayes and deep funky bass and super rhythm guitar by Lil Ray Neal. My favorite track on the release. New Orleans flavored, Too Many Cooks has a super swampy funk with a strong bass line and slap drums. Joyner on keys and vocal give this track real juice. A strong guitar solo by Lil Ray Neal adds just the right amount of spice. Wrapping the release is Holmez Boogie, with a top notch piano boogie. Featuring Joyner on keys and BB King like guitar phrasing, this is a strong closer.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

7D Media Artist: Michael Shrieve - Drums of Compassion - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drums of Compassion, from Michael Shrieve and it's an exceptional exposition of world rhythms. Opening with The Call Of Michael Olatunji, Shrieve begins this journey with Babatunde Olatunji speaking vocal incantations, surrounded with a sea of synthesized sound designs by Jeff Greinke, Joe Doria on Rhodes providing a basic melody line and excellent drum and percussion work by Shrieve. Developing into a very melodic, eastern influenced travel, this is a strong opener. Synthesizers by Grienke over a Afro/Latin rhythm by Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow on percussion and C Smith on keys, this is a mover. I really like The Euphoric Pandiero Of Airto Moreira featuring Airto on voice and percussion leading directly into The Fierce Energy of Love with Dave Hill Jr on drums, Shrieve on brushes and Stephan Maas on drums. Wrapping the release is Hejira with Greinke on synth on Shrieve on drums and featuring Jack Dejonette on drum set, Airto on percussion and voice, Maas on percussion, James Whiton on bass and Micheal Stefner on Rhodes. This is a well composed, well performed percussion oriented release with many of the best drummers of today.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

7D Media artist: Tu-Ner - Tu-Ner For Lovers - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Tu-Ner For Lovers (Live) by Tu-Ner and it's a very cool sonic exploration. Opening with The Last Barbie Tango, Markus Reuter on touch guitar and soundscapes works with Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar to create a very interesting shape, over Pat Mastelotto's masterful drum and electronics bottom. This track is tensely stretched and highly creative. Super opener. The White Thing has a cool, ethereal, electronic intro developing with deep guitar lead and soaring guitar contrast supported by stylized percussion. Triangle Of Love has a middle eastern rhythm with finely articulated guitar phrasing floating through the mist and fat Warr guitar lead thickening the stew. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Call Him Threnody with heavy, drum laden rhythm, fat bottom and soaring guitar. Wrapping the release is Combat And Courtship with rapid percussion, a brilliant interplay between the bass and drum and guitar. With light rhythm work on cymbals, a rumbling deep bass line and swirling guitar lead, this is a solid, explorative finisher.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Katie Knipp - Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Me, by Katie Knipp, and it's quite entertaining. Opening with slinky, Mud, Katie Knipp is showcased with her intoxicating yet unusual vocal style. She also accompanies herself on piano, joined by Steve Ulstein on guitar and Neil Campisano on drums. Excellent opener. Funky, Vampire has a firm bass line by Ulstein and Knipp leads again on vocal and piano. This track has a number of turns and changes with a strong familiarity and again strong vocals. Time and Space is a really nice ballad with a great melody and showing a different side of Knipp on vocal and joining Ulstein on keys. Very nice. The Devils Armchair is a real cool track with a Spanish flair. I really like Knipp's vocal work and Mick Martin's lead guitar work. Wrapping the release is somber ballad, Lava Pot featuring Knipp on vocal and piano. This is a solid piece of work featuring both strong tunes and serious interpretation.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Codacopina Music artist: Black Cat Bones - Troublemaker - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Troublemaker, by Black Cat Bones, and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with Bad Enough, Black Cat Bones hit the road running with a thumping bass line by Jeff Daniels, Bill Greenberg on drums and Charles Pitts on vocals. With Richard Rivera and Kid Dynamite on guitars these guy have plenty of horsepower and aren't shy to unleash it. I really like the paired guitar work ...power vs lead which gives the track a real afterburn. Strong opener. Title track, Troublemaker, is a strong mix of Robert Johnson and southern rock. Pitts vocals have plenty of swagger and Dynamite and Rivera play off of each other with Greenberg and Daniels anchoring. Excellent stones like rocker, Act Like You Don't Care, has a great bottom courtesy of Daniels and Greenberg and lead work by Dynamite and Rivera add just the right grit under the confident vocals of Pitts. Very cool. Blues rocker, Yesterday's Gone really is in the slot giving Dynamite an open lane to play lead and Pitts vocals are strong and gripping. Wrapping the release is Anything Can Happen with it's droning bass line directing the course of the track. Pitts on vocal controls the pace and Dynamite lays in some bluesy rock riffs making this a strong closer.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Jay Gordon and Blues Venom - Live at Woodystock Blues Festival - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Woodystock Blues Festival by Jay Gordon and Blues Venom and it's great heavy rock blues...just the way you like it. Opening with Morganfield's classic, Hoochie Coochie Man and it's breathing fire. I really like Gordon's approach to the blues with a hold nothing back vocal and guitar assault, Sharon Butcher's driving bass lines and Tom Parham keeping it tight on the drums. Powerful opener. George Thorogood's I Drink Alone is a great fit for Gordon with his scorching slide and hot, overdriven guitar attack. Thumping bass by Butcher really powers the track giving Gordon a great platform to stand on. Really nice. Sonny Boy Williamson's Good Morning Little School Girl gets an excellent cover based on one of my favorite blues rock bands, Ten Years After's arrangement with an excellent driving bottom and Gordon just letting it fly. If you like blues rock...you'll love this. Wrapping the release is Elmore James' Strange Blues with a really heavy bass line/ drum work giving Gordon plenty of space to let the dog off the hook. His guitar style is heavy and overdriven and just perfect for this music. Love this stuff.