Blue Bamboo Music artists: Cortez / Williams Project - Hermanos - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hermanos, from Cortez/Williams Project and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Hermanos, and a Latin rhythm carried by Doug Matthews on bass and, Walt Hubbard on drums. Chris Cortex takes the first melodic solo on guitar with clean, fluid runs over the piano work of Bob Thornton and Dan Jordan on flute. Larry Williams' trumpet is really nice with open bell and thoughtful phrasing, followed by Jordan on flute. Very nice opener. Another Latin based number is Un Pedazo De Tu Sonrisa. With a Samba beat by Jeremy Katalnic and a cool trumpet lead by Williams , reinforced by Cortez on guitar this track is anything but predictable. Thornton's direct piano solo is engaging and tight. Silhouette is an inciteful piece with a convoluted melodic interplay between  Jordan on flute, Williams on trumpet and Thornton on piano and featuring  Marco Bojorquez on bass. Topaz is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a percussive lead by Jeff Sipe and really nice guitar lead by Cortez. Williams' trumpet lead is really nice with strong runs, reinforced by Cortez on rhythm guitar and tight rhythm by Sipe. Excellent! Territorial Imperative is a cool bop track with wide open trumpet lead by Williams over Doug Matthew on bass, Hubbard on drums and Thornton on piano. Jordan really rips on tenor sax on this one creating a strong tension. Wrapping the release is Building On A Dream ... muted trumpet by Williams over clearly articulated guitar work by Cortez. Cortez really gets a nice opportunity to stretch on this one making it an excellent closer for a strong new serious jazz release. 

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Lunaria Records artist: Misty Blues - One Louder - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Louder, by Misty Blue and it's solid. Opening with gospel style blues, A Long Hard Way, Gina Coleman on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Seth Fleischman on guitar, Ben Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on drums, Bill Patriquin on bass, Aaron Dean on sax, and Wendy Lipp, Rebecca Mattson and Kathy Ryan on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Super voice, Big Llou Johnson joins Coleman on lead vocals on How The Blues Feels. This is a potent track with an attack quite like Cream's version of the Mississippi Sheik's Sitting on Top Of The World with really nice guitar work by Fleischman, a great bass line by Diego Monque, heavy drum work by Tatten and solid harmonica addition by Bob Stannard. With New Orleans rhythm, Seal Of Fate really gets moving. Aaron Dean on sax, Chris Rand on bari sax, David Vittone on accordion and Tatten on drums carry the meat of the track and spice by Kohn on keys and Fleischmann on guitar add the hot spice. Very cool. Sassy blues number, I'm A Grinder, really digs in nicely wioth excellent solos by Patriquin on trumpet, Dean on sax, Fleischmann on guitar and Kohn on keys. Very nice. Wrapping the release is funky, Take A Long Ride with strong vocals by Coleman and absolutely wild solos by Joe Louis Walker on guitar and sax by Aaron Dean. Excellent closer. 

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Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires - Brutal Fairytale - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brutal Fairytale by Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires and is shows a broad mix of jazz styles and with cool rhythms and a lot of horns. Opening with title track, Brutal Fairytale, a slinky bluesy number, Gabriella Aragon is upfront on lead vocal with strong sax work by Brant Fisher, Blanco on piano, Joseph Ballestrasse on bass and Anthony Channita on drums. Spanish Tale in Arabia is a flowing composition with clear Spanish styling. Noah Austin on trumpet and Fisher on sax really rail out and Channita on drums over Blanco's piano really make this track work nicely. Hermit's Song is a really nice ballad with a captivating melody. A lush sax solo by Fisher and cool horn support from Aragon on trombone and Austin on trumpet give the track real dynamics. Lo-Fi Banger opens with a nice bass lead, underpinned by drums and light horns. Further developing the melody is Blanco with a very thoughtful piano melody and tight drum beat by Channita. Austin has his trumpet singing. Wrapping the release is Ska-Monk is a Ska track with a Monk twist. Fisher doesn't hold back on improvisational freedom and the punch of Austin over the rhythmic playing of Blanco gives the track a continuity, continued by Fisher who joins in. Blanco's solo pulls the track with more classic playing, but the refrains are all but tame. This is a clever track and a cool closer. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Peter Veteska & Blues Train - So Far So Good - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Far So Good, from Peter Veteska & Blues Train and it's a solid mix of blues and rock. Opening with R&B fused rocker, one With Bad Luck, lead vocalist and on guitar Peter Veteska is joined by Alex D'Agnese on drums, Coo Moe Jhee on bass and Jeff Levine on B3. The addition of Gary Neuwirth on harmonica gives the track a cool texture and Veteska's guitar riffs really make the track pop. Shuffle, My One and Only Muse, is a cool track featuring Mikey Junior on harmonica. Veteska rolls out some real nice riffs and I particularly like his tone on the intro. Very cool. Slow blues, Low Down Dirty Blues really gives Veteska a great opportunity to show his soulful best vocals and over the warm B3 tones of Levine, his solid blues guitar chops. Rockin' East Coast Blues shows Slideman Boddy's slide work over a solid rockin rhythm lead by Veteska and punchy drums by D'Agnese. Very cool. Wrapping the release is soul infused, Can't We All Get Along. Nice vocal blending  with D'Agnese and Jhee this track has solid radio appeal making it a solid closer.  

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Dorron Music artist: Yaron Gershovsky - Transitions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transitions, by Yaron Gershovsky and it's really nice. Opening with fast moving, Northern Lights, accomplished pianist, Gershovsky drives this train backed on a basic piano riff. Boris Koslov sets up a super bass line and Gershovsky really runs the keyboard end to end with tasty chops. Add in the tight drum riffs by Cliff Almond and you've got a great opener. Yaron, who  spent the past number of decades with Mathattan Transfer as Musical Director and pianist as well as working with Pharoah Sanders and Wayne Shorter (among others) has been busy. Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair is really nicely arranged and the vocal work by Aubrey Johnson is beautiful. I really like  Show Me The Way with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Kozlov on bass and Ross Pedersen on drums. With it's melancholy melody, Sipiagin's trumpet tone and strong reinforcement by Yaron on piano, this track really hits.  Every contemporary jazz release needs a Samba and where better to look that to Jobim  and So Danco Samba and again Johnson on vocal. Yaron's shows his ability to get out of classical styling and really gets this track moving with great bass lines by Kozlov and Almond on drums. Very nice. Another relaxed track, in 3/4 time is A Song For Mia. Opening with a more formal structure, Mia really starts to swing as the song develops. Yaron sets the pace, reinforced by Kozlov's dexterous bass lines and Pedersen is always spot on. I really like the interplay between Yaron and Kozlov on Kozlov's bass solo giving the piece a real nice balance. Wrapping the release is Gershwin's I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' again featuring multiple layers of Johnson' vocal harmonies. This band really swings and Johnson's voice is quite pure giving the track a real sparkle. 

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Blue Canoe Records artist: Thomas Heflin - Morning Star - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Morning Star, from Thomas Heflin and it's a smooth, pop jazz effort led by trumpet player Thomas Heflin. Opening with title track, Morning Star, the Slavic translation of Heflin's wife's name. Heflin on trumpet, is backed by Gregory Tardy on sax, Dan Hitchcock on tenor sax, Peter Stoltzman on keys, Aaron Matson on guitar, Steve Haines on bass, Xavier Ware on drums and Jorge Luis Torres on percussion. With a step up solo by Heflin and a fluid sax solo by Tardy, this is a solid opener. Interlude is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's jagged rhythm pattern and adventurous trumpet lead by Heflin. Haiku has a really cool intro ... just Heflin on trumpet derived from a jazz favorite, Stablemates by Benny Golson. As the track progresses, Tardy lays in some really adventurous sax lines, nice trumpet improvisation by Heflin and a strong bass lead by Haines. The Moon Singer is inspired by a book by Clyde Robert Bulla and is an adventurous instrumental with some nice guitar work by Aaron Matson and with strong backing vocal work by Ariel Pocock. Anna Breschine, named after Heflin's daughter is a quiet ballad with lead trumpet and Stoltzman on keys laying the groundwork for Tardy on sax and a melodic solo by Heflin. Very nice. A Radio Outro wraps the release with a hip hop beat and Heflin and tardy trading riffs with Stoltzman. Solid closer. 

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Kristen R. Bromley Quintet: Bluish Tide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluish Tide, from the Kristen R. Bromley Quintet, and it's cool and versatile. Opening with swinging, Pillar of Fire, band leader and guitarist, Kristen Bromley shows her chops with fluid lead runs and cool rhythm lead, joined by Ray Smith who lays down a solid solo of his own on sax, Steve Erickson who really does a nice job Matt Larson on bass and Jay Lawrence on drums. Tandem lead guitar and sax and a cool off time rhythm really gives Faith Preceded My Miracle a real leg up making it a firm platform for potent soloing from Bromley, Erickson and Smith. Title track, Bluish Tide is a soft swinger with dual sax/guitar melodic lead. Opening into a bop solo stage, set by Larson and Lawrence, Bromley sets up some of her tastiest lead work on the release. Smith lays in a nice sax solo and Erickson's piano work really grooves.  Bromley's rich chord work on the intro of Latin influenced, Paint Me a Picture My Love is as lush as it gets and her duet lead with Smith on alto flute is really nice. Erickson has a really delicate hand on his piano solo delivery melding very nicely into this 10 minute exploration. Very nice. Smith over Bromley on sax and guitar is really nice on Just Walkin' a super shuffle. Erickson again lays in a strong piano lead and Bromley's feel on guitar may be her best on the release. It's also nice to hear Larson and Lawrence step out a few bars on this track making it one of favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Through the Veil with pure guitar lead and nicely blended sax by Smith. Erickson's classic piano styling really works nicely on this track and the tight underpinnings of Larson and Lawrence really hold the track together nicely. Solid closer. 

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Provogue artist: Eric Gales - Crown - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crown, from Eric Gales and it's powerful. Opening with Death of Me, a solid blues rocker with metal overtones. With a heavy drum stamped bottom by Greg Morrow and Lemar Carter this track has real swagger. Gales has never been bashful about throwing heavy guitar riffs out there and this track is no exception. His Jimi influence is ever present but not overtelling, backed by Joe Bonamassa on rhythm guitar, Josh Smith on rhythm guitar and Michael Rhodes on bass and backing vocals by LaDonna Gales. Very cool. I really like soul track, Stand Up with it's radio quality. Gales really shines on vocals on this track with it's super melody and with it's rich bass work and backing vocals by Jade McCrae, this track is strong. Another track with a heavy bottom is Survivor and it's lumbering feel lays open a grand floor for ultra fluid soloing by Gales. A lush guitar chord laden intro on Too Close To The Fire really puts you in mind of SRV's style but Gales music is always Gales music. There is a definite maturity in his newer music with more structure and focused guitar attack. Holding back throughout the track and allowing it to develop, he opens the floodgates and unleashes the beast for a high energy crescendo ala Pink Floyd with female backing vocal by Ladonna. Very nice. I really like Take Me Just As I Am and it's tribute to the super funky Curtis Mayfield like sound. With it's thumping bass and lead vocal by LaDonna and horn backing, this track is terrific! Funky, Let Me Start With This has a great feel with synthesized guitar riffs with great feel. Gales' vocals are strong ... this track could easily be the radio track for this release. I Found Her is a strong ballad with a gentle approach and sensitive delivery but watch when Gales drops the hammer on guitar...dynamite! Wrapping the release is I Gotta Go, a high energy R&B style track that would be a strong closer for a live show. With introductions, and a power punch, this is a hot closer leaving you wanting more. This is my favorite Eric Gales release to date.

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Noisy Records artists: Cross and Keeling - October is Marigold - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, October is Marigold, by David Cross and Andrew Keeling. This is a very interesting release spanning classical, rock, progressive and even eurojazz. Cross, who has played violin with King Crimson and Keeling who has collaborated with Robert Fripp are together for their second composition as a follow up to their earlier 2009 release, English Sun. This is largely improvised music so more difficult to describe in a traditional way, but it is mind expanding and enjoyable and should be viewed as a singular piece of music with many interwoven movements... so here goes. Opening with Marigold 1, Keeling on piano presents a simple piano structure composed of two chords and Cross plays a beautiful melody on Violectra. Very nice. On title track, October is Marigold, Kelling again constructs a structure on keyboard but then interweaves layers of flute.  As the theme progresses, Cross adds electric violin to the weave for a complex yet stimulating composition. On Strong as a Mountain Lion, Keeling plays a loose melody on flute, almost nature like, with Cross interjecting complimentary electric violin lines, making for an almost obtuse yet congruous environment of music. Returning again to a Marigold theme (Marigold 2) Cross' cello like playing is rich and welcoming with only the least amount of piano structure. Another section of "call and response" with Ever Nearer and Marigold 3 reinforces the earlier theme and gets progressively more rich as the music develops. The Spiking Darts That Were Trees is the most aggressive of the movements with abstract concepts and distorted looping creating even more interest. Wrapping the composition is The Dark Edge of Desire and Marigold 4 with a bottom of Cross' violin created texture and Keeling on guitar arpeggiating in a staggered stair stepping manner. The intensity continues to grow as Keeling adds piano structure and Cross adds firm Violectra strokes for a powerful, loosely constructed melody... ultimately winding down with another Marigold 4 movement and rich cello like melody. This is an adventurous piece and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

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Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: The Sugar Roots - Savage's Life - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Savage's Life, from The Sugar Roots and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Going Nowhere Fast, a solid boogie, Chad Rupp on lead vocal and harmonica really pumps it up with excellent guitar support from JT Thomas, Samuel Gendler on piano, Timmer Blakely on bass and Chandler Bowerman on drums. Excellent opener. Title track, Savage's Life is really impressive with Rapp laying down some of the most supple vocals I've heard in quite a while. I've always been partial to Bobby Tench (Jeff Beck Group) and Rupp, who's voice is cut from the same cloth is great. With only the minimal of backing instrumental, a tight little guitar solo by Blakely and great backing vocals by Melanie Owen, Lisa Mann, Karen Lovely and Rae Gordon, I love this track. Funky, Rain Checkin', is really cool with a bouncy bottom courtesy of Blakely and Bowerman and Lloyd Jones really shines on guitar with hot horn backing by Chris Mercer on sax and Joe McCarthy on trumpet. Bluesy, It's A Sin is another great track showcasing Rupp's vocals, McCarthy and Mercer on horns and Rupp's own guitar riffs tearing it up. Another infectious track is Something Wicked This Way Comes with it's droning bass line paired with Rupp's vocal and melodic guitar lead, and harmonica work by Johnny Wheels. Wrapping the release is smoking hot, 1 4 5 Boogie with Rupp rolling it up tight on vocal and harmonica, chased by JT on guitar and Gendler on organ. This release is really a lot of fun and highly recommended.  

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Schoolkids Records artist: Sam Moss - blues approved - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), blues approved, from Sam Moss and it's jam packed with soulful, Muscle Shoals/Stax influenced blues. Opening with Rooster Blood, a blues rocker featuring Moss on lead vocal, bass and guitar, and backed by Mitch Easter on drums is a great start to this release. On King of My Hill, Moss shows how soulful his vocals can be with a strong similarity to Gregg Allman and horn backing by Crispin Cioe. A strong R&B style track with that pure, country soul feel really makes you think it's right out of Alabama. Vida Blanche is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Keith Richards/Stones attack, solid slide playing and strong sax work by Cioe. Very cool! Mike Bloomfield's, If You See My Baby really swings right in there giving moss an opportunity to show a bit more diversity both vocally and on guitar. Joining on bass is Henry Heidtmann and Ted Lyons on drums with Wezo Wesolowski adding some real nice harmonica riffs to some of Moss' best guitar work on the release. Nightflight Over Berlin is a cool allowing Moss to just light it up over a firm rock rhythm. With plenty of sustain and soaring bends. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is a fairly obscure Stones blues track, Who's Driving Your Plane? The track actually had that rag tag sound that the Stones had on early releases with solid piano work by Ted Lyon and cool guitar riffs by Moss. Cool closer for a really interesting release. 

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GoldenVOice Audio Recordings artist: BIGLLOU Johnson - Bigman - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bigman, from BIGLLOU Johnson and it a solid R&B / blues set. Opening with Lightnin' Strike, an up tempo blues strut, BIGLLOU stylistically speaks the story, backed by Mark Early on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Bill Overton on clarinet and Dwight Dukes, Terrence Grayson, Ellison Hall, Amanda Joyce, keith Sweat Monique Whittington and Monico Whittington on backing vocals. With a rumbling bass and crisp harmonica wailing by Russ Green, Chill On Cold has a great bluesy feel. Shucky Ducky (Quack Quack) has a tight Latin rhythm courtesy Ricky Nelson on drums and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and the addition of Anthony Dopsie on accordion adds a special texture. BIGLLOU had a terrific, deep voice and that timbre really comes through on this track. I Got The Fever is my favorite track on the release with it's slow, thick oozing blues. BIGLLOU really grinds out the deep vocal like nobody can and with nice piano and solid backing vocals. Wrapping the release is funky, Beezthatwaysometimes, with it's understated bass line and a tight exchange between the horn section, the backing vocals and a smoking drum rhythm, and just the right amount of organ. This is a terrific closer for a real nice release. 

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Brandon Tesky - Screaming Into the Void - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Screaming Into The Void, by Brandon Tesky and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Screaming Into The Void, band leader and guitarist lays down a cool rock blues rock riff backed by Chris Tex on drums and Jon Nadel on bass. Establishing this solid instrumental, Tesky opens up with a cool onslaught of blues lead making this a solid opening jam. Blues progression, Vertigo on the heights of Desire is a cool, blues ballad with Tesky again at the lead on melodic guitar lead, backed by Will Kyriazis on keys and Tex on drums. With it's beautiful melody, this is a very cool track. King shuffle, Side Tracked, has a distinctive Freddie King vibe showing Tesky's blues knowledge and solid dexterity. Dance of the Fiddler's Bitch is a cool blues rocker blending SRV style swagger with more contemporary guitar riffs, Changing keys as Tesky rolls from phrase to phrase, I can definitely see Frank Marino influences. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Latin influenced, Equinox featuring Danny Markovitch on sax. The walking bass line by Nadel provides a real nice contrast with jazz runs by Tesky making this one on my favorites on the release and a solid closer. 

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Floating Records artist: The Country Well - Drink More - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drink More, from The Country Well and it's an interesting change of pace.    Opening with light country influenced, Gifted Spirit, featuring Graham Guest on vocal and guitar, and Bob Hemenger on sax. Cool opener. Another country pop track (think JJ Cale) with an interesting weave is Wigwam. Guest again leads the way on guitar and lead vocal, backed by Lyle Evans on bass, and Josh Kelly on drums. With a Bootsy Collins like bass bottom by Evans, and a firm cowbell by Kelly, Big Country Love is a cool groove. Michael Batdorf has the lead on vocal and Adam Rossi on keyboards really dig in. one of my favorite tracks on the release is ballad, Drinkin' and Smokin' featuring michela French on lead vocal and a nice sax solo by Hemenger. Wrapping the release is title track, Drink More, a cool, bluegrass track featuring Michela French on lead vocal. With Guest on guitar, Mark Karan on guitar, Don Zimmer on guitar, and Bill Panks on violin, a strong closer. 

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Mukthiland Records artist: Fred Hostetler - Fortuna Redux - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fortuna Redux, from Fred Hostetler and it's a cool slide of the blues. Fortuna Redux was a form of the goddess Fortuna in the Roman Empire who oversaw a return, as from a long or perilous journey. Opening with Taming The Wolf 2, Hostetler uses a modified Hill Country construction style with a droning guitar/bass tone driving the track with overlayed electric guitar riffs and a tight drum beat, and Howling Wolf like howls. Actually very cool. Solid melodic construction on Rain On My Window Pane 2 anchors an acoustic blues and vocals with electric slide guitar wailing in overlays and fine vocals by Hostetler. Very nice. Haunting ballad, Lady Luck Fortuna Redux is another solid composition with a strong melody. This track is distressed yet very likable with a nice mix of slide guitar and organ. Wrapping the release is driving blues rocker, I'm A New Man, which is so lively that it sounds celebratory. Good closer for a cool release. 

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Liberation Hall artist: Scott Ellison - There's Something About the Night - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, There's Something About the Night, by Scott Ellison and it's packed full of blues and a lot of fun. Opening with loping boogie, Half A Bottle Down, Ellison shows great guitar swagger and solid vocals. Backed by Rick Robbins on rhythm guitar, Lou Castro on bass, Robbie Armstrong on drums and Jon Greathouse on keys, this is a solid opener. On Bobby Blue Bland's Ain't No Love, Ellison shows great soul on vocal and lays down some stinging guitar riffs, backed by Ginger Blake, Maxine Waters, Julia Waters and Oren Waters on vocals. Very cool. Swinging shuffle, Bury Your Bone At Home is a strong front runner for popular track with it's clever lyrics and excellent overall feel. Another loping Texas style boogie, Meat and Potatoes gives Ellison a nice opportunity to lay down some cool slide work, joined by David Bernston on harmonica. Slow, TBW style, Good Year For the Blues, is my favorite on the release with it's strong vocals and some of Ellison's hottest, ripping guitar work on the release. With tight R&B rhythm, Chains of Love is another standout track with just that right groove, smoky guitar accents and terrific backing vocals by Ginger, Maxine, Julia and Oren. Shuffle, Revolutionary Man, is another track with some solid slide work by Ellison and vocal work by Chris Campbell along with Ellison. Wrapping the release is funky, Where Do You Go When You Leave with it's James Brown, Boogaloo beat by Ron McRorey, piano by Walt Richman and sweet backing vocals by Ginger, Maxine, Julia and Oren. Solid closer for a real cool release. 

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Music Maker Foundation: Listener's Circle Volume 50 - Waiting For A Train - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Listener's Circle Vol. 50 Waiting For A Train, from Music Maker Foundation and it's very cool. Opening with Railroad Blues, J.W. Warren accompanies his own vocal on acoustic guitar. This is a very classic style blues performance and great opener. Another terrific performance from Carl Rutherford playing guitar and vocal on Shasta Daylight with it's Bluegrass styling gives the release another dimension. Very nice. Two Trains Runnin' is done to perfection by John Dee Holeman with his soulful vocals and just the right amount of echo on his electric guitar. Taj Mahal performs Spike Driver Blues in classic Mahal style with piedmont finger picking and story telling pace. Very nice. George Higgs on harmonica and vocal performs Ruby, totally unaccompanied. Excellent! Playing banjo along with his vocals, Samuel Turner Stevens lays down Railroading and Gambling. With it's jangle and symmetry, it adds real texture to this set. My favorite track on the release is surprise addition, Night Train To Glory by Pat Wilder with it's Steve Marriott / Humble Pie approach. Very cool. Contemporary blues track, Riding The Blues Train, features Delta Blues Hog on guitar and vocal. A really solid track with organ, bass and drums, the most orchestrated track on the release and another of my favorites. Wrapping the release is Captain Luke on Freight Train Boogie with his mouth harp. Cool closer for a real solid release.

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