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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Thursday, May 30, 2024

Guitar Woman Records artist: Sue Foley - Live In Austin Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Austin Vol. 1, from Sue Foley and it's an energetic blues rocker. Opening with New Used Car, a straight up rocker, Sue Foley is locked and loaded on guitar and with her adept vocals she has it going. Backed by Jon Penner on bass, Corey Keller on drums and  Derek O'Brien on guitar this is a potent opener. On Willie Dixon's Howlin For My Darlin, Foley shows plenty of swagger. I really like her guitar work on this one, working with O'Brien with just the right blend of blues feel and sting. Jodi Williams' Hooked On Love with it's Latin rhythm is really nicely done. Foley grinds out the lead with double stops and flair and Keller's drum work sets a great pace. This is a tasty track with tasty riffs. Excellent! Little Son Joe's, Me And My Chauffeur Blues, really is a nice showcase for Foley on vocals. Low slung, Better, shows plenty of vocal swagger, it's boogie theme, reinforced by Penner sets a great blues groove and fanning guitar riffs give the track a cool rock edge. Wrapping the release is Cheap Tricks', High Roller with a solid drum pace and poppy feel. 

 
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Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Gulf Coast Records artists: Blood Brothers - Live In Canada - Mike Zito - Albert Castiglia - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Brothers - Live In Canada from Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia and it's super strong. Opening with driving rocker, Hey Sweet Mama, Zito and Castiglia blend nicely on vocal setting up a terrific groove, backed by Doug Byrkit on bass, Matt Johnson on drums, Ephraim Lowell on drums and Lewis Stephens on piano. Excellent guitar solos by both make this a terrific opener. Blues rocker, Fool Never Learns, opens with flaming guitar riffs and solid vocals. This drum pair is every bit a great match as Zito and Castiglia with hot riffs flying. On low slung, No Good Woman, Zito has the lead on vocal and the gang has a really nice groove going. Trading riffs with Castiglia these guys really drive this one. Soulful vocals and potent guitar work make this one of my favorites on the release. Hill Country Jam is a cool, stretched shuffle giving everybody a broad space to show their stuff. Zito and Castiglia play in tandem setting the melody before breaking to a more segmented driving rock feel. Stephens takes a meaty organ ride bringing it back to a shuffle where Zito plays strong fluid phrases on guitar. Castiglia takes the ball and runs with it with hot lightning of his own. Byrkit really lights up the bass when he gets his turn, followed by Johnson and Stephens. Very nice. Castiglia pulls out You're Gonna Burn and just blisters the audience with his Les Paul and his own supple vocals. If this track doesn't knock you back in your seat...nothing will. Joined by Zito, this is all out fire. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a rabble rousing cover of Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World. Lead off by Zito this is a great driving closer. With slashing guitar riffs by Zito and alternating vocals and guitar soloing by Castiglia this is a great closer. 


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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Emma Wilson - Memphis Calling - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Calling, from Emma Wilson, and it's got that hot 60's Memphis sound. Opening with A Small World, with Emma Wilson on lead vocals and Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Steve Potts on drums. This is a solid opener. Soulful, I Still Love You, is really a nice showcase for Wilson on vocal with it's pared back instrumentation. Kicked up, Drug, has a real nice funky beat with a solid bass line by Leroy, drums by Potts, electric piano by Archie Turner, and Franklin and Smothers really sassing it up on horns. Joe Restivo gets the floor on guitar, laying down the blues on Hoochie Coochie Mama. A low slung version of Morganfield's centerpiece, Wilson really carries it nicely and Charles on organ adds just the right heat. Wrapping the release is soul classic, Since I Fell For You, with Wilson dialing it down over light guitar by Restivo, Leroy and Potts. I really like Charles organ solo on this track giving it the air it needs for a strong closer. 


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Friday, May 24, 2024

Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations - Live At The Shamrock - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Shamrock, by Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations and it's tasty. Opening with easy blues rocker, You're Gonna Hear Me On The Radio, with Dustin Arbuckle up front on lead vocal and harmonica. Arbuckle has a really solid voice and rich harmonica tone and with the addition of Brandon Hudspeth on guitar, Caleb Drummond on bass and Kendall Newby on drums, this is a solid opener. Hard driving, Chicago style blues rocker, Across The Desert, gives Arbuckle a great opportunity to get his harmonica ramped up and Hudspeth on guitar fans the flames really well taking the track to a boil. Sioux City Strut is a terrific boogie with Hudspeth turning up the heat. Sliding into the slot on harmonica, Arbuckle really cranks up the jam. This is my favorite track on the release. Excellent! Shuffle, Woman Down In Arkansas features Arbuckle, Drummond and Newby on harmony vocals and a real nice harmonica led melody. Hudspeth turns on the blues with solid guitar phrasing. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's Tombstone Blues and Arbuckle maintains Dylan's loose vocal delivery style, contrasted with up tempo rhythm by Newby and rowdy guitar work by Hudspeth. Strong closer. 


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Thursday, May 23, 2024

Flying Horse Records artists: The Flying Horse Big Band - A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band, by The Flying Horse Big Band and it's energetic. Opening with Free For All, the band is off to a hard run featuring Josh Mercado, Adam Zapf, Robert Schmidt, Phebe Rich and Elijah Simmons on trumpet and hard driving James Fortune on drums. Edmond Quint Johnson lays on a nice tenor solo, joined by Paul Van Wormer on lead alto and Micah Silverstein on alto, Steven Grant on tenor and Noah Mosca on bari. Dan Parish, Ralph Rodriguez, Gabe Funk and Ben Fuller on trombone are on brass, Noah Charles lays in a nice guitar solo and Michael Santos on bass and Jack Hoag on piano rounds out the field. Peace is a real nice ballad featuring Mercado on solo trumpet and Parish on trombone. With it's warm melody and rich harmonies, it's certainly my choice track on the release. Johnson belts out a real nice tenor solo and Jamesly Jean-Mary holds down the drum spot. Very nice. Latin flavored, Gregory Is Here, features Van Wormer on alto, Charles on guitar and Parish on trombone, all taking strong solos adding beautifully to the mix. Silverstein really steps out on alto over the powerhouse horn section and Johnson adds a nice one of his own making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is On The Ginza a brassy track with warm piano work by Hoag and plenty of punch. Van Wormer really sails on alto with plenty of sax work from the crew, Mercado's trumpet chops shine and Jean- Mary keeps the bottom tight. Solid closer. 


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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Scott Emmerman - Spheres - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spheres, from Scott Emmerman, and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Spheres, Scott Emmerman on guitar develops a comprehensive melody line on guitar with intense drum and percussion accompaniment by Marty Zevin. Emmerman weaves a cool, jazzy chord foundation with a Spanish flavored fusion lead, breaking loose with electric branches. Very cool. On Steppin In It, Emmerson builds his melody line over his own keyboard and programmed drumming sequence. Judgement Day has a cool, keyboard intro developing with a wandering lyric melody. Programmed rhythms by Emmerman really build a stout foundation for his complex guitar interplay and added drums and percussion by Zevin really give the track teeth. Wrapping the release is Yearning For Your Love, a smooth jazz number with a radio melody. Developing from a light keyboard and programmed drum melody, Emmerman crafts a lightly funky jazz track. Cool closer. 


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Friday, May 17, 2024

Strange Woman Records artist: Leigh Pilzer's Seven Pointed Star - Beatin' The Odds - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beatin' The Odds, by Leigh Pilzer's Seven Pointer Star, and it's packed with gems. Opening with SKCC, Pilzer's homage to Billy Strahorn's UMMG, Mercedes Beckman on sax and Ally Hany Albrecht on trumpet create the melody line anchored by Amy K Bormet on piano, Sherrie Maricle on drums, and Amy Shook on bass. Albrecht lays down a real nice solo, followed by Beckman on alto and Pilzer on bari who really rips it by the way. A quick solo by Shook brings us back to the melody. Solid opener. Mysterious, The Platinum Taxi, has a dark theme with sax paired with trumpet. A cool bass line by Shook and dark undertones by Jen Krupa on trombone really create the scene. An excellent, fluid sax solo by Pilzer and active drum work by Maricle, chased by Bormet on piano adds to the tension. A soulful trombone solo by Joe Jackson on And Then It Stopped really caught my attention, bouncing on the rhythm of Allyn Johnson on piano and Pilzer squeezes out a bari sax solo that's so thick and juicy that you need a knife. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Where Will We Go? with a great opening theme by Pilzer on bass clarinet. With Kenny Rittenhouse on trumpet and Tim Green on alto sax, the melody develops. Johnson on piano expands the melody providing plenty of space for a really nice solo by Shook on bass. Deep deep bass sax drives the track as Frank Russo jams on drums. Circling back the ensemble concludes a really cool release. 


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Thursday, May 16, 2024

Horizon Music Group artist: Bart Bryant - Backstage II - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backstage II, from Bart Bryant, and it's a solid blues rocker with plenty of energy. Opening with Robin Trower's, Day Of The Eagle, Bart Bryant leads the way on vocal and guitar. The original arrangement is pumped up with horn work by Bill Holloman and the bottom it held rock steady by Alex Giosa on drums and Robert Liptrot on drums. Nice opener. Willie Dixon's I Can't Quit You Baby really has a nice feel. Floyd Domino on piano sets the mood under Bryant's rich vocals and Otis Rush like guitar riffs. Bryant pulls out great references with double stops and Buchananesque bends Scott Spray on bass and Tyger MacNeal hold down the bottom. Slow blues, Past The Pain, features some real nice harmonica work really coaxing the blues out in Bryant's vocals. Breaking into 3 time, Giosa adds another dimension and Floyd Domino on piano and Holloman on horns adds to the richness. R&B flavored You Make Me Move features Bryant's vocals nicely and the addition of Robert Cray style riffs gives the track real soul. Wrapping the release is Motown Groove adding Simone Young-Brown. With Domino on organ, Spray on bass, Livin Pop on drums and Holloman on horns, this is a hi stepper to close the release. 


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Wednesday, May 15, 2024

J&R Collective artist: Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival - Live From The Northern Plains - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Live From The Northern Plains, from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival and I really like it. Opening with shuffle, Gypsy Soul, Jennifer Lyn on lead vocal and Richard Torrance on lead guitar really get this rocking. With Peter Green like riffs, solid piano work by Barb Jiskra, Nolyn Falcon on bass and Jim Anderson on drums, this is a strong opener. On a cover of Chris Smither's Love Me Like A Man, Lyn really digs in vocally with nice phrasing and rich bluesy feel. Jiskra lays down some real nice piano soloing and Torrance rips it loose really putting the track into a spin. Very nice. Slower blues, Going Round In Circles is one of my favorites on the release with solid vocals by Lyn and really crisp guitar rips by Torrance. Jiskra's piano work gives the track a super additional dimension. Wrapping the release is gospel influenced, You Can Take It All. Vocals by Lyn, Torrance and Anderson and paired guitar lead along the lines of ABB by Lyn and Torrance top off the track. Solid closer. 


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Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Dixiefrog Records artist: Bex Marshall - Fortuna - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fortuna, from Bex Marshall and it's really good. Opening with blues rocker, Preaching To The Choir, Bex Marshall on lead guitar and lead vocal, sets the pace with Aurora Mannola laying down a driving bottom on bass and Richie Stevens on drums. Toby Baker on keys really works nicely against the wailing guitar lead of Marshall on this strong opener. Funky blues rocker, I Can't Look You In The Eye, features Marshall on lead vocal and slide with Scott Coopwood on lead guitar, Barry Bays on rhythm guitar, Robert Eugene Daniels on bass, and Brian Schilling on drums. A solid rocker with plenty of teeth. There's no denying the attraction of Marshall's vocal style on Table For One, and with a cool, bouncy funk by Baker on Keys and the solid bottom by Daniels and Stevens, this track could be a cool radio track. Wrapping the release is When It's Gone, a poppy track with a cool, bluesy feel. With a clean guitar lead and a bed of organ, overlaid with bluesy guitar riffs, this is a solid closer. 


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Monday, May 13, 2024

Gulf Coast Records artist: Chris BadNews Barnes - BadNews Travels Fast - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BadNews Travels Fast, from Chris BadNews Barnes and it's solid set of rock and blues rock. Opening with radio style rocker, and title track, BadNews Travels Fast, BadNews Barns on lead vocal leads the way with a tight guitar lead by Kenny Greenberg, driving bass lines by Tommy MacDonald, and Tom Hambridge snapping tight on drums. Ace harmonica player, Jimmy Hall who led his own band, Wet Willie and worked quite a bit with the honorable Jeff Beck really makes a nice contribution here. Excellent opener. True Blues is a cool, upbeat blues track along the lines of Thrill Is Gone. Not sure most would pick up on it, but it really does have some searing guitar riffs by Walter Trout. Driving rocker, BluesBaller Baby calls on Mike Rojas on keys to do the heavy lifting with Barnes on this one and he really does a fine job. Kenny Greenberg rips hot guitar solo on this one and Max Abrams sails on sax making it a definite hot spot in the release. Wrapping the release is cool rocker, Mushrooms Make Me A Fun Guy with it's spoken vocal lines and rock stroking guitar rhythm. Rojas uses electric piano to carry the counter melody and MacDonald and Hambridge hold the bottom tight. This is a fun release. 


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Friday, May 10, 2024

Ruf Records artist: Alastair Greene - Standing Out Loud - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standing Out Loud, by Alastair Greene and it's a potent blues rocker. Opening with Texas style rocker, You Can't Fool Me, Alastair Greene has a relentless attack on guitar and strong vocals. He is joined by Todd Bolden on driving bass and Adam Abrashoff who doesn't miss a lick on drums. Excellent opener. Only Do has a great guitar hook that gives Greene a hard anchor to fall back to between his explosive solos. Steady on bass with Bolden and really tight riffs by Abrashoff on drums. Title track, Standing Out Loud, is my top choice for the radio track with a strong melody and bluesy guitar riff under Greene's vocal. Foot stomping, Temptation, really moves with gangly guitar rockin and forward vocals. Traditional rock based guitar riffs drive this track giving it a lot of octane. Slow blues, Rusty Dagger is my favorite, with plenty of space for Greene to really let the dog out. Very cool. Traditional Bullfrog Blues is the closer on this set with a real Rock and Roll feel. Greene slips on his slide and lets it wail, backed by Mark Epstein on bass and Kevin Hall on drums. Strong closer. 


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Thursday, May 9, 2024

Jason Arkins - In Focus - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In Focus, by Jason Arkins, and it's an aggressive fusion set. Opening with Mister Behaving, with it's stirring instrumental backing and whirling rhythms, Jason Arkins on sax sets a somewhat sedate melody as a baseline, with Beau Cornelius on piano, Leo Folsom on synths, and with Mike Ramos and Jack Dratch on bass and drums respectively chomping at the bit to run. Arkins leads the crew on a really strong adventure sonically in his second pass with tight rhythmic piano work by Cornelius and Folsom lays in a very cool synth solo of his own. Ramos never takes his foot off the throttle with a great bass line and Dratch's riffs are hot. Strong opener. Cut Scene opens with a preponderance of something to come with an easy melody and tight rhythm. Dratch kicks the track up a notch with rimshots and Cornelius on electric piano gives the track air. Arkins has a full out call and response with Folsom on synths and Ramos and Dratch are at the end of their leashes again. Very hot. Wrapping the release is forward moving, A Squeegee Situation with Arkins setting a distinct melody on sax paired with Ramos. The first break Arkins really takes a soulful turn with excellent melodic solo phrasing and I gotta say Ramos is always in earshot and I love it. Dratch never misses a beat and with the 2 key players, this track always has body. Ramos gets a chance to talk a nice walk and it's one of my favorite spots on the release. This is a definite one to catch if you like melodic fusion. 


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Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Miguel Espinoza Fusion - Gabriella - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gabriella, from Miguel Espinoza Fusion, and it's really interesting. Opening with title track, Gabriella, a lively, Latin influenced piece, with Miguel Espinoza on guitar, Randy Hoepker on bass, Dianne Betkowski on cello, Dave Hagedorn on vibraphone and Christian Teele on percussion. Vibrant opener. Howard's Tune features Howard Levy on harmonica with clean, creative, inventive melody, on a foundation of guitar and cello. Very nice. Buleria Estila Antiqua has a real flamenco flair with Spanish style guitar playing by Espinoza and excellent cello by Betkowski and David Hariharan on carnatic violin. My absolute favorite on the release. With just the right bop, Hudson Avenue again features Levy on harmonica trading melodic lead with Betkowski. Christian Teele on percussion adds just the right amount of spice and Hoepker on bass and Espinoza on guitar really flesh out the track giving it a lot of body. Levy and Espinoza both add nicely formed solos taking the lead in more aggressive directions. Nicely done. Wrapping the release is Barrio Latino with it's piano driven lead by Victor Mestas Perez on piano. Hoepker really steps out on this track with excellent bass lines and Espinoza on guitar, Betkowski on cello and Teele on percussion. This is a really engaging track with plenty of movement and fluid execution. Excellent closer. 

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Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Jerico Jams artist: Randy Bernsen - Heart Mind and Soul - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart, Mind and Soul by Randy Bernsen, and it's quite interesting. Opening with With You Always, with it's Latin flavor, Randy Bernsen on guitar plays a solid melody, joined by Jimmy Haslip on bass, David Nizri on drums, Uzi Nizri on piano and Dan Davis on trumpet. A more jagged melody with strong bass accents by David and cool piano solo by Uzi make this a terrific opener. Prodigal Son starts quietly with keys, drums, and bass with light solo accents by Bernsen and interweaving trumpet by Derek Sims and sax by Bob Franceschini. Very nice. Slinky, Billy Gate Blues has Bernsen up front with wide open guitar melody over the driving rhythm line of David and Haslip. Uzi sets a cool melody line, picked up by Bernsen with a terrific shuffle reinforcement and punchy trumpet work by Davis. Strong. ABBA Father is a really nice acoustic guitar solo with a Spanish flavor, floating on a bed of piano and keys and with the addition of cello and accent drums. Wrapping the release is Chant 881 with a jagged rhythm giving the band a nice chance to stretch. Bernsen does some of his most creative playing on this track over a cool bottom by David and Haslip. Strong closer.  


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Monday, May 6, 2024

Cedar County Cobras - Homesick Blues - New Release Review


 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Homesick Blues, from Cedar County Cobras, and it's a cool, laid back rural folk style album. Opening with Utah, Tom Spielbauer on vocal and guitar is joined by April Dirks on vocal and upright bass thumping a two stepping blues. With dobro resonator style guitar and slide, and the thump of the standup, this is a solid opener. Dirks really brings Long Time Gone to life with addition of her mandolin and her own blending on lead vocal with Spielbauer's vocals and guitar this is a perfect blend of bluegrass and country blues. My favorite track on the release is a cool take on Son House's Walkin Blues. Spielbauer digs in nicely on electric guitar with a slow intro, and building a modern blues rocker from the the addition of drums and vocal, with driving bass lines from Dirks. Another modern blues rocker, Voodoo Doll has strong drive and a hill country style. Very nice. Wrapping the release is title track, Homesick Blues with a a tight bottom and jangly guitar rhythm. If you like your blues rural, ragged and potent, this may be your ticket. 


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Friday, May 3, 2024

VizzTone Label Group artist: 11 Guys Quartet - 11x11 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 11x11, from 11 Guy Quartet and it's super. Opening with rhythmic blues mover, Lightning Road, Richard Rosenblatt sets the pace with great harmonica tone, over the solid drum rhythm of Chuck Purro and Bill Mather on bass. Paul Lenart really amps up the track with some hot slide making this a strong opener. Slow, chord driven, Blues Beyond Midnight, really should get a lot of traction with Lenart letting it all hang out on his melodic guitar lead, paired with Rosenblatt taking a real nice solo of his own on harmonica. Excellent! Hard driving, Drivin' A Fast Car really has great momentum with Purro and Mather leading the way. Lenart and Rosenblatt really cook this one with Lenart singing lead vocals. Another top notch track. With real swagger, Stompin' Blues gets that Chicago sound cooking. Lead by Rosenblatt on harmonica, and Lenart riding high on slide this track has a terrific groove. With a cool Latin beat by Purro, The Rona Stomp is a real nice change up with Lenart and Rosenblatt sitting in the slot. Wrapping the release is Rockin' The Blues with it's shuffle bottom. Rosenblatt takes the lead on harmonica showing great tone. Lenart really has a great hand for slide and shows it one more time on this warm closer. 


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