Bman's Blues Report

Friday, July 12, 2024

The Bluesland Horn Band - Six - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Six, from The Bluesland Horn Band, and it's a tight set of blues and gospel influenced tracks. Opening with My Old Truck, a cool shuffle Marty Cochrane on vocal, leads the way with Ross Hall on drums, Casey Ryder on bass, Jan Randle on piano, Terry Medd on dobro and guitar, David Wilkie on mandolin and the horns of Miguelito Valdez and Doug Zacharias on trumpet, Barrie Sorenson on tenor sax, Armando Alvarez on bari sax, and Tim Keels on tuba. On Shuffle In The Attic Medd gets the spotlight and lays down some real nice guitar phrasing, backed by Hall on drums, Randle on organ, Valdez, Sorensen and Alvarez on horns. Very cool. Punchy, Rock My Roll had a real nice driving beat with Jack Lavin driving the train on bass. Cochrane's vocals are rugged and commanding and Jerry Cook on tenor sax and Terry Medd on guitar set the track apart. Slow blues, Holy Water, is definitely one of the best tracks on the release with excellent vocals by Cochrane. Gavin Sorochan on drums, Pan Sciore on bass, Miles Jackson on organ create great tension and Medd's guitar lead compliments it nicely of course with the envelope of Zacharias, John Reid and Paul Evans (on bari). Wrapping the release is So Long, Goodbye featuring Jack Lavin on vocal, bass and harp. Hall on drums, Medd on slide and Jackson on organ fill out the band. Lavin slides in a real nice harp solo and Medd a solid guitar solo making this a solid closer.

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Thursday, July 11, 2024

Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns - Canboro Canborough - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Canboro Canborough, by Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns and I really like their sound. Opening with Carrottown, a funky rocker with Jim Casson laying down a tight funky bottom with N. Jay Burr on tuba augmenting the bottom. Wayne De Adder on guitar adds a cool guitar rhythm and Mike Branton on slide guitar really adds the spice. Mark Lalama on piano and Casson on vocal blend nicely making this a terrific opener. Daincity is another cool rocker but with a New Orleans kind of flare. I like Burr's percussive work on tuba and Casson, Lalama and De Adder really work gathering great intensity on this track. Bluesy, The Comfort In The North, has a real nice melody, carried by DeAdder on guitar. With it's deep, bluesy feel, and expressive phrasing, this in one of my favorites on the release. Another New Orleans flavored track, Silverdale, rides on the backs of Burr and Casson and nicely showcases the slide work of Branton and the keyboard work of Casson. Wrapping the release is White Toyota, pairing Casson on drums and vocal with Burr on tuba. A cool little quip and a solid closer.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Electro-Fi Records artist: Blackburn Brothers - SoulFunkn' BLUES - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, SoulFunkn' BLUES, by the Blackburn Brothers and it's got a serious groove. Opening with soulful, Bobby's Blues, Duane Blackburn on lead vocal and keys leads the way with Brooke Blackburn on guitar, Cory Blackburn on drums, and Nathan Blackburn on bass. Rich horn support from Neil Brathwaite on sax and Ted Peters on trombone really adds nicely to the mix on this strong opener. Soul Brother really gets into the funky groove with a excellent bass lead from Roger Williams, Cory's tight drumming and excellent horn work by Brathwaite and Peters. Duane leads with solid vocals and adds juts the right amount of organ and Brooke lays in a real nice guitar solo of his own giving the track just the right edge. Sit still...I dare ya! Old school funk on Sister Rosa, is a page right out Sly's book. Mark Ayee on bass sets the groove with Duane on vocal, Brooke putting in just the right guitar and a soulful sax solo by Pat Perez. Howard Ayee has his bass humming on Freedom Train with Duane's consistently tight vocals and keys leading the way. Brook on guitar really weaves his guitar work into the fabric of the track with Brathwaite and Peters on horns. Very cool. Wrapping the release is R&B flavored I Don't Ever Want To Be Alone really showcasing Duane's vocal strength and with Brathwaite and Peters warming the track with nicely blended horns and Duane's own keyboard work over Brook's guitar, Cory on drums and Nathan on bass, this is an excellent closer.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots - The Devil Won't Get You - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil Won't Get You, from Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with funky rocker, Even Money, Chad Rupp on lead vocal and guitar is upfront over a strong bass line by Timmer Blakely and Jimi Bott on drums. Cool organ work by Louis Pain and strong piano work by Brady T Goss really create a pocket for Rupp to solo which has a distinctive Dicky Betts feel. Strong opener. Joe-Mack McCarthy on trumpet and Scott Franklin on sax create a strong intro on this swinging blues with great guitar riffs throughout and highlighting Rupp's vocals. Franklin, McCarthy and Rupp trading riffs makes this track one of my favorites on the release. Leopard For Your Love is a potent shuffle a great start and stop vocal treatment's and stiff call and response vocal with Ruffs guitar. Up tempo shuffle, At The Candlelight Room is driven by aggressive drum rhythms by Bott and Rupp plays off his own vocal with excellent guitar retort. Pain on organ lays in a real nice organ solo and Rupp shows real nice chops on guitar. Wrapping the set is Tighten It Up with full horns by Franklin and McCarthy and tight bottom compliments of Bott and Blakley. With the addition of Andrew Matthew, Paula Bunion, TJ Wong and Bott on vocals, real nice solos from Goss, Rupp, Bott, Pain, and horn reinforcement punching up the end, this is an excellent closer.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Green Bullet Records artist: The Jake Leg Jug Band - Hello Central - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hello Central, from The Jake Leg Jug Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with St. Louis Blues, JLJB sets a cool front with a cool rag featuring Duncan Wilcox on vocal and Bass, Liam Ward on vocal, harmonica, jug, washboard, kazoo and saw, and Warren James on vocal, guitar and banjo. Complimented by Alex Clarke on sax and clarinet, Andy Henderson on trumpet and Richard Leach on trombone, this is a lively opener. James rhythm on banjo and super horn work by Henderson and Leach give Someday You'll Be Sorry a laid back opening. I particularly like Ward's harmonica solo over James' banjo rhythm and the underlying horn interplay. Very cool. Bluegrass influenced, Ella Speed is a real hoot with a foot stompin rhythm by Wilcox and James on guitar. Ward's kazoo skills are tight and the vocals work well. I particularly like Clarke's clarinet solo which really dresses the track. Very cool. Doctor Jazz has a great full horn swing featuring Leach on trombone, Henderson on trumpet and Clarke on sax with a meaty solo. James' banjo rhythm sets the pace and Wilcox on bass anchors it tight. Each of the horn players take a stroll on solo making this one of my favorites tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is a springy take on gospel track, Gloryland. With rich vocal harmonies, James on banjo, Wilcox on bass and Ward on harmonica, and a real dixie style horn fabric by Clarke, Henderson and Leach, this is a strong closer.

Friday, July 5, 2024

The Groove Krewe featuring Jonathan Boogie Long - Blues From The Bayou - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues From The Baayou, by The Groove Krewe featuring Jonathan Boogie Long and it's quite tasty. Opening with up tempo shuffle, Ain't No If About It, Jonathan Boogie Long on lead vocal and guitar really gets this track crankin'. With Eddie Bayers on drums, Nelson Blanchard on bass and guitar, and Rex Pearce on guitar, this is a super opener. With a nice taste of R&B, Dangerous Curves has a great feel Bayers on drums, David Hyde on bass and Pearce on guitars, Blanchard on keys and Jason Parfait on horns join Long for a track which could really be a nice radio track. Wrapping the release is Eclipsed By Love with a conventional radio rock format. Long on lead vocal has the groove and knows what to do. Dale Murray joins on percussion, David Peters on drums, Leon Medica on bass and Tony Haselden on guitars round out the release. Solid closer.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Shakura S'Aida - Hold On To Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hold On To Love, by Shakura S'Aida and it's a soulful R&B release with style. Opening with title track, Hold On To Love, Shakura S'Aida on lead vocal really hits the groove, with terrific backing vocals and what sounds like (although not noted on the release) Derek Trucks on slide. Excellent opener. With the darkness of a southern spiritual, Clap Yo Hands And Moan, really is a great track. Rick vocal blending, a thumping foot drum and that haunting slide work makes this one of my favorites on the release. You're The One takes more of a no holds attack with full vocal backing and massive drum and guitar attack and a simplified dobro addition, presumed to be by Keb Mo. Funky rocker, Ain't Got Nothin' is a real mover with rich bottom, great lead vocals and flashy lead guitar work by Eric Gales. This track really is strong.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Grindstone Records artist: Wayne Nicholson - Gin House - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gin House, from Wayne Nicholson and I really like it. Opening with Gin House Blues, Wayne Nicholson is upfront on vocal, joined by James Logan on guitar, Bruce Dixon on bass, Neil Robertson on drums, Kim Dunn on piano and Hammond, Bill Stephenson on grand piano, Tony Diteodoro on guitars, Steve Marriner on harmonica and guitars and Lisa MacDougall on backing vocals. This is raw energy focused in a strong blues rock package. With it's Robert Johnson like construction, Cream like attack and Stones like finesse, this is a solid opener. Mother Earth Blues has a deep rock rhythm with a stiff rim shot by Robertson driving the train. Warm Hammond tones by Dunn and Logan's slide work fill the track with raw energy and Nicholson eggs it on. Jimmy Reed's Honest I Do, provides a solid platform for vocal duet by Nicholson and MacDougall. With Dunn on piano and Logan laying down Reed like riffs, this track is a cool break. Forty Days and Forty Nights is a low slung shuffle with full harmonica work by Marriner and Dunn on piano giving Nicholson a great undercarriage and Logan's guitar work adds nice pinning. Invisible Blue is one of the stand out tracks on the release with it's quiet approach. Nicholson carries the melody over Dunn's Hammond work and a heavy bass line by Dixon. Quietly coaxing, Logan makes his appearance with really nice round Gilmore like tone topping off the track. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Wayne and Bill's Gin House Blues, a stripped down rework featuring only Nicholson on vocal and Stephenson on grand piano. This is a cool release that doesn't follow the main road...and I like it.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Maremil Music artist: Alex Lopez - Looking For A Change - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Looking For A Change, from Alex Lopez and it's a cool blues based rocker. Opening with Train, a classic style rocker with a tight snare reinforced beat. Overtones of Led Zep permeate the track with lead vocals and guitar by Alex Lopez, bass by Steve Roberts and Kana Leimbach on drums. Solid opener. Driving rocker, Blues They Rock, has a strong feel and a great hook. Solid vocal phrasing and Page style guitar lead gives this track a great spark. Night Closing In is a smooth bluesy ballad with a nice melody. Lopez steps up with a real nice solo on this one giving the release a real crescendo. Wrapping the release is Jack Bruce's Politician, one of the classic blues rock tracks of all time and really hit hard by Mountain and Cream. Lopez does does a real nice job on vocal and delivers on guitar with stinging guitar riffs over a firm bottom by Roberts and Leimbach.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Blue Heart Records artist: Peter Veteska & Blues Train - Full Tilt - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Full Tilt, by Peter Veteska & Blues Train and the name fits perfectly. Opening with, blues rocker, Go Find Another Man, Peter Veteska gets this band cranking. With strong vocals and firm guitar lead, Mikey Jr. on harmonica, Alex D'Agnese on drums, Coo Moe Jhee on bass, and Jeff Levine on B3 these guy have a solid groove. On slow blues, Sad And Blue Jeff Levine creates a warm, B3 environment for Veteska's lead vocal and nicely phrased guitar lead. With only rim shots by D'Agnese and Rick Prince on bass, this is a great radio track. Hard driving, 2:00 in the Morning, has a terrific thumping bass line by Chuck Hearne working with Levine's B3 and Veteska shares the mic with Jen Barnes. A ripping guitar solo by Veteska sets this track off nicely. Take Back What You Own is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's R&B, "Mustang Sally" vibe. With Ghee and D'Agnese setting the rhythm and Levine warming it up, Veteska and Barnes do a real nice job on vocal. Veteska unleashes the guitar on Slow Down You Crazy Fool, setting up his best vocals on the release. With it's solid blues formatting, and a real nice B3 solo by Levine, another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Moore's Merry Christmas Baby, probably seasonal when the release hit the market. Veteska does a real nice job on bluesy lead vocal and real nice piano work by Levine makes this a solid closer.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Juan Carlos Quintero - Desserts... - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Desserts... from Juan Carlos Quintero and it's in excellent example of light, airy, Latin infused jazz. Opening with Johnny, Mercer's Tangerine, Juan Carlos Quintero puts a cool Latin spin on the track with melodic lead on electric guitar, with strong support by Eddie Resto on bass, Joe Rotondi on piano, Joey DeLeon on percussion, and Aaron Serfaty on drums. Quintero shows good creativity with fluid guitar soloing and Rotondi.s piano soloing adds nicely. Estampa Cubana really moves with excellent bass/rhythm combo by Resto, DeLeon and Serfaty. Quintero rides the rhythm adding real spark to the track. Very nice. Also included is a broad improvisation on Van Morrison's Moondance. This is a pretty adventuresome pursuit with only a few clear references to the original tune yet, it holds itself together really well and stands alone with nice arrangement and soloing by all. Wrapping the release is John Gillespie's A Night In Tunisia with a strong Latin rhythm and rapid fire, guitar riffs by Quintero. Rotondi lays out a really nice piano solo on this one and in my opinion this is an excellent closer showing the best the band has to offer. Very nice.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Pure Panhandle Music artist: D. Scott Riggs - These Hard Times Will Come To Pass - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, These Hard Times Will Come To Pass, from D. Scott Riggs, and it's a strong release of traditional style blues. Opening with title track, These Hard Times Will Come To Pass, D. Scott Riggs accompanies himself on an acoustic resonator guitar. Keeping it simple yet effective this is a solid opener. Riggs' fleet fingered rhythmic playing on There Will Come A Time, transforms a simple ballad into a cool blues anthem under his gravelly vocals. Or The Devil Will Get You is formed along the lines of Big Joe Williams' Baby Please Don't Go. Wrapping the release is Hard Times No More, an easy flowing slide piece performed on the resonator. Clean and melodic, a solid closer for a cool traditional blues release.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Roots RX Records artist: Jack's Waterfall - Call Dr. John American Roots Project II - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Call Dr. John American Roots Project II, by Jack's Waterfall, and it's an interesting mix of pop, blues, jazz, folk and pure New Orleans. Opening with strutting, Call Dr. John, with Jack Licitra on piano and lead vocal, joined by Amy Correia, Mark Carpentieri on drums, Michael Blake on sax, and Al Levy on bass. Solid opener. Maria Muldaur leads the way on lead vocal on New Orleans juiced, Piano Player's Heaven with Licitra on accordion and piano, Jules Radino on drums, and a solid bass line by Al Levy. Contemporary pop oriented track, Bella, should garner strong radio play with cool vocals by Licitra and a tight rhythm by Carpentieri. On Dr. John's How Come My Dog Don't Bark, Licitra does a total rearrangement which is interesting, featuring cool, story telling style vocal pattern, rolling piano and some really sassy sax from Michael Blake. Wrapping the release is simple pop track, I Got You, featuring Licitra on piano and vocal. This track has a solid melody and a cool closer for an interesting release.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Rene' Huard Project - Blues Calling - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Calling, from Rene' Huard and it's a contemporary blues rocker. Opening with Hard Times, an up tempo rocker, Rene' Huard on lead vocal and harmonica sets a strong pace. HIs vocals are clear and his harmonica rich and melodic. Joined by Jack de Keyzer on guitars, Alec Frazer Jr. on bass, Al Cross on drums, Eric Lambier on keys and Richard Thornton on percussion, this is a cool opener. Blues based rocker, Demolition Man, has a real nice feel with a great rhythm. Huard's vocals are really strong and his harmonica work pure. With a fluid yet understated guitar solo by de Keyzer, a perfect radio track. With it's traditional blues groove, I really like I Do, featuring Huard's vocal and super harp work over a grinding rhythm and flaming lead guitar by de Keyzer. With it's seductive guitar intro by de Keyzer and smooth melody, Sharp Curves is another track with strong radio appeal. Wrapping the release is Ten Pound Stone, a stripped down blues stomper with Huard on vocal and harmonica working against de Keyzer on slide. A powerful track with a gritty feel.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Benjamin Croft - We Are Here To Help - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, We Are Here To Help, from Benjamin Croft and it's a cool progressive rocker. Opening with The Age of Magrathea, a driving track with Benjamin Croft on keys, Greg Howe on lead guitar, Carter Arrington on guitars, Stuart Hamm on bass and Marco Minnemann on drums, this is a powerful opener. You Made Me Miss has a great drum line by Simon Phillips that really makes it move. Hamm on bass is solid as a rock and Mike Stern contributes excellent lead guitar work. Adventurous, Lower Moat Manor, has an odd time signature before breaking into 4/4 for the chorus. Croft leads the way on melody with a prime guitar solo by Frank Gamble on guitar and excellent support from Phillips on drums and Flo Moore on bass. Wrapping the release is dramatic, She Flies Softly On featuring Jeff Scott Soto on lead vocal. With Croft on really creating on keys, Per Nilsson laying in a strong solo on guitar, Dave Marks on bass and guitars, and Phillips on drums, this is a strong closer.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Woodward Avenue Records artist: Brothers Brown - Nowhere Left To Go - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nowhere To Go, from Brothers Brown and it's a cool mix of rock, country and blues. Opening with Junior's Back, a country rocker features LA Paul Brown on lead guitar and vocal with Brother Paul Brown (Nashville) on B3 and piano, David Santos on bass and vocal, Peter Young on drums and vocals. With a Marshall Tucker kind of feel, with nicely blended vocals and complimentary guitar lead, this is a solid opener. On title track, Nowhere Left To Go, Santos lays down a real nice droning bass line and with Bobby Rush on lead vocal paired with Santos on vocal, LA trading guitar riffs with Nashville Paul, this is a strong radio track. LA Brown, Santos and Young really do I nice job harmonizing on High Up On The Mountain with warm keyboard work by Nashville Brown carrying the weight. A melodic guitar solo by LA Brown creates a creamy feel. Very nice. Lightly funky, Whatcha Gonna Do, has a cool, bouncy rhythm and pop melody and vocals. Swampy, Snakehole Road, really has a nice bottom, compliments Santos and Young and the Browns really work it on vocal, organ and real nice lead guitar by LA Brown. Wrapping the release is Fifteen Minutes, is an extended slow jam built over a basic bass and drum setup by Santos and Young. Starting slowly and quietly with Nashville Brown on B3 and then adding melodic lead guitar by LA Brown. This track builds slowly adding more intensity and volume by each player until the big sendoff . Solid closer.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Lone Star Mojo - A Shot Of The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Shot Of The Blues, from Lone Star Mojo and it's tight. Opening with super shuffle, Good Blues Travels Fast, Joe Splawn on lead vocal and B3 takes center stage with Mark Snyder on lead guitar and harmony, Tim Maloney on bass and Barry Sloan on drums. Splawn's rugged vocal style gives this track plenty of grit and his keys style really reinforces Snyder's guitar riffs. Solid opener. Slow, bluesy ballad, Thoughts Of You, has a very cool melody and with full keyboard tension, gives Snyder plenty of space to grind out a tasty, melodic solo. R&B chugging title track, A Shot Of The Blues is definitely one that will fill the dance floor. With it's boogaloo rhythm and rolling B3, it's a crowd pleaser. Another favorite is Corner Boogie with it's driving rhythm and heavy organ work. Splawn really gets this one going and with Maloney and Sloan really holding down the bottom, Snyder rips it loose and Splawn really rides the B3. Funky, Your Blues Give My Blues The Blues, really really is a great track featuring Maloney and Sloan. Sit still while you're listening to this one ...you can't. Wrapping the release is radio format, America's Got The Blues with it's solid melody and with Vanity Washington on backing vocals. A soulful solo by Snyder tops of this tidy closer.