Reali Records artist: J.P. Reali - Blues Since Birth - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Since Birth, by J.P. Reali and it's a stripped down blues rocker. Opening with The Devil's Take, J.P. Reali digs in with a grinding boogie. His own vocal and dirty guitar riffs and slide guitar, Chris reali on bass, Josh Borden on keys and Jim Larson on drums make for a cool opener. A bluesy take on Bob Dylan's It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry, is one of my favorites on the release with some of the best vocals by Reali, hot slide styling and keyboard soloing by Borden. Contemporary blues track, Blues In A Minefield, is soothing and would work nicely into a radio playlist. Santana like phrasing on guitar and low key backing by Borden on keys, Gill Glass on bass and Larson on drums. Another favorite is Eileen Left with it's country rock flavor. Wrapping the release is title track, Blues Since Birth, featuring Reali on vocal and steel hollow body guitar and slide and simple kickdrum by Glass. This is a cool closer for an enjoyable release. 

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Davy Knowles - The Invisible Man - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Invisible Man, from Davy Knowles and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with contemporary rocker, Good To Know Ya, Davy Knowles on lead and rhythm guitar and vocal lays down a solid track with hints of the Dickey Betts and twin guitar leads backed by Tod Bowers on bass and Mike Hansen. Tell Me What You Want Me To Be has a great back beat and a low slung rhythm. Knowles' vocals are tops and his guitar lead had plenty of spunk. Driving rocker, Running Out Of Moonlight, has strong radio appeal with compact guitar riffs and a memorable melody. Hansen and Bowers hold a solid bottom and Knowles cuts loose on lead with broad swath guitar intensity. Very cool. Heavy bottomed, No More To Weep, is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals and bluesy guitar lead, accented by a solid bass hook and snappy drum work by  Hansen. Wrapping the release is quiet ballad, Wonder You Are, with a strong melody, light backing and sweet, resonator slide work by Knowles. This is a solid closer for a real nice release. 

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CNY Jazz Arts Foundation artist: The CNY Jazz Orchestra - If A White Horse From Jerusalem - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If A White Horse From Jerusalem, by The CNY Jazz Orchestra and it's an interesting mix of Big Band, Coltrane with Jewish and Arabic scalar, rhythmic and  harmonic materials. Opening with Ahava Raba, Eddie Severn, Scott Harrell, Rob Robson and Paul Merrill blazing on trumpets and the smooth sound of David Liebman on soprano sax and Charles Pillow on clarinet. The addition of Seth Carper, Mike Dubaniewicz, John Jeanneret and Frank Grosso  on sax, Rick Montalbanl on piano, Spencer Phillips on bass and Larry Luttinger on drums for the full ensemble. Real Klezmer rhythm on Ki Lo Noeh / Maqam Saba Liebman and Luttinger set the pace with reed backing and trumpet and trombones (Bill Palange, Greg McCrea, Angelo Candela and Mark Anderson) create musical tension, then soloing over the tight rhythm of Phillips and Luttinger. Very cool. Bernstein's classic composition, Somewhere,  is really lushly orchestrated and flows from the band. Liebman really lays it out there backed by flugelhorn and trombone for an excellent, warm romp. Grosso digs in nicely on Hip-Hop Shuffle with a lot of encouragement by Phillips on bass. Wrapping the release is Rogers and Hart's Where or When featuring Montalbano on piano solo with warm sax and horn backing and complimentary melodic lines. Solid closer for a real cool release. 

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Mark Hummel - True Believer - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, True Believer, from Mark Hummel and it's chocked full of smoking blues. Opening with Chicago style blues track, High Time For The Devil, Oscar Wilson on lead vocals leads the way with solid pace and force, and Mark Hummel on harmonica really shines. Bob Welsh on piano adds a perfect glisten to the track, backed by Randy Bermudes on bass, Billy Flynn on guitar, and Wes Starr on drums. Great opener. Otis Rush's slow blues, Double Trouble, is terrific with Junior Watson getting hot and heavy on guitar, and Hummel shining on lead vocal and harmonica. With Kedar Roy on bass, Brett Brandstadt on piano, Jack Sanford on sax, and Starr on drums, this is my favorite track on the release.  Peter Green's Stop Messin' Round is a great shuffle and Hummel really gets in the slot on vocal. Watson has the lead on guitar again and his phrasing is excellent, backed by Roy, Brandstadt, Sanford and Starr. Little Walter's The Toddle, is a great track and features Hummel front and center on harmonica. With Watson on guitar, Roy on bass and Brandstadt on piano, this is a nice changeup in the mix. Wrapping the release is Shufflin' Days featuring Joe Beard on lead vocal and guitar and showcasing Hummel on harmonica.  With Billy Flynn on guitar, Bob Welsh on piano, Randy Bermudes on bass and Starr on drums, this is an excellent closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Albert Castiglia - Righteous Souls - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Righteous Souls, from Albert Castiglia and it's chocked full of great music and heavy talent. Opening with Centerline, a rocker with a cool backbeat, Albert Castiglia is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, D'man Martin on drums, Kid Andersen on guitars, Lisa Andersen on backing vocals, and features a great twin guitar duel with Popa Chubby. Great opener. Kevin Burt has the mic on R&B track, Mama, I Love You featuring a strong bass line by Jemmott, tight rhythm by D'Mar and really nice guitar work by Castiglia. Rick Estrin is upfront with Castiglia on Jr Wells' Come On In This House. Estrin's contribution is terrific and Castiglia milks all of the juice from his guitar, complimented by Pugh on piano making this one of my favorites on the release. Buddy Guy's funky, The Dollar Done Fell, features Josh Smith and Castiglia working the guitars and terrific vocals by Castiglia and Lisa Little Baby Andersen with Jemmott and D'Mar driving the rhythm. Excellent! Wrapping the release is another Wells track, What My Momma Told Me, with Castiglia really singing the Chicago blues. Estrin on harmonica really gets it going and Monster Mike Welch does a great job screaming the blues n guitar. Dyna


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mite closer. 

Ollee Owens- Nowhere To Hide - New Release Review

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

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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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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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