Blues in the South, UK

Ryan Bluwrarth Newman Review 1st July 2026

Ryan Bluwrarth Newman  Wrath of Blues  Feverbarn Recordings  FBR221 

Born in Chester, Connecticut, Ryan, aged seven took up the guitar he focused on The Beatles but, the overwhelming influence of Jimi Hendrix, changed everything. At 16 he was invited to jam with John Mayall and since then blues became his life.

On this debut Ryan takes lead guitar vocals. Vic Washington, Mario E. Sprouse, keyboards; Scott Spray and Tim Leffingwell, bass with Bobby Torello on drums with a full horn section.

The opener is Elmore James’s ‘Dust My Broom’, this, is a serious sliding toe-tapper, backed with rising horns.

‘Leaving This World Tonight’, is a building blues ballad with nicely understated guitar, morphing into full blast guitar and horns. 

Mose Allison’s ‘Your Mind Is on Vacation’, is a horn driven swinger with richly delivered guitar work. 

Larry Davis’s ‘Texas Flood’, delivers a richly mellow, fluidly inviting guitar. 

B.B. King’s ‘The Thrill is Gone’, is given a thorough re-working in the style of Hendrix and is actually, quite refreshing. 

Albert King’s ‘Oh Pretty Woman’, becomes a pleasant horn, guitar and organ driving funker. B.B. King’s ‘Be Careful With A Fool’, is an enjoyable guitar and horns inviting slow blues.

On Jeff Beck’s ‘Let Me Love You’, ferocious guitar and percussion, underpin Arlene Wow’s powerful vocals.

Bob Marley’s ‘Get Up Stand Up’, is treated with grooving respect. The Rolling Stones ‘Miss You’, possesses an infectious South American groove.  Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘Baltimore Oriole’, is given a blues feel with fiery guitar interjections.

Earl King’s ‘Come On’, becomes a goodtime blues rocker. Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’, pounding percussion and fiery sliding guitar drives you on.

Aretha Franklin’s ‘Good To Me As I Am To You’, is a blues rising horn infused slowburner, the subtle picking guitar underpins Arlene Wow’s emotional vocals.

Well recommended!

Brian Harman.