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July 2010 CD Reviews
Joe Louis Walker Between A Rock And The Blues. Dixiefrog / Karonte 2009. Backed by a perfect group of professional musicians, Joe Louis Walker precisely and brightly displays a restrained but, at the same time, effective work. His consistent vocals grow over a clear and sophisticated and well-defined sound, thanks to the excellent work of Duke Robillard who is also responsible of final production and plays guitar in one track. It can be defined as an amazing album of contemporary blues, half way to blues and rock, with drops of jump and soul music. Six of Walker’s own songs, together with versions of artists like Travis Philips, Roy Gaines, Steve Hall, Duke Robillard or Ray Charles. You will find Joe Louis Walker on guitars and vocals, Bruce Katz on piano and organ, Jesse Williams on upright and electric bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and percussion, Doug James on tenor sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and Sugar Ray Norcia on harp. Personally speaking I think this is one of the best CDs Joe Louis Walker has recorded till now that deserves to be among the remarkable ones of his wide recording list.
Travellin’ Brothers Red Hot & Blue. Gaztelupeko Hotsak 2009. Once again Travellin’ Brothers’ musicians bring us a great dose of swing and groove along their new CD. This is an album that will fill our lives with joy, happiness and fun, like they did with their previous one. Red, Hot & Blue includes eleven faultless songs, performed with passion and feeling, that immediately catch the audience with an intense bright atmosphere, thanks to the huge musical knowledge they have adquired. A CD with a good final display, well tuned horn arrangements and cool sounding solos. It is an ambitious project that nicely becomes reality thanks to the careful production of Kaki Arkarazo and of course, the excellent performers who have made it come true, Jon Coreaga on vocals. Aitor Caņibano on guitars, Eneko Caņibano on bass, Ander Unzaga on keyboards, Isi Redondo on drums and a horn section with Alain David on alto and tenor sax, Alfonso Masach on trumpet and Carlos Escudero on trombone.
Chicago Bob Nelson Tell Me Mama. Music Maker 2009. Here comes one of the new Music Maker acquisitions, great singer and harmonica player Chicago Bob Nelson, a real institution of East Coast and Chicago blues. Bob enjoyed such great honor to play with Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, as member of Hooker’s band which, at that time, was The Coast To Coast Blues Band. All recordings Bob has published till now have been done on electric format but, this time, Nelson offers us thirteen incomparable jewels of his most down-home repertoire. They are a collection of acoustic songs where he sings and plays harp only backed by Ross ‘Peabody’ Pead on guitar. It is an intimist, relaxed and cool album, full of magic and coming from the deepest part of his heart, where passion prevails over mind reason or perfection. The CD goes further up tradition and folk, to keep it deeply inside your soul as an ancestor liturgy. I am convinced that, if you buy this album, it will not lie inside a drawer. You will listen to it again and again.
Lee Gates Touring With Lucy. Music Maker 2009. Probably very few of you will be familiar with this musician. The true thing is he is an excellent singer and a fascinating guitar player, who deserves to get an outstanding place among the bright limits new blues stars move. Lee Gates has now recorded his third album and, if the previous ones were good, this one is the best one in every aspects till now. Lee Gates feels totally at ease with an amazing effective balanced musical tone. For this Touring With Lucy, he has recruited the following musicians: Ardle Dean on drums, Nick on bass, Charles ‘Delta Hog’ Hayes on guitar, Dan Hector on keyboards and of course, Lee Gates himself on electric guitar and vocals. Nine surprising orginal songs around an unpretentious, joyful but, at the same time, deep album that will satisfy the most classic orthodox fans of the music that drives us crazy: The Blues.
Beverly Watkins The Spiritual Expressions Of Beverly ‘Guitar’ Watkins. Music Maker 2009. Here comes a woman who will immediately captivate you, not only with her beautiful voice but also with her wrapping hypnotical music and especially her magnificent guitar playing that will remind you greatest Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Beverly ‘Guitar’ Watkins drinks into the most traditional gospel sources. Through her music and the twelve songs included in this CD, she gives us the faith in the Lord, a faith that has been given to her by her parents and the spirit of God. This is her first recording, where she displays a reflective analyitcal way, a particular interesting way of approaching life and religion to the convulse times we are now living. Besides Beverly Watkins herself on guitar and vocals, you will also find guitar players Albert White and Danny Hall, bass player T-Bone Buņete, drummer Ardle Dean and keyboards player Dan Hoctor. Also the voices of different guest singers complete and give brightness to this magnificent project.
Bernard Allison The Otherside. JazzHaus 2009. For more than two decades Bernard Allison has been active with countless gigs and recording his own albums. Left behind were the years a young Bernard was second guitar player backing his father, legendary Luther Allison, who unfortunately left us many years ago by a cancer disease. In this new CD, Bernard gives free rein to his fierce indomitable guitar playing, which follows his habitual style. In The Otherside Bernard mixes on a personal original way a good dose of actual vivacious wild rock-blues with other black music elements like soul, funk and reggae. But in opposition of what you may think, the CD creates a calm relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Bernard gets a personal close interaction with audiences, making them feel at ease with his proposal. His musical confessions make Bernard appear like he is a close friend to the whole listeners.
17th. Street Band Featuring: Harvey Brooks Positively 17th. Street. Self Production 2009. The 17th Street is an able rock and blues band, which has been strengthened for these recordings with legendary bass player Harvey Brooks. Are you familiar with him? Do you know whom are we talking about? But, don’t you know who this man is? Surely your are still too young. Harvey Brooks played bass in some of the most historical albums of the 20th Century such as Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, The Doors’ Soft Parade or Super Session album by Al Kooper, Mick Bloomfield and The Electric Flag. Positively 17th Street is a collection of thirteen cool splendid songs that capture with an extreme good taste a mixture of blues folk, rock, soul, boogie-woogie and Americana music, all performed with great conviction, elegance and a personal touch that makes them unique. Besides Harvey Brooks on bass an vocals in a couple of songs, the rest of band members are Tom Kusian on guitar, Darryl Roles on drums, Arthur Migliazza on piano, Dustin Busch on guitar and lap steel and Tom Walbank on vocals, harmonica and slide guitar. A splendid CD that will satisfy your expectations.
Various Artists Boogie Woogie Kings. Delmark 2009 An impressing terrific selection of artists and songs with the most classic exceptional boogie-woogie, is what you will find in this CD. They come from those years were music broke established rules and forms. Boogie Woogie Kings gathers nineteen songs of immortal piano players who have got a high place in music history, not only into barrelhouse boogie-woogie but also into blues, swing, stomp and the forthcoming rock and roll that came some years later. The album brings six of the most relevant and historical names of this kind of music, such as Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Cripple Clarence Lofton, Speckler Red and Henry Brown. Some of the tracks included in the CD have been previously unreleased, like Henry Brown’s Deep Morgan and 22nd. St. Stomp or Speckler Red’s Dirty Dozens, Dad’s Piece and Right String but The Wrong To You. The album is one of these treasures every blues lover should have in his record collection.
Tail Dragger Rooster’s Lounge. Delmark 2009. Probably, the most orthodox passionate Chicago West Side blues that is now played at Windy City, comes from Tail Dragger. Tail is a singer who follows pure down home tradition, and is deeply influenced by Howlin’ Wolf. He certainly gathers Wolf’s essence, his expressive and vocal dramatism and spirit, so this CD becomes a clear example of what I say. Some years ago Dragger signed for Delmark Records and in this new album he displays better than ever with his usual vehemence, eighteen splendid blues backed by a bunch of excellent Chicago blues clubs habitual musicians, such as young players Rockin’ Johnny on guitar and Martin Lang on harp. As special guest in "Wander" song you will find legendary singer and guitar player Jimmy Dawkins. Personally speaking, I think Rooster’s Lounge is the best cd tail Dragger has published till now. Listen to it and convince yourself.
Christian Dozzler & Robin Banks Livin’ Life. BluesWave 2009 Every Austrian blues fan you can ask about Christian Dozzler, will certainly answer Christian is the favorite top blues singer and boogie-woogie piano player around Austria. Besides a versatile piano player with a wide range of keyboard resources, Christian has a long experience in music business world. If I am right this is his seventh recording he has published under his own name and this time he has done it on a duo format together with Robin Banks, a Canadian singer, producer and song-writer gifted with a huge talent and an amazing voice. Robin has been working around Dallas blues circles for about ten years, with a calendar of about 240 nights per year, all around Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, She has also recorded three albums under her own name and she has also shared staged with such great guitar players like Johnny Moeller, Nick Curran or Kid Ramos among other big stars. Fourteen songs, seven signed by Christian Dozzler and the other seven by Robin Banks, but all them cool delicious and very emotional. Enjoy the piano and voice of two inspired powerful artists who will produce a great impact deep in your heart and soul.
Lola Give Her What She Wants. Wilbe 2007. Impressing singer of blues, soul, funky, gospel, rhythm & blues and any other musical genre she is been asked to sing. Lola is an effective vocalist gifted with an exciting huge talent who overflows an amazing feeling that really communicates with the audience since the first notes of her inspired voice. Twelve splendid songs signed by Lola Gulley herself and William Bell, who also worked on the final CD production, all performed from the deepest part of her heart and soul, with such a great enthusiasm many artists that call themselves professional musicians would love to possess. As you should easily imagine, the precious voice of Lola is perfectly backed by high class professional and able musicians, who contribute to give a big quality and a personal stamp to Give Her What She Wants cd. A worthy album including a wide range of different musical styles, which represent the most pure Afroamerican tradition.
David Gerald Hell And Back. Self Production / BlindRaccoon 2009. Mississippi born singer, song-writer and guitar player, now settled in Detroit, David Gerald is a straight emotional musician with an overflowing passion and feeling. When he was only sixteen years old, he was totally caught by Prince’s guitar playing and other eighties rock guitar players. David rediscovered blues listening to legendary names like Albert King, ZZ Hill, B.B. King or Stevie Ray Vaughan. All these influences become evident in his new CD where you will find technical and sound patterns of the mentioned artists along the whole album. David Gerald keeps blues tradition alive and he adds new avant-garde forms and concepts to the music he plays. The result is a contemporary, cool and well structured kind of blues, rooted on firm strong basis which give as a result a high voltage blues session.
Levee Town Levee Town. Self Production / BlindRaccoon 2009 It is true, The Levee Town is a flamboyant band with a perfectly built rocky sound, powerful harmonica and guitar riffs that easily and passionately drive the audience mad. This CD becomes a good example, so all of you who are good expert will immediately realize it. The Levee Town includes Brandon Hudspeth guitars and vocals, Jimmy Meade, harmonica and vocals. Jan Faircloth drums, percussion and vocals and finally Jacques Garoutte, bass, guitar and vocals. The band combine with a lot of power and elegance, good rock and roll and blues, in the path of Muddy Waters or Jimmy Reed. The Levee Town fierce display of fourteen CD tracks with a musical strength and imaginative lyricism. It is more than a high quality album it includes a variety of songs, on a wide range of savory well cooked chromatic rhythms that will not let you indifferent.
Little Joe McLerran Believe I’ll Make A Change. Root Blues Reborn / BlindRaccoon 2009 Born in Boulder, Colorado in the summer or 1983, Little Joe McLerran drives his music along the long and winding roads of the most genuine, stony country blues, deeply rooted into last century prewar bluesmen. Joe perfectly knows all sorts of blues, from back porch blues to ragtime, stomps, Georgia, Alabama or Carolines Piedmont blues, with the patterns, tempos and forms of artists like Big Bill Broonzy, Skip James or Mississippi John Hurt, to only mention three great names and deep influences. The album includes thirteen beautiful pearls of genuine deep intense blues displayed with an honest passion and credibility, virtues now quite difficult to find, although this is not the case of Little Joe McLerran, who lives and plays his music from the deepest part of his heart. Believe I’ll Make a Change gathers an exclusive feeling that comes from Little Joe McLerran on guitar and vocals, Dexter Payne on harmonica and clarinet, David Bernston and Jimmy Junior Markham on acoustic harmonicas, Robbie Mack on bass and vocals, Ron McRorey on drums and Jack Wolke on keyboards. All of them give the original real sound of the most genuine old blues tradition.
Don Ray Band On Top Of The Heap. Margdon 2009 Powerful singer and songwriter of huge talent, Don Ray and his team display a big and well articulated performing potential along eleven original songs that line a frenzy madness, by the inherent musical quality and the amazing professionalism of every musician included on the CD. To the impressive bright Don Ray’s voice, always superb and firm, with a restrained rage, you should add Curt Ryle on all guitars and solos, Gary Smith on keyboards and piano, Steve Bryant on bass, Steve Brewster on drums, Mike Dirham and Troy Lancaster on guitars too. This is a flawless and bright production with very original and personal Don Ray’s own compositions. In short words a project done with big enthusiasm that will certainly call the attention of all listeners, for the careful strong determination of everyone involved in this interesting album.
Tim Lothar & Peter Nande Two For The Road. Straight Shooter 2009.A true passionate show of acoustic front porch blues and deep south down home music. Denmark born fellows and friends, Tim Lothar (vocals, guitar, footstomp, drums and percussion) and Peter Nande (vocals, harmonica, washtub bass, footstomp), show it is possible to perform and capture the essence and spirit of pre-war roots Americana music from the most hidden corner in the world, and do it with an amazing technique, quality and special sensitivity these two fantastic musicians display along this superb album called Two For The Road. The CD includes twelve own pearls, except two versions of Tampa Red’s Can’t Get That Stuff No More and the final CD song they have written together with James Harman who has produced the album and sings in three cuts. An essential album for the amazing quality of all musicians involved on it, but also for their mastery knowledge and sensibility.
Various Artists BAR Closed BAR Promotions 2010.Seventh and last volume of BAR Productions series, the small independent Australian record label owned by Jillian Jake. After some years of letting us know some of the best Australian blues and roots musicians and bands, Jillian and her team have decided to put an end to their adventure. It is a pity they abandon this project but I am sure they will again surprise us with new delightful projects as producers. From these lines let me wish them a great success. For this seventh album, they have recruited a good number of Australian artists, such as Kontraband, Indiana Phoenix, Andy Cowan Dutch Tiders, KNiKi, Buddy Knox, Mississippi Shakedown, Todd Cook, Dave Gillam, Brendan Leggatt, Mike Beale, Ian Collard, Devil Creek, Mark Hall, Stephen Howard and Mark Vine. The CD includes seventeen songs that show a variety of forms, colours and ways of approaching and perform blues and other similar genres. Here comes a unique and original cd that gives a perfect end to a great period in the history of Australian blues.
R.J. Mischo Knowledge You Can’t Get In College. Dreamseland 2010. To me it is always a great satisfaction to savor every one of the new CDs RJ Mischo regularly publishes. I am convinced that, like me, it also happens to most of blues fans and especially to harmonica blues lovers. Mischo is now one of the most outstanding harp players. He has got a deep fat tone, together with a rich imaginative phrasing and an extreme good taste. He is also an innovative effective warm musician with a bright cool sound. All these qualities make him one of the most remarkable song-writer, singer and harmonica player in contemporary blues scene. In this new CD, he pleasantly surprises us with fourteen vital original songs performed with the same high intensity he ever does, with the priceless help of the musicians who contribute to give a successful end to the whole project, such as guitar players Kid Anderson and Rusty Zinn, drummers June Core and Hans Bosse, Sid Morris on piano an Kedar Joy on bass and upright bass. An excellent worthy album where Mischo feels at ease and able as ever.
Blue Lunch Sideswiped. Wilberts 2009. Here comes an eclectic soothing album, specially devoted to fine palates that enjoy with good music, cooked with first class ingredients, like Texas blues, New Orleans rhythm & blues, some doo-woop, Sonny Boy Willliamson’s blues, jump blues, soul, classic rock & roll and even pre-boop swing in Illinois Kjacket’s & Bill Doggett’s song Doggin’ With Doggett. All those interesting things and others is what you will find along Blue Lunch Band last excellent piece of work, the fifth one of their musical career, if I’m not wrong. Demolishing effective horn arrangements and solos in the path of The Roomful Of Blues ones to mention a similar popular group. Blue Lunch are Bob Frank on guitar and vocals, Pete London on harmonica and vocals, Raymond DeForest on bass and bass vocal voices, Scott Flowers on drums and percussion, Mike Sands on piano, Keith McKelley on tenor sax, Bob Michael on trombone and vocal harmonies and Mike Rubim on trumpet. If all that was not enough, this excellent recording is reinforced with the following additional musicians: Sax’ Gordon Beadle on tenor sax, Sammy DeLeon, congas and percussion, Tim Longfellow on Hammond organ and Erwin Michael on clarinet. A cd with quality enough to satisfy all of you.
Nick Gravenites Bluestar. Renaissance 2009. Splendid reissue of the music coming from one of the basic names of seventies and eighties San Francisco blues scene, singer and guitar player Nick Gravenites, a legendary name among West Coast blues circles. Bluestar was published in 1980 and now has been reissued by Renaissance Records, which have hit the nail on the head with it. Fourteen incredible songs, where blues perfectly combines with the typical Americana music performed by southern rock of psychedelic bands of that time. For the young people who are not familiar with Nick Gravinites, only mention he was born in Chicago and when he went to the University about 1956, he introduced himself in ‘beatnik’ circles and soon became deeply interested on blues music. He regularly visited Chicago South Side blues clubs, where he knew some of the first white blues musicians, such as Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Bloomfield or Paul Butterfield. Besides becoming member of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, in 1967 Nick founded The Electric Flag in San Francisco and he was a regular member into that scene then called ‘Bay Area’. The following years showed Nick involved into all blues and ‘flower power’ related circles, working with The Quicksilver Message Service, Janis Joplin and The Big Holding Company and, of course, with his own band.
Mighty Sam McClain Betcha Didn’t Know Mighty Music 2005. What a great voice! What a powerful character, control and determination!. Mighty Sam McClain is an amazing singer with a huge talent and a faultless wild voice. Probably he is now one of the best representatives of avant-garde soul music. You will find the CD has a variety of stylistic musical flavors and coming from such a different but, at the same time, so close artists like Neville Brothers, Quincy Jones, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Little Milton or even West Montgomery. McClain cleverly investigates into the romantic roots of classic passionate soul, together with funky, gospel, blues, jazz and disco music, all with deep influences and musical arrangements coming from sixties, seventies and eighties years but updated with the most actual sound performed by outstanding musicians. The CD is a real treasure that shows the genuine rhythm & blues, ballad and soul spirit that comes out from the deepest part of the heart of an amazing totally honest singer. Thirteen varieties of selected songs with a lush arrangement and flamboyant production with extreme professionalism and taste.
Shawn Pittman Too Hot. Feelin’ Good 2010. Flamboyant, delicious rocky Texas blues singer and guitar player who, sometimes, has been compared with Johnny Moeller, Rusty Zinn, Junior Watson or Jimmy Vaughan among other great icons of actual white blues artists. Shawn Pitman opens his new CD with a Howlin’ Wolf’s song How Many More Years, something very few professional musicians dare to do. If we add a flawless performandse, full of passion, and a warm feeling, there is nothing more to be said about it, only recommend you to listen to it and then make your own opinion. Pittman leads the band with a clever firm hand with disciplined work and at the same time, full of an improvisions and convincing relaxing air that creates an atmosphere that gradually reaches an intense climax. The songs included on the CD are attractive enough to complete a really interesting, variety and enjoyable album. You will find, among the fifteen tracks included on the CD, covers of songs coming from Howlin’ Wolf, Lazy Lester, Jerry McCain or Larry Williams. Shawn Pittman on guitar and vocals, Martin Lotti on bass, Emanuel Zamperini on drums and Max Lugli on drums round up the seventh cd coming from one of the most interesting actual Texas blues guitar players.
Elmore James Jr. And The Broomdusters Baby Please Set A Date. Wolf 2010.Like his father did, Elmore James Jr. gathers all his father's legacy, in this CD recorded for Austrian label Wolf Records. Little by little and step by step, Elmore James Jr. drives us deeper into the long and windy roads of fifties Chicago south side blues with the cool flavor if the 20th century means of production. The final result is a warm, effective, hypnotical captivating blues album, with the outstanding Jr.’s voice and slide guitar and Ed Williams’ alto and tenor sax who, fifty years later, replaces J.T. Brown (in fact Ed has been member of Vance Kelly’s band). The other musicians involved into this fantastic and attactive project are Otis Green on keyboards, Jake Dawson on guitar (outstanding member in the band of the sadly missed bass player Willie Kent), Carl Norington on bass and Jim Disparito on drums. Thirteen songs that will overcome you with emotion by Elmore James Jr.’s insistent sticky slide, that continuously refreshes our memories with the sound and incisive riffs directly learned of his father . The best and more traditional Chicago blues band comes with Elmore James Jr. And The Broomdusters. So, go and buy immediately a copy.