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November 2011 CD Reviews
Richard Ray Farrell "I Sing The Blues Eclectic". Blue Beet 2011. Singer, songwriter, harmonica and guitar player Richard Ray Farrell powerfully and masterfully displays in this new work all his blues knowledge. Richard is well backed by Mike Lampe on bass and Ira Kaye on drums, plus some guests musicians who top all this delicious twelve portions of blues cake and leave a good impression to everyone willing to enjoy this exquisite dessert, done with eclectic and not so eclectic blues, that Richard has made and cooked for people who are prepared to share this sweet tasteful delicacy entitled "I Sing The Blues Eclectic". An amazing well-rounded album recorded and mixed by Jim Salamone at Cambridge Sound Studios in Newton, PA. Farrell has dedicated the album to the memory of bluesman Big Jack Johnson who passed away this year 2011. An easy digestible CD, which shows the talent and skills of a musician called Richard Ray Farrell.
The 44's "Boogie Disease". RipCat / Frank Roszak 2011. A more than excellent blues band, which burst onto the recording scene with this debut album, performed with great strength and spontaneity. A collection of nine exciting rocky tracks, with power enough to stop a train. The Forty Fours have a good vision and very creative blues concept, without losing an inch of classicism, so their music is deeply rooted into the genuine blues, boogie and West Coast blues tradition. Their style is also nourished by different sources, from James Harman and even The Red Devils, to Johnny Otis, T-Bone Walker or Johnny 'Guitar' Watson. The band musicians are Johnny Main guitar and vocals, Tex Nakamura harmonica, Mike Turturro bass and J.R. Lozano drums. All them perfectly control different tempos, from shuffles to slow blues, they play with effective dramatics, which makes them sound vigorous, energetic and powerful. Finally the CD was produced by Kid Ramos. So, can we ask for more?
Magic Sam Blues Band "West Side Soul". Delmark 2011. Delmark Records has proudly reissued, in a digipack format, one of the masterpieces of sixties Chicago blues. It is nothing than the one and only "West Side Soul" by great singer and guitar player Magic Sam. At that time, Living Blues Magazine pointed that LP as one among the Blues Top Ten Chart. The reissue also includes some original sixties pictures that had not been published until now, belonging to Bill Lindemann's private collection, who also wrote the album liner notes. The recording was done in 1967 and gathers twelve charming magic songs, all them performed with a boundless energy and feeling, such as "Feelin' Good", "All Your Love", "I Need You So Bad", "Don't Want No Woman" among other irresistible songs. Together with Magic Sam's splendid voice and guitar, your will also find Mighty Joe Young guitar, Stockholm Slim piano, Ernest Johnson bass, and Odie Payne Jr. drums. It is a unique album, because it brings us an important part of the best West Side Chicago blues history.
JT Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters "Live". Hunters 2009. A great album coming from singer and accordion player JT Lauritsen, who walks with taste and knowledge along zydeco music, New Orleans rhythm and blues and Louisiana traditional music with a touch of country and gospel music. This Norwegian musician has been involved into the music business, mainly in blues scene, for more than twenty years, though he previously had never recorded a live album. This is his first one and the result is simply fantastic. The CD perfectly reflects the true original band sound when they play live. No tricks or other studio devices, so what you heard are their real original sound. The band musicians are JT himself vocals and accordion, Arnfinn Torrisen guitars, Atle Rakvág bass and vocals, Jon Grimsb drums and percusion, Iver Olav Erstad, Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes and Stina Stenerud vocals. They also have as a special guest, the great Beale Street musician Billy Gibson on harmonica in all songs and vocals in a couple of cuts. Fifteen intense flaming powerful songs, performed with great strength and a deep big feeling.
Mike Eldred Trio "61 And 49". Blues Boulevard 2011. A more than excellent album by singer and guitar player Mike Eldred, who began to play guitar when he was only fourteen and, some time later, he started performing at weddings, bars and private parties. His meeting with guitarist Brian Setzer was the decisive step for Mike to decide to begin to play as a professional artist. Mike's musical influences are wide and varied, and go from Scotty Moore to Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. This is the reason why you will find in this CD both the most genuine blues, together with pure and wild rock 'n' roll. Mike Eldred guitar and vocals, John Bazz bass and Jerry Angel drums have done a flaming electrifying album, that makes them become different and very special, partly thanks to the band leader original voice and the guest musicians who have been involved in the CD, like Scotty Moore himself, Ike Turner, Kid Ramos or César Rosas from Los Lobos among others. Billy F. Gibbons from ZZ Top is a big fan of them. And, do you know what he has said? "The Mike Eldred Trio make the rounds through a Blues-wrapped, offering that is certain to satisfy. Rock it! ". Really amazing!
Marion James "Essence". EllerSoul / Frank Roszak 2011. Twelve impressive cuts, very well performed by an able efficient singer, who easily moves herself among soul, blues, jazz, funk and rhythm and blues, like few women nowadays do. Marion oozes a heartbreaking feeling in every note that comes out of her throat. Miss James was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on a family with musical commitment. Like many Afro-American singers, her musical basis can be found in the fact she grew up singing in the local church choir and surrounding area. Also mention that in 1966 she recorded the song "That's My Man" for Excello Records, which hit that year top-ten charts. In this new CD Marion James is surrounded by a bunch of gifted musicians, that include guitarists Jack Pearson and Casey Lutton, bass and acoustic bass players Todd Ellsworth, Bob Babbitt and Roger Spencer, drummers Chuck Burke, Chris Brown and Steve Johnson, piano players Beegie Adair and Ronnie Godfrey, organ players Reese Wynans and Dickie Thompson, sax players Dennis Solee and Dennis Taylor, trumpets George Tidwell and Steve Herman and finally Barry Green on trombone. An exciting CD by a great band, with a carefully done final production and the amazing voice of Marion James, halfway to Billie Holiday, Etta James and Ruth Brown.
Tommy Castro Presents the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue "Live". Alligator 2011. In recent years it has become fashionable among blues fans to travel in the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, which alternates between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Probably singer, songwriter and guitar player Tommy Castro is now the captain and standard of these cruises. In one of these cruises, Tommy shared the stage for a week with other great names like Janiva Magness, Rick Estrin, Michael 'Iron Man' Burks, Debbie Davies, Sista Monica Parker, Joe Louis Walker, Theodis Ealey and Trampled Under Foot. All these wonderful jams have been gathered in this album of contemporary blues that brings feeling and magic on all four sides, with large and impressive rhythm and blues, soul, gospel and roadhouse blues sessions. A recording that is worth its weight in gold that will passionately catch all fans and good music lovers. And also, let me give my congratulations to Alligator Records for their 40th anniversary!
Hadden Sayers "Hard Dollar". Corn Music / Blind Raccoon 2011. The true power of his music becomes evident in the new work of singer and guitarist Hadden Sayers, who shows all his tasteful and varied performing strength. This album perfectly reflects Hadden's great work. Hadden is also gifted with a strong emotional and explosive temperament. Thirteen well done songs, Sayers performs together with his usual combo with Tony McClung drums, Mark Frye bass and Fender Rhodes, plus Dave DeWitt on Hammond B-3, piano and Wurlitzer. In this "Hard Dollar", Hadden Sayers also shows his talent as 'story teller', especially in wrapping suggestive songs like "Lap Of Luxury", "Flat Black Automobile", "Sweet Texas Girls" or the roadhouse boogie "Crush On You,", where he passionately communicates his most deep feelings. You will also find other good moments along the album, where Hadden includes different winks, some more hidden than others, to the music of Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert Collins and Sean Costello.
Shawn Pittman "Edge Of The World". Delta Groove 2011. Since early nineties, singer and guitar player Shawn Pittman was regularly playing in Dallas, Texas area and it was there where he got his style. Earlier, Pittman started his contact with music at the age of eight, as his mother made him take piano lessons, but soon he preferred to play his older brother's drums. Apparently, this did not satisfy his tastes and, when he was fourteen years old, he first picked up a guitar in his hands. It was a friend named Braken Hale who introduced him into the winding roads of Muddy Waters' and Lightnin' Hopkins' blues, that deeply caught him. This is his tenth album of his career, including fifteen inspired original songs, performed with an amazing skill and great talent too. Shawn plays all instruments, except tenor and baritone sax by Jonathan Doyle. All tracks have a quite vintage sound, which take us back to fifties and sixties years. A very convincing record, with a highly successful final result.
Elvin Bishop "Raisin' Hell Revue". Delta Groove 2011. For any blues fan it is not a secret that Elvin Bishop is one of the greatest blues musicians of the last forty or fifty years. It was in the early seventies when Chicago blues guitar player and singer Little Smokey Smothers became his mentor, just before Elvin became one of the founding members of legendary Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Since then on, Elvin has become a legendary name and his crusade for blues music was and still is remarkable and a good example to be taken into account. Once again this new piece of work shows Bishop on great form, as he still keeps his irresistible personality together with an overflowing enthusiasm in every new project he gets involved with. He is also backed by high-level musicians who perform with great commitment. Kid Andersen, John Németh or Finis Tasby are some of the great names you will find in this excellent "Raisin 'Hell Revue".
Lone Rhino Club "De Norte A Sur". Self Production 2011. Singer, piano, harmonica player, songwriter, drummer, 'entertainer' and band leader Julio Lobos, always surprises me pleasantly with every new project he does. This time he brings us fifty minutes of exciting attractive music in twelve songs, eight of his own songs, displayed alone or with some other band members, like drummer Reginald Vilardell or guitar player Roberto Gomez. "De Norte a Sur" includes among other styles, rock and roll, wrapping hypnotic blues, a mixture of zydeco and cajun with borden airs sung 'patois' ("Eh La Bas"), where interestingly Julio gives a delightful accordion playing. You will also find a fox song ("Negrito Bailarín"), another one with Cab Calloway's influences ("Fuera De La Ley") and several more surprises. As a singer Julio gathers qualities of an inspired charming and funny 'story teller', with scream funny ironical lyrics that sometimes also show a certain sadness and bitterness. It is an album that deserves a careful listening to enjoy it while you wait for seeing the band live performing.
Txus Blues & Jose Bluefingers "El Blues De La Comedia". Bluefingers 2009. Txus and Jose are two pleasant, friendly funny guys. As soon as you know them you will immediately like them. They have set out a mission in life, to spread their blues and other music styles, together with their sense of humor to almost all bars, clubs, festivals and dives that book them around Spain and little by little they have got it. In this new project entitled "El Blues de la Comedia", singer and harmonica player Txus Blues together with his buddy Jose Bluefingers on guitar, bring us fifteen classic compositions, with both musicians own lyrics, which include not only blues, but pop, soul, surf hits (do not miss the amazing version of Beach Boys' "Surfin USA") or even the popular jazzy Cab Calloway's song "Minnie The Moocher", that will make you roar with laughter, as you will do with almost all songs this incisive ironical funny duo play, both in CD or in live shows. Wish that God protects them for many, many years, for our enjoyment and delight!
Tommy Lee Cook "Outside Looking In". Two Mules Music 2011. Once again, the hypnotic existential blues and the genuine Florida swamp sound of singer, songwriter and guitar player Tommy Lee Cook, captivates us again in this last piece of work, by the powerful and wonderful seduction of his music that flows with an enviable spontaneity, together with the good work of the rest of musicians involved in this album. You will find Tommy Lee Cook himself on acoustic and electric guitars, dobro, sequencers, lead and backing vocals and Danny Shepard, electric guitar, backing vocals and sequencers, plus Pat 'Cleanhead' Hayes harmonica, but especially the first two names are the real builders of this project. All songs included on the CD are Tommy Lee's own ones who, together with Danny Cook, have done a hard work during several months, breaking their necks locked in the recording studio, to produce a cool bright colorful work.
Matt Walsh & Christian Bleiming "MC Shuffle". Acoustic Music 2011. It's strange, because even though piano player and singer Christian Bleiming and harmonica player Matt Walsh known themselves for more than twenty years and even they have played together on stage at different times, this is the first album they have recorded together, on a duo format, to delight and please all listeners. Bleiming is a highly respected boogie-woogie piano player in European circles of that musical style and a true idol in Germany. Matt comes from Ireland and he gathers the spirit and temperament of the orthodox classic harmonica players who performed the most passionate original blues you can imagine. Both musicians have a huge experience as they have played and backed countless bluesmen like Louisiana Red, Big Jay McNeely, Aaron and Larry Burton, Chuck Berry and Angela Brown among others. Christian and Matt give us a session full of magic and creativity, that include fourteen blues, some own ones and the rest coming from Sugar Ray Norcia or Champion Jack Dupree. A splendid record, intense, unique and close to every listener, your will certainly enjoy a lot.
Ruff Kutt Blues Band "Mill Block Blues". Self Production / Christine Vitale 2011. An excellent project of bass player James Goode, he had on mind for a long and finally has come true, thanks to the tenacity and enthusiasm he has put on the idea. James Good is a true fan of genuine dynamic Texas blues and this album really proves it. With an excellent roster of musicians, such as Anson Funderburgh, who has also produced the album, or Andrew 'Jr. Boy'Jones, plus a dozen of other great professional musicians involved in the CD, James Good has done a powerful large-caliber piece of work. All songs included are intense and full of emotion, because the spirit of true original blues wraps the whole sessions, catching immediately listeners with the hypnotical magic of every song. Some of the proceeds from CD sales will be donated to The Handy Artists Relief Trust, which through the Blues Foundation, provides assistance to blues musicians who need help to take care of medical expenses, or cannot afford payment of funeral services.