Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Double Standards - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Double Standards, from Mick Kolassa and it's packed full of stars and blues standards. Opening with Willie Dixon's 600 Pounds of Heavenly Joy, Kolassa is joined by Sugaray Rayford on vocal with solid Latin rhythm by James Cunningham on drums. With Kolassa on guitar and vocal, Bill Ruffino on bass, Chis Stephenson on organ, and Colin John on guitar, very solid opener. Heather Crosse joins on lead vocal for another Dixon hit, I Just Want To Make Love To You. With her sultry vocals and Eric Hughes on harp, this is a real cool track. With it's jazzy club feel, Annika Chambers really shows on Fever. Her vocals are rich and deep caressed in a warm bed of Jensen's guitar tone. Alice Hasan's violin contributions to Tas Cru and Kolassa's rework of Jimmie Cox's Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out is really nice. Another particularly warm spot is Erica Brown's vocal lead on Dixon's Spoonful. Jensen lays down a real nice guitar section on this track as well. Another Latin influenced track, Early In The Morning, features David Dunavent on guitar. Stylistic and cool. The most guitar intensive track, Outside Woman Blues really gives Jeff Jensen the opportunity to show off on guitar and he does a real nice job. Wrapping the release is Ain't Nobody's Business featuring excellent vocals by Chambers, Gracie Curran, Erica Brown and Jeff Jensen. This is a super closer for a real solid release benefitting the Blues Foundation's HART Fund and Generation Blues programs.

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Ruf Records artist: Heather Crosse - Grooving At The Crosse Roads - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Grooving At The Crosse Roads, from Heather Crosse. This is an 11 track release of pure contemporary pop/light jazz music with a twist on R&B/Blues. Backed by Heavy Suga' & The SweetTones,this release has some real bright spots. Crosse plays bass as well as performs on lead vocal and does a real nice job. On opener My Man Called Me,Dan Smith hits a real nice guitar riff and Mark Yacovone sets a perfect stage on piano. On Why Does A Woman Need A Bass Guitar, Crosse really plays heavy bass with a few hot bass riffs in addition to what I'd call lead bass under the melody. Very nice! Clarksdale Shuffle is light and easy and Crosse's vocals are sweet as mama's home made pie. My favorite track, Hurryin' Up To Relax, has a cool R&B feel and warm backing vocals by Sandy Carroll. Nice shuffle track, Walking In Their Shoes finds Smith laysing out some really tasty guitar and slide solos and Yacovone's piano work is stellar. On blues ballad, Damn Your Eyes, Yacovone's piano and keyboard contributions are clearly super. Another R&B track, penned by Crosse, Steppin' Up Strong has a real Curtis Mayfield feel with warm backing vocals by Vicki Atkins and Yacovone's organ work really dresses the track nicely. Funky pop track, Bad Boy Kiss has a strong radio hook and Crosse's bass work, nicely grounds slick soloing from Smith and Vacovone. A tasty lead guitar line opens shuffle track, Call On Me and tight drums by Lee Williams, swinging guitar riffs from Smith, beefy organ by Vacovone and warm backing vocals by Atkins make this one of the top tracks on the release. Latin influenced, You Don't Move Me No More finds Crosse grinding out her vocals with a sassy attitude. I must say that watching a performance of Ms Crosse (disabled on youtube) was quite interesting. She really appears to be having a great time which is contagious. Her bass playing is aggressive and her smile is never ending. This is a artist to keep an eye on.

   

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