Put Together artist: The Reverend Shawn Amos - The Reverend Shawn Amos Breaks It Down - New Releawse Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most release, The Reverend Shawn Amos Breaks It Down, by The Reverend Shawn Amos and it's cool. Opening with Moved, an ethereal blues track, Amos on vocal and harp, accompanied by Chris "Doctor" Roberts on guitar, and Sharlotte Gibson and Kenya Hathaway on vocal makes for an interesting opener. R&B track, Hold Hands, had a solid melody and a good beat with Hannah Dexter on bass, Peter Adams on keys, Mike Smirnoff on drums, James Saez and Doctor Roberts on guitars. David Bowie's The Jean Genie is much bluesier with harp and horns and vocals through the mic amp. Very cool. Freedom Suite is made up of three distinct sections, Uncle Tom's Prayer, Does My Life Matter and (We've Got To) Come Together; a group of short concepts based on civil rights issues with notes from Dr Martin Luther King and Bukka White. Wrapping the release is Elvis Costello's (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding. Handled with spiritual vocals by Amos, Gibson, Hathaway, Harold Thomas and Tex Wrightsil, and Hodges and Adams on keys, this is a rich vocal closer.

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Put Together Records artist: The Reverend Shawn Amos - The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (October 16, 2015), The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You, from The Reverend Shawn Amos and it's funky blues time! Opening with gospel style track, Days of Depression, Amos, on lead vocal is joined by the Blind Boys of Alabama on an old school blues track with only primitive guitar and the sounds of their voices. Very nice! Brand New Man has a much more aggressive rock feel and Chris "Doctor" Roberts grunts out some pretty impressive guitar riffs. Driven by Brady Blade on drums, Lewis Smith on trumpet and Mindi Abair on sax, this track rocks! Slowing down with a little shuffle, Boogie, features Amos on harp and vocals joined by Missy Andersen. Brothers Keeper has a solid R&B feel and Amos lays in a nice blues line on harp. Roberts leads off You're Gonna Miss Me (When I Get Home), a funky track with a solid bottom provided by Chris Thomas. Roberts plays a nicely distorted guitar solo and Amos follows with a cool harp riff which seems to really get him wound up vocally. Cool! Rompin blues track, Joliet Bound has a rudimentary feel with only percussion, guitar and vocal. One of my favorite tracks on the release, this track is solid! Will You Be Mine has a swampy feel with a Mississippi feel enhanced by acoustic slide guitar vamping. Breaking out the harp again, Amos gives the track a heavier blues feel and Anthony Martinelli on keys adds texture. I particularly like Amos' vocals on this track. The Outlaw is a lumbering Chicago style blues with traditional horn and guitar clues. Amos handles lead vocals like a pro and Roberts adds a gritty guitar solo. Horn punctuation by Smith and Abair ride nicely over the bass line of Blade. On Jimmy Reed's Bright, Lights Big City, Abair joins Amos on lead vocal with light snare work and groovy guitar riffs. Amos' harp riffs are balanced by Abair on sax and Martinelli carries the middle on keys. Hollywood Blues opens with solid guitar/bass rhythm and B3 by Hassell Teekell. A shuffle track, Amos leads the way on vocal backed by warm horn work of Smith and Abair. Put Together is a funky track with Roberts reinforcing the rhythm. Amos is very comfortable in this slot and horn work by Abair and Martinelli really boosts the funk. I really like the guitar freedom exercised by Roberts and Amos joins in on harp adding to the improvisational nature but with solid horn lines keeping home base. Very cool! Wrapping the release is The Last Day I'm Loving You, a bluesy ballad with soft and comforting backing vocals by Forever James and Abair, and given a particularly somber feel by added B3 of Teekell. Very nice finish to a well done release!

   

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Put Together artist: The Reverend Shawn Amos - The Reverend Shawn Amos Tells It - New release Review

I just received the newest release, The Reverend Shawn Amos Tells It from The Reverend Shawn Amos and it's great! Opening with Hoodoo Man's Blues, The Rev is right on the vocal and harp. This arrangement is so tight it could be right from a Jr. Wells release. Chris Roberts plays lush guitar riffs behind the lead, Don Medina is right on the spot on drums and Ed Terrio holds down the bottom on bass. Very nice! (The Girl Is) Heavy has a bit of funk and cool B3 by Anthony Martinelli. I'm The Face has a strong 60's British feel with a twist of Slim Harpo. With strong tom tom beat and lead harp work this is a cool flash back. Elmore James' Something Inside Of Me is done in a very traditional style with cool vocals by The rev. This track really has iridescent guitar riffs giving it a cool shimmery feel and setting it apart from the balance of the release. Sonny Boy Williams' Good Morning Little School Girl is driven by Terrio and The Rev nails the vocals. Strong but simple harp lines carry this track and it's a strike down blues alley. Wrapping the release is Sometimes I Wonder, a R&B style track with a taste of Experience in the percussion. This is a strong soulful conclusion for a really cool outing.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”