I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Silver Lining, from Misty Blues, and it's strong. Opening with Seduction By Blues, Gina Coleman with her deep, thick blues oozing vocals permeate the air. Out of the darkness bursts Seth Fleischmann on guitar backed by Bill Patriquin on bass and Rob Tatten on drums, driven by David Vittone on keys. Powerful opener. The Upper Hand had a cool creep about it with atmospheric guitar work woven with Joel Nicolas on keys, Aaron Dean on sax and Patriquin on trumpet. Bluesy rocker, Enough Lovin' For Two and a great sax/bass riff and Fleischmann rips a real nice guitar solo adding nicely to this already cool track. Funky blues rocker, That's My Cross, finds Coleman on vocal over a funky guitar rhythm. I really like the laid out sax solo by Dean and Fleischmann rips a great solo of his making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Blues Never Ends, with the Diego Mongue Band. With backing vocals by Fleischmann, Patriquin, Tatten and Dean, Diego Mongue on percussion and the solo sax work by Dean, this is a solid closer.
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Too Old For Games, by Misty Blues and it's rich. Opening with Led Belly's Jim Crow Blues, a slower shuffle, Gina Coleman of lead vocals really digs deep with her earthy vocals. Eileen Markland on violin plays soulful lead , followed by Seth Fleischmann on guitar and Aaron Dean on sax, backed by Diego Mongue on bass, Rob Tatten on drums and Joel Nicholas on piano. Strong opener. With gospel revival feel, Alabama Bound is lively with crisp guitar riffs by Fleischmann and soulful sax work by Dean. Jack O' Diamonds is give a slinky/funky feel with Nicholas playing cool piano riffs off of Coleman's deep, bluesy vocals. Fleischmann lays in a real nice acoustic blues guitar solo and Dean blows soulful sax right out of the Stax songbook. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a trio of traditional Freedom songs beginning with Coleman singing acapella only with Nicholas on piano. Progressing to a gospel fueled shuffle with Coleman in vocal harmony with Nicholas on piano and Mongue and Tatten on drums overlaid with sax by Dean closing full revival style. Solid closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Louder, by Misty Blue and it's solid. Opening with gospel style blues, A Long Hard Way, Gina Coleman on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Seth Fleischman on guitar, Ben Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on drums, Bill Patriquin on bass, Aaron Dean on sax, and Wendy Lipp, Rebecca Mattson and Kathy Ryan on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Super voice, Big Llou Johnson joins Coleman on lead vocals on How The Blues Feels. This is a potent track with an attack quite like Cream's version of the Mississippi Sheik's Sitting on Top Of The World with really nice guitar work by Fleischman, a great bass line by Diego Monque, heavy drum work by Tatten and solid harmonica addition by Bob Stannard. With New Orleans rhythm, Seal Of Fate really gets moving. Aaron Dean on sax, Chris Rand on bari sax, David Vittone on accordion and Tatten on drums carry the meat of the track and spice by Kohn on keys and Fleischmann on guitar add the hot spice. Very cool. Sassy blues number, I'm A Grinder, really digs in nicely wioth excellent solos by Patriquin on trumpet, Dean on sax, Fleischmann on guitar and Kohn on keys. Very nice. Wrapping the release is funky, Take A Long Ride with strong vocals by Coleman and absolutely wild solos by Joe Louis Walker on guitar and sax by Aaron Dean. Excellent closer.
Melvin Taylor (born March 13, 1959 in Jackson, Mississippi, United States) is an American electric blues guitarist, based in Chicago, Illinois.
Born in Mississippi, Taylor relocated to Chicago in 1962.
In his adolescence, Taylor joined The Transistors, a band managed by his future father-in-law, playing popular music of the 1970s at talent shows and nightclubs. After the Transistors broke up in the early 1980s, Taylor devoted his attention to playing blues in the Chicago's West Side clubs.
During the 1980s he joined Pinetop Perkins and The Legendary Blues Band in a year long European tour, and since the late 1980s he has been making regular tours of Europe with his own group, where they have opened for B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Santana.
Taylor's recordings include two songs he first recorded for a French record label: Blues on the Run, originally recorded in 1982, and 1984's Plays the Blues for You. Back in the US, Taylor signed to Evidence Music and entered the studio with John Snyder to record Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band, which showcased his original songwriting. He returned in late 1996 to record his second US album, Dirty Pool. Taylor's debut remains the Evidence label's best-selling release.
Though his singing is relaxed, even sometimes conversational, his guitar improvisations have much of Jimi Hendrix's tightly curled strength.
He used to play regularly at Rosa's Lounge in Chicago. Taylor's most recent album, Beyond the Burning Guitar, was recorded in Misty Creek Studios in Fairfax, Virginia. He also recorded a cover of the Eminem song, "Love The Way You Lie" with the rapper, Matt Christian, at Misty Creek Studios.
Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes (Camden, New Jersey, May 2, 1931 – St. Louis, Missouri, June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of "Misty", and is considered a precursor of acid jazz.
Holmes' first album, on Pacific Jazz with guest Ben Webster, was recorded in March 1961.
His sound was immediately recognizable in the upper register, but even more so because of his virtuosity in creating, undoubtedly, the most rapid, punctuating, and pulsating basslines of all the jazz organists.[citation needed]
Though he died at the age of 60, he established a recognition within the community of jazz organ giants of Jimmy Smith (The Sermon!), Brother Jack McDuff (A Real Good 'Un), Jimmy McGriff (I've Got a Woman).
He recorded many albums for Pacific Jazz, Prestige Records, Groove Merchant and Muse Records, many of which featured Houston Person.
Holmes died after a long struggle with prostate cancer, having performed his last concerts in a wheelchair. One of his last gigs was at the 1991 Chicago Blues Festival with his longtime friend, singer Jimmy Witherspoon. A year after his death, the Beastie Boys honoured Holmes by adding an organ-based instrumental track, Groove Holmes to their album Check Your Head.
