If you’re looking for the sonic equivalent of a late-night, sweat-soaked dive bar in Louisiana, you can always count on Doug Duffey and BADD to deliver. Doug’s been a staple of the Deep South's music scene for over half a century—he’s in the Blues Hall of Fame and has written for everyone from George Clinton to Marcia Ball—but he still sounds as hungry as ever. Together with his band BADD (Ben Ford, Adam Ryland, and Dan Sumner), they’ve cooked up a brand new record called Souvenirs. It’s their fifth time locking into a groove together, and it gives you exactly what they do best: raw, greasy, "swampedelic" rhythm and blues that doesn't care about modern radio polish.
Opening with Broken Heart and Empty Hand, Dan Sumner plays a clean, stratocaster lead with a easy backing by Doug Duffey on keys and Adam Ryland on drums. Duffy's vocals are smooth and the melody works great for the radio. Low key funk rocker, Better By Me, has a strong melody and warm key bottom with Ben Ford on bass, shines. Duffey's vocals are potent and Sumner's guitar riffs spot on. This cut is all about the interaction between the rhythm section and the arrangement space, letting the drums and bass settle into a greasy, locked-in groove. Backing vocals by The Sweet-N-Lo-Sistas give the funk some real sass. Soulful, Axe Jes Rite injects a distinct shot of regional flavor into the middle of the album. With a droning bass line by Ford and double stopped guitar by Sumner an undertone develops that gives the record some serious attitude.
Love Songs has a totally different complexion sounding like it's out of a Harry Nilsson songbook. A great melody and swinging vocals, carried on a piano based melody with just the basics of drums at the bottom. Wrapping the release is Don't Let The Darkness In with a New Orleans feel. With a rhythmic strumming by Sumner and with the addition of Bob Dowell on trombone, Bert Windham on trumpet, Coby Heath on trumpet, Nate Johnson on tenor sax, Wes Rougeou on sousaphone and the Sistas on backing vocals... my favorite track on the release and a strong closer.
Souvenirsis a pleasantly relaxed, easy-listening journey that showcases the steady comfort of seasoned musicians doing what they love. While the album's mid-tempo groove and radio-friendly style lean toward a quiet, familiar pocket , its understated nature makes it an incredibly smooth, effortless spin. The true magic happens at the very end, where the band completely lets loose and invites a spectacular wave of local horn players and rich vocal harmonies into the mix. It closes the project on a high, celebratory note, leaving listeners with a joyful reminder of exactly how much fun regional roots music can be.
Bman's Verdict
The album offers a smooth, welcoming blend of comforting roots music that builds beautifully toward an absolute celebration of a finale.
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