Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Wooden Music - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wooden Music, from Mick Kolassa and it's chocked full of of blues talent. Opening with shuffle, Educated By The Blues, Mick Kolassa on vocal and guitar lays down a cool melody, with Doug MacLeod and Jeff Jensen on guitar, Carl Casperson on bass, Tom Lonardo on drums, Rick Steff on piano and featuring Eric Hughes on harmonica. Up-tempo, If I Told You, has a swampy rhythm with Jensen on guitar, Casperson on bass, Lonardo on drums and Vince Johnson on harmonica. Very nice. Over My Shoulder is a cool little tune with a saunter. With solid vocals by Kolassa and tight guitar melody by Jensen, this track has a great feel. Wrapping the release is country flavored, Gas Station Sushi, with Kolassa on vocal, kazoo and guitar, with straight up slide from Jensen and Lonardo on drums. This is a cool closer for a characteristic Kolassa release.

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - For The Feral Heart - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For The Feral Heart, by Mick Kolassa, and it's got a solid mix of blues, Latin and pop track. Opening with Running To You, Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with a galloping rhythm by Andrew McNeil on drums and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jeff Jensen on guitar, and Rick Steff on keys round out the mix for this solid opener.  A redo of Dave Mason's Feeling Alright really has a great feel with it's creeping "Season of the Witch" sensability. Steff's key work is spot on and Jensen's guitar work hypnotic with key backing vocals by Tullie Brae. Very nice. Easy flowing, Love Ain't Supposed To Make You Cry is another track to watch with really sumptuous guitar lead by Jensen, reminicent of the late Peter Green early in his career. Very nice. Love In My Size is a strong acoust ballad with a grat melody. Kolassa on acoustic guitar and vocal is nicely highlighted by Jensen on slide guitar really making this track stand out. Wrapping the release is classic pop track, As Time Goes By, with a traditional arrangement. Accompanied by Ruffino on bass, Steff on piano, Tom Leonardo on drums, a simple finish. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - They Call Me Uncle Mick! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, They Call Me Uncle Mick!, from Mick Kolassa and he's assembles a great group of musicians for his most recent set. Opening with Bo Carter's clever, My Pencil Won't Write No More, Kolassa on lead vocal and guitar, is joined by Eric Hughes on harmonica, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Tom Leonard on drums, Carl Caspersen on bass, and Rick Steff on piano for s super rag style opener. Original track, Used To Be, has a real nice bluesy feel with a solid strut. Steff's piano work, and with the addition of Doug McLeod on guitar has a cool acoustic groove. Slow shuffle, Why, another original by Kolassa, has a real nice feel, with some of Kolassa's best vocals and nice guitar work by Jensen and complimentary harmonica work by Hughes. Wrapping the release is country rocker, The Cheese Song, a simple story song nicely adorned by Curtis Gill on slide guitar. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Uncle Mick's Christmas Album - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Uncle Mick's Christmas Album, by Mick Kolassa, and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Mariah Carey's, All I Want For Christmas, and I think its a real solid cover. Never been crazy about pop music and Kolassa's slow bluesy approach with Jeff Jensen on lead guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, Rick Steff on keys and James Cunningham on drums gives this track a new, fresher life. Original track, The Best Christmas Ever, is up next with a funky R&B approach. Kolassa on lead vocal and with warm backing vocals by Reba Russell and Susan Marshall over cool piano and organ work by Steff set a nice stage and pinched down guitar soloing by Jensen adds spice. Johnny Moore's Merry Christmas Baby really gives Jensen a chance to show some real nice riffs both bluesy and jazzy making it one of my favorites on the release. Tom tom laden rhythm gives Jingle Bells and whole new face. Get far enough from the music that you can't hear the words and I defy you to determine that it's Jingle Bells. This swampy, Dr Joh like approach is really cool and again, Jensen's guitar work adds real shine to the apple. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a Jensen/Kolassa original, Beale Street Christmas Jam, a hot shuffle ala Gatemouth Brown style. Jensen always has great riffs, and here he's complimented by Marc Franklin on trumpet (solo), Cunningham on drums (solo), Ruffino on bass (solo), Eric Hughes on harmonica (solo). This track will get your foot tapping. Excellent closer. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Wasted Youth - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth, from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues, Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth, has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself, a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wander, an easy blues rocker. Slow blues, Pieces of my Past has a real nice pace and Jensen plays a soulful lead solo on guitar over his rich chords. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Edge of a Razor, an acoustic blues featuring  Albert Castiglia on slide guitar. Very nice closer. 

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Blueheart Records artist: Tomislav Goluban - Express Connection - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Express Connection, from Tomislav Goluban and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with title track, Express Connection, eastern European harmonica player, Tomislav Goluban flexes his muscle on this hard driving blues rocker with Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys and Bill Ruffino on bass. A solid ballad, Pale Blue Eyes has a real nice melody featuring Goluban on lead vocal and cool reverb soaked guitar by Jensen and Mark Johnson on slide and Kelly Zirbes on backing vocal. Blues shuffle, Extra Boom really sits nicely in the groove and Goluban works the Chicago styling nicely on harmonica. Steff lays in a cool electronic keyboard solo and Jensen follows with some cool riffs of his own. Blues rocker, No Future In Your Past, has great pace and features Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet and Zibes on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Beast Walk with a cool organ melody by Steff with horn backing by Smothers and Franklin and alternating guitar intervals by Jensen and Johnson as well as some high riding harmonica work by Goluban. This is a cool release with an eastern look at the blues. Cool.

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It!, by Mick Kolassa and I think it's his best release yet. Opening with I Can't Help Myself, a R&B style track with a light funky beat featuring Kolassa on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, Jeff Jensen on electric guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, John Blackmon on drums, Rick Steff on keys, Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a solid opener. With deep gospel richness, James Taylor's Lo and Behold has great guitar underpinnings and super vocal by Yullie Brae. Rocking title track, If You Can't Be good, Be Good At It! is clever and has solid guitar riffs by Jensen, and power horn work by Franklin and Smothers. My favorite track on the release, A Good Day For the Blues, features nice guitar work by David Dunavent and Jensen and some of Kolassa's best vocal work on the release. Smooth blues ballad, Slow and Easy Love gives Jensen a wide road to really lay down on lead guitar and he capitalizes nicely over the warm organ bed of Rick Steff. Howlin' Wolf's Who's Been Talking? has a super Latin (read Santana) rhythm and features Dunavent and Jensen again on guitar with super backing by Willie Hall on drums and Weston Caldwell on percussion. Very nice! Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, She Kept Her Head Up with it's easy rhythm and cool melody over reverb saturated guitar lead and tight drum rhythms by John Blackmon. 

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Spona artist: Tomislav Goluban - Memphis Light - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Light, from Tomislav Goluban, and it's a cool eastern European slice or blues. Opening with rocker, Hayloft Blues, harmonica man, Tomislav Goluban introduces his 11th studio release with the backing of Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys, and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jensen plays a hot intro on soulful blues number, Fun Starts Here, featuring Vince Johnson who really pounds out the lead vocals. Jensen smokes the track with a great guitar solo, contrasted with cool piano work by Steff. Country Bag , a strong Chicago blues style track gives Goluban a great opening to show his blues chops and guest, Mark Johnson lays down some real nice slide guitar giving the track great texture. Another flavor introduced is a surf blues, Party Time Blues, with it's rocking rhythm, melodic harmonica, a slick slide solo by Johnson and cool backing vocals by Reba Russell and Daunielle Hill. Wrapping the release is a radio track, Can I Be What I Want, with Goluban singing lead with Russell and Hill, a stiff drum beat by Green and harmonica overtones. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Kern Pratt - Greenville, MS ... what about you? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Greenville, MS … What about you?, from Kern Pratt and it's a straight up blues rocker. Opening with Loving That Feeling, Kern Pratt is digging into that southern funky blues pot with a great New Orleans rhythm. leading the way on vocal and guitar, this track is moving with Chris Gill on slide, Bobby Walker on rhythm guitar and drums and Bob Dowell on bass and keys. Cool opener.  Slow blues track, Baby's Got Another Lover is a real nice track with Pratt singing lead and responding with smart guitar riffs of his own. With the addition of Shannon Goree on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. In the vain of Jimmie Oden, Something's Gone Wrong has a really nice bottom courtesy of Dowdell and Pratt again gets a nice chance to stretch on guitar and Kris Jenson lays out a real nice sax solo. Bluesy ballad, Rita not only has nice instrumentation but a perfect radio melody. Sharing lead vocal spot with Denice Owen and backed by Marc Franklin on trumpet and James Evans on sax, this is a smooth track. Wrapping the release is funky, Chicken Heads, with Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and David Green on drums. This track has just the right raggedy edge funk and cool guitar interface between Pratt and Jenson that makes it one of my release favorites. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Tennessee Redemption - self titled - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release Tennessee Redemption and its strongly written and performed. Opening with Glad To Be, a solid radio track, Brandon Santini is up front on  harmonica, backed by Jeff Jensen on lead vocal and guitar, Timo Arthur on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and David Green on drums. With it's rumbling bass line and funky wah wah guitar rhythm, We Got A Thing Going On has a real cool sound. A swampy overall sound and nicely woven instruments, under Santini's super lead vocals makes this one of my favorites on the release. A dark underpinning on Leave My Body and Jensen's nice lead vocals create a lot of tension with an active bass line, particularly nice drum work by Green and nicely crafted guitar lead. This isn't your basic blues track and really has a lot going no. Definite cool track. Gospel flavored Come On Up To The House has a real nice laid back country feel with soothing lead vocal by Jensen and warm vocal backing by Santini, Arthur Ruffino and Green. Very nice. Jensen takes control on You Don't Love Me giving it a strong guitar entry. His vocals are always warm and Santini's harp tones solid. With just a light funk underneath, this track is sneaky good. Blues stomper, Watch Yourself, features Jensen driving on guitar and Santini on vocal and harp. Keeping you focused with it's driving beat, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is I'm Going To Mexico with a light acoustic feel. Pairing Jensen and Santini on lead vocal with acoustic guitar and harmonica backing, this is a solid closer. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Tullie Brae - Revelation - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation, from Tullie Brae who mixes power vocals and a heavy rhythm section producing a solid rock sound. Opening with Price of the Blues, Brae belts with a  Grace Slick like swagger laying heavy on the bass line of Bill Ruffino, and adding her own slide work on with David Green on drums. Powerful opener. On ballad Mississippi Rain, we see the other side of Brae's sensitive vocals with excellent guitar phrasing by Jeff Jensen and bright piano highlights by Rick Steff. On blues rocker, Break These Chains, Brae strikes a nice medium with a bluesy vocals, deep raspy guitars by Jensen and nicely highlighted by Brandon Santini on harmonica. My favorite track on the release is soul track, New Shoes with it's straightforward radio melody. Smooth, gospel like piano work over the organ on this track really drives the bottom and Brae's vocals are spot on. My other favorite track on the release is Shine, another soul track with excellent backing pushing Brae to "Shine". Backing vocals by Mick Kolassa,  Dauniele Hill and Susan Marshall give this track that extra warmth and a sweet guitar solo by Jensen gives it a real Muscle Shoals kind of feel. Very nice.

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa and the Taylor Made Blues Band - 149 Delta Ave. - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 149 Delta Ave, from Mick Kolassa and the Taylor Made Blues Band and the talent is thick. Opening with I Can't Slow Down, a 2 steppin rocker, Mick Kolassa on lead vocal is backed by David Dunavent on guitars, Leo Goff on bass, Lee Andrew Williams on drums, Chris Stephenson on keys and Susan Marshall and Daunielle Hill on backing vocal this is a cool opener. Eric Hughes joins on US 12 to Highway 49, a smart shuffle with solid harp work. Cotton Road is one of my favorites on the release with roots in chain gang work songs. Toronzo Cannon adds some really smart guitar lead and wailing backing vocals make this track rich with feel. Pullin Me Down has a creeping R&B blues style with solid bass work from Goff, crisp guitar soloing by Jeff Jensen and includes tight trumpet and sax work by  Marc Franklin and Kirk Smothers. Very nice. A funky version of Ashford and Simpson's I Don't Need No Doctor has a real nice groove and the trumpet work of Franklin is bright. Alternating solos by Franklin, Smothers, Jensen and Stephensen really fill out the track. Wrapping the release is an interesting remake of classic Stuff Smith track, the Viper. Kolassa's vocals work well and with Suavo Jones on trombone, Alice Hansen on Stuff Smith's part (violin), Mike Wilson on Puccalo, and Marc Franklin on trumpet, this is a terrific closer.

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Jeff Jensen - Wisdom & Decay - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wisdom & Decay, from Jeff Jensen and it's flavorful. Opening with Little Milton's I'm Living Off The Love You Give, you get a strong sense of soul from Jensen's hometown of Memphis. With Jensen on guitar and vocal, this band is packed with sound featuring Bill Ruffino on bass, David Green on drums, Chris Stephenson on organ, and a powerful dose of horns from Kirk Smothers on sax and Marc Franklin on trumpet. 2000 Days has a sensitive Latin rhythm and James Cunningham on percussion. A nicely phrased guitar solo by Jensen gives this track a nice boost.  With a formula that made the Doobies popular, Jensen hits that smooth rhythmic groove, pumped up by horns, clean melodic guitar riffs and backed by Reba Russell on vocal. With a slinky Latin feel, Downtown, has a firm bass edge by Ruffino, muted trumpet and simmering guitar lead giving the track a fiery feel.  Bob Dylan's Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You takes a solid clue from early Jeff Beck material with Bobby Tench but with a strong remake, this track is really strong. Rich backing vocals and some of the best vocals I've heard from Jensen make this one of my favorite tracks on the release. His guitar soloing is inspired and the horn work soulful. Very nice. Wrapping the release is The Water Jam/Something In The Water Revised which takes a basic melody and with tight percussion, rich organ and vibrant Spanish flavored electric guitar and punches it up with horns. This is adventuresome and a solid track to wrap a cool release.

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Long Tall Deb and Colin John - Dragonfly - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dragonfly, from Long Tall Deb and Colin John and I really like it. Opening with On The Way Down, an eerie blues track, Deb and Colin John sing in duet over cool, thick, slide guitar breaking into a driving "brick" like anthem. John really winds up on electric guitar under Deb's vocals making for an exceptional opener. Title track, Dragonfly, is a cool Duane Eddy, western surf  style track with fanned chords, vibrato and tom toms. Excellent! Slinky ballad, I'll Be The One, features some of Deb's best vocals on the release with a soulful style and a nice rhythm. This is the radio track for the release with a strong melodic line, nice guitar work by John and complimented by Jimmy Castoe on drums, Nate Hofman on organ, and Melvin Powe on bass. Another track with a western twist is Remember Why, with great baritone guitar work by John and snappy drum work by Jo El. Horizontal Lightning is a particularly seductive track with a Spanish flair. The track has a dark, smoky feel and Deb's vocals, coupled with nicely stylized guitar work by John certainly make this really pop. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a return on Dragonfly, with the guitar really popping and the Spanish overtones really dressed. This is a really special release and one you should definitely check out.




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Ruf Records artist: Victor Wainwright and The Train - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release, Victor Wainwright and The Train and it's rockin. Wainwright on lead vocal and keys pushes a nice duel with guitarist Pat Harrington, on Healing, backed by Billy Dean on drums and Terrance Grayson on bass. Also adding a nice bit of oomph are Mark Earley on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Nice opener. Train is a hot boogie woogie track with Wainwright really driving hard on vocal and piano. Woolverton and Earley fill nicely and Reba Russell's vocals are super.  Excellent track. Soulful, Dull Your Shine is a really nice track that puts me in mind of D'Angelo with a suspenseful approach to the song and super vocals. Also of particular note on this track is a sweet guitar solo by Greg Gumpel. Blues with a distinct R&B feel, Thank You Lucille, is possibly my favorite track on release featuring some of Wainwright's best vocals on the release and Monster Mike Welch handling the lead guitar spot, backed by Reba Russell, Nick Black and Patricia Ann Dees on vocal. Boogie Depression is another driving boogie with super piano and excellent slide work by Harrington. Nice! Foot stompin rocker, Righteous really gets that tent revival feeling going with a solid bottom, powerful vocal by Wainwright, super slide work by Harrington, and vocal backing by Russell. Very cool. Rocking boogie, I'll Start Tomorrow is a real mover with cooking piano and organ, tight drums, a great sax solo by Earley and punchy trumpet work by Woolverton. Another track with strong slide lead by Harrington is Sunshine. His slide work is inspired and fat, soaring into the music nicely. A track, seemingly built around his excellent slide lead, a real keeper. Wrapping the release is gospel styled, That's Love To Me, with it's rich melody, organ and soulful vocals by Wainwright. Subtle but nice acoustic guitar by Jeff Jensen adds nicely and solid lead guitar by Harrington adds depth for an excellent closer to a really strong release.

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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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Mick Kolassa & Mark Telesca - You Can't Do That - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Can't Do That, by Mick Kolassa & Mark Telesca and it's quite entertaining. The concept, to take classic Beatles compositions and remake them in a new style as a group is cool... I mean possibly the greatest pop band of all time. Opening with I'll Cry Instead, the arrangement has a casual New Orleans strut and features a muted trumpet by Marc Franklin. With a creative blues bottom, early Beatles track, I Feel Fine takes on new air with suspenseful bass lines and bluesy harmonica work by Eric Hughes. One of my favorite tracks on the release is the sorrowful rework of Fixing A Hole. Telesca's vocals and stylistic acoustic guitar lead really hits. Very nice. Just the flatting of key notes in Lady Madonna transforms it from a springy pop tune into a New Orleans flavored track with soulful fiddle work by Tommy Borroughs and snappy drumming by James Cunningham. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a vibrant bluegrass rendition of She Came In Through The Bathroom Window with really cool mandolin lead by Tommy Boroughs. Excellent closer for a cool release.

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Dirty Cat Records artists: The Lucky Losers - In Any Town - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, In Any Town, from The Lucky Losers and it's a cool blend of pop, country and blues. Opening with So High, a blend of country funk and pop, Vocalists Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz harmonize over the rhythmic work of Marvin Greene on guitar, Chris Burns on keys, Tim Wagar on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Kid Andersen rips a cool lead guitar solo to close track one with Berkowitz on harp. Cool. It Ain't Enough features Lemons on lead vocal and it's a slinky, swampy soul track. Possibly my favorite track on the release, it has warm backing vocals and Andersen lays down some real nice Rhodes lines. Excellent! On classic track Jackson, made popular by Johnny Cash, finds Cathy and Phil exchanging lead vocals making it a solid radio player with a nice harp solo by Phil. Another Lemons penned number, Don't Let 'Em See Ya Cry, is a solid blues ballad with sensual horn work from Michael Peloquin on tenor and bari sax, Mike Rose on trumpet and Mike Rinta on trombone. Greene's featured guitar solo on this track is real nice as is Phil's harp solo and Peloquins sax work. Excellent! Blind Man In The Dark has a distinct Mickey Thomas R&B style. Terry Hanck steps up with a nice sax solo surrounded by warm horn work by Rose and Rinta as well as really nice keyboard work by Burns. I Can't Change Ya is a peppy 2 stepper featuring Lemons on lead vocal. Frank Goldwasser rips some really super slide guitar riffs setting this track out really nicely. Funky, Still Enough Time To Cry, has a real nice groove with particularly nice bass work by Wagar bringing to mind the cool work of Sly Stone. Great groove with excellent piano lead by Burns. Berkowitz uses his harp nicely giving the track bit of edge. Ballad title track, In Any Town, is really a showcase for Lemons on vocal with nicely woven harp and keyboard work over a subtle rhythm. Wrapping the release is Small Town Talk, a smooth pop track featuring Lemons and Berkowitz on harmony backed by a rich horn section of Peloquin, Rose and Rinta, Andersen on bass, D'Mar on drums and nice keywork by Burns. A particularly nice trombone solo by Rinta closes the release.



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