Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Just Want To be Horizontal , from Samoa Wilson with The Jim Kweskin Band and it's really strong contemporary looks at 20's and 30's  music. Opening with After You've Gone , a Turner Layton composition with crystal clear vocals by Samoa Wilson, musicologist, Jim Kweskin on vocal and guitar leads a great gang of players including Mike Davis on trumpet, Paloma Ohm on alto sax, Sonny Barbato on piano, Dennis Lichtman on clarinet, Matthew Berlin on bass and Jeff Brown on drums. Excellent opener. Bluesy title track, (I Just Want to Be) Horizontal , really milks Wilson's vocal style with a lot of richness, with strong guitar work by Kweskin and Titus Vollmer. Very nice. Muted trumpet work by Davis sets the track off nicely Barbato's piano work. With a Dixieland style interwoven instrumentation, I Cried For You , is a great track with really cool trumpet and clarinet interplay. Made popular by Billie Ho...