Posts

Showing posts with the label Omar and The Howlers

This Week's Reader's Favorite Post

💿 ALBUM REVIEW: Leigh Pilzer - Keep Holding On

-
Image
Get ready to groove with Dr. Leigh Pilzer , the Washington, D.C. baritone sax powerhouse who proves that jazz is meant to be a living, breathing party, not a dusty museum piece. Described as a pure force of nature with a gruff, punchy, and assertive sound, Leigh brings a heavy dose of soulful grit to the stage. She has traded licks with the legendary Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and even arranged horns for local legends like Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy , and now she is bringing that deep, soulful swagger front and center with her vibrant new album, Keep Holding On. This record is a masterclass in pure, undeniable groove, packed with plenty of attitude, low-end bark, and raw energy that blues fans will instantly appreciate. Keep Holding On strikes the perfect balance between paying respect to the jazz heritage and absolutely cutting loose, making it an essential, high-energy addition to your playlist.   🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM   Keep Holding On by Leigh ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Omar and the Howers - Too Much Is Not Enough - New Release Review

-
Image
I just received a copy of Too Much Is Not Enough , the newest Omar and the Howlers release . Gary Primich is featured on 10 of the 12 tracks and the release is dedicated to his memory. In the liner notes, Omar apologizes for a second tribute to Jimmy Reed and then tells about the story about how and why. I'll tell you why. It's great music and it needs to be heard! The release opens with Too Much and it has the great Jimmy Reed lope and Primich harping away. On I Gotta Let You G o , Gary Clark Jr. joins the band and plays some hot slide work. Omar is in top form on vocals and Primich has perfect balance. On H onest I Do , Clark and Jay Moeller round out the band and Primich again plays some sweet harp. Omar sings this song like he owns it. I Ain't Got You is a bit stripped down and I really like it. The first time I heard this (embarrassingly enough) was by the Yardbirds but yes ...it's all about the journey. High And Lonesome is a slow Texas style blues with Omar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ruf Records artist: Omar and The Howlers - Essential Collection - New Recording Review

-
Image
I have been reviewing the new Omar & The Howlers , Essential Collection and that's exactly what it is. Ruf Records has set a February 14 release date for this 2 disc set for Omar and the gang. The twin disk set contains one disk called Best Of and another called Omar's Picks . The Best Of contains 15 tracks including some of my favorites, East Side Blues , a stormy slow blues with great vocals and instrumental appeal as well as fan favorites Mississippi Hoo Doo Man , Big Chief Pontiac , Monkey Land , Boogie Man and of course the blues infused You Made Me Laugh and Jimmy Reed Highway . Disk 2, Omar's Picks, another 15 tracks opens with cool track I Want You and continues with some just terrific tracks such as Burn It To The Ground , Alligator Wine , I'm Wild About You Baby , Life Without You and concludes with Omar's take on Built For Comfort . This is a well planned out "Essential Set" with a mixture of Live and studio tracks and it is essentia...
Post a Comment
Read more

Angel Blues - Omar & The Howlers

-
Image
Omar & the Howlers is a Texas based blues band, formed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973 by the blues guitarist and singer Omar Kent Dykes. Three years later they moved to Austin, Texas. The band has regularly toured European countries Dykes grew up in McComb, Mississippi, began playing the guitar at age 7 and joined his first band at 12. In his 20s, he gathered a group of musicians who started calling themselves 'the Howlers'.[1] They specialized in frat parties and were a party band, playing music that included both "R&B, R&R and even the occasional polka and western swing tune" Dykes has said he remembers these days fondly. It was around this time that he started calling himself Omar and developed his penchant for the blues. In 1976, the Howlers relocated to Austin, Texas, at the time sporting a bustling music scene, home to such up-and-coming artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson. After a year of gigging in Austin, the rest of the band quit,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bessie Mae

-
Image
I caught up with Omar a few days ago he said he's taking a break from touring right now. Mainly just playing in Texas. Will play the Republic of Texas (ROT) biker rally www.rotrally.com on June 11 in Austin. One of the largest biker rallies in the US. Working with Jack Primich on a tribute release for Gary Primich, who was a really good friend of his and who played on several of his cds. That tribute release is scheduled to come out in early 2012. Also working on material for his next 2 Howlers releases. Enjoy
Post a Comment
Read more