Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendree - Need To Know - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Need To Know, from Yates McKendree and I really like it. Opening with solid blues number, Burnin' Tears, Yates McKendree on lead guitar and vocal really sets a nice pace. With Steve Mackey on bass, Griffin Photoglou on drums, Robert Frahm on rhythm guitar and Kevin McKendree on piano and Hammond, Yates vocals are strong and his BB King flavored guitar attack really fits this track perfectly. Excellent opener. Run It In The Ground is a super hot runner with Muddy Waters roots. Yates is really riding high on lead vocal and his guitar work sails with Kevin and Frahm kicking it with heavy support by Griffin. James Brown's, I Don't Care gets a real nice cover by Yates with his soulful voice and solid horn backing by Steve Herrman on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and standout sax work by Jim Hoke on tenor and bari sax. Chris Kenner's Something You Got has a real nice funk underpinning by Kevin on organ, Frahm on rhythm and Kenneth Blevins on drums and Yates takes his guitar to town with excellent phrasing on lead and some of his best vocals on the release. See See Rider gets a real nice R&B meets jazz makeover and Yates plays some of his most outrageous guitar to date. This track may seem like it would be a sleeper, but it's anything but. Excellent! Willie Dixon's I Can't Stop is outrageous with Yates seeming to ooze Otis Rush and his falsetto vocal contrast are wild. With Kevin on piano, Frahm on rhythm Mackey on bass and Photoglou on drums, this release really does continue to get deeper. Wow! Hot shuffle, Good As Gone, is manned by Yates on vocal, lead guitar, bass and drums and Kevin on organ and guitar. This thing is a blast! Wrapping the release is Tide, a cool instrumental with progressively building intensity created by Yates adding more and more layers of washer and dryer, Guitars, bass, and Hammond to a cool beat by George Sluppick on percussion. This is a great release and an easy recommendation. You gotta get this!

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Ruf Records artist: Pavlov's Dog - Wonderlust - New Release Review

p> I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wonderlust, from rocker, Pavlov's Dog. Originally formed in 1974 in St Louis, Pavlov' Dog now regrouped by founder, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter David Surkamp with singer Sara Surkamp, Abbie Steiling on violin, Rick Steiling on bass, Mark Maher on keys, Steve Bunck on drums and Phil Ring on guitar. Opening with rocker, Anyway There's Snow, David Surkamp has the lead vocal and guitar lead with Abbie adding prominent violin work and Bunck's tight drum rhythm. Mona has a distinct pop rock feel with a strong melody and firm guitar chords by David, reinforcing his vocal work and nicely executed violin lead by Abbie. Solid Water, Liquid Sky is an interesting track with shout like lead vocals and and a warm, mellow backing by Abbie, Rick on bass, Mark on piano, Phil on drums and Steve on drums. Instrumental, Calling Sigfried has a sprite, European folk/rock feel with nicely presented violin lead by Abbie and crisp drumming by Steve over the masterful piano work of Mark. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Wait For You, featuring David's trademark vocals, accompanied by Mark on piano and Abbie on violin in clean, folk/pop like form. Solid closer. 

 


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Origin Records artist: Affinity Trio - New Outlook - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Outlook, from Affinity Trio and it's really cool. Opening with Onward, a solid bop Eric Jacobson on trumpet carves a strong melody. Joined by Pamela York on piano who not only holds a firm rhythm but plays strong, inciteful phrasing, together with Clay Schaub on bass makes for a perfect trio. York penned, title track, New Outlook, has a simple solitude, pairing Jacobson with York on melody, anchored by Schaub creating a nicely flowing track. Larry Willis', To Wisdom, has a beautiful balance with Jacobson creating the primary melody, handing to York for a playful piano exploration. Jacobson returning with a floating trumpet solo solo and handing to the richness of Schaub on bass really gives the track a special delivery. Wrapping the release is Kenny Dorham's Una Mas framed by the percussive piano attack of York. Jacobson fleshes out the melody on trumpet with York and Schaub creating a solid bottom. The groove really develops a great groove with York and Jacobson playing call and response to great resolve. I've seen plenty of trios and often to disappointing results, typically sax or piano lead with drums or bass. But with 3 strong players, all covering rhythm this is a very satisfying release. 

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Hard Times Records artist: Piper & The Hard Times - Good Company - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Company, from Piper & The Hard Times and it's a high energy blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Company, Piper Green on vocals is smooth as silk leading the way with grinding guitar lead by Steve Eagon, strong piano rhythm by Amy Frederick, Dave Colella on drums and Parker Hawkins on bass. Solid opener. Tear It Down has a strutting R&B feel with Green digging in with a gritty attack and Eddie Meyer on sax adds real warmth with Frederick on organ and featuring Lisa Oliver-Gray and Etta Britt on backing vocals. Eagon sets a perfect stage with beautiful tone on guitar for Turn The Tables, a slower blues with soulful vocals by Green. My favorite track on the release. Cheatin's Gotta End is another favorite of mine on the release with it's power bottom by Hawkins and Colella, fiery guitar work by Eagon and heavy organ by Frederick giving Green a wide berth to sing the blues. Very nice. Shuffle, Keep It To Yourself has a great feel with Frederick and Eagon giving the train and Green really belting it out. Eagon has great overdriven tone and super phrasing and Colella's drumming is spot on. Very cool. Wrapping the release is R&B track, Those Days with great soul shouting by Green, and nicely interwoven sax and guitar lead by Meyer and Eagon. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blessed & Bewitched, by Maja Jaku, and its quiet and dynamic. Opening with The Witch, Maja Jaku applies her vocals like drops of silver on the lush piano chords by Alan Bartus. Michael Rodriguez on trumpet really adorns the track nicely with well conceived lines making for a solid opener.  Another quiet track, Lonely Little Fox, has Jaku's vocal, working nicely on Bartus's piano and accented by Rodriquez on trumpet, with Dezron Douglas on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. I love the richness of Bartus' piano intro on Never Let Me Go and Jaku's vocals really work nicely with this standard and Rodriguez's sensuous trumpet work is really outstanding with choice bottom work by Douglas and Blake. Wrapping the release is Everything Must Change, an easy paced ballad with solid balance between Jaku and Bartus on piano. Solid phrasing and choice instrumentation give this release the right balance.

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Horizon Music Group artist: The Name Droppers - Cool Blue Shoes - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cool Blue Shoes, by The Name Droppers and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with a rocking take on Howling Wolf's, Killing Floor Rafe Klein leads the way on vocal and guitar with full piano and organ support by Ron Rifkin, Scott Spray on bass and Bobby T. Torello. Title track, Cool Blue Shoes is a cool track with a bit of a funky swagger. Klein on lead vocal is joined by Rifkin and Carole Sylvan on backing vocals and with a tight drum rhythm by Torello and a rich key work by Rifkin. Torello has the mic on Willie Dixon's, I Cry For You making a great connection between drums and Rifkin on keys. Cool shuffle, Yes I Will, blends Rifkin on lead vocal and Torello, Rifkin and Klein on backing gospel like vocals giving the track a rocking gospel feel. Wrapping the release is Out Of The Blue with a doo wop flavor. Klein leads the way on lead vocal and Simone Brown handles the backing vocals nicely with the addition of horns and featuring Rifkin on organ and Bill Holloman on sax.  Solid closer. 

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Sweetspot Records artist: Al Basile - Blues In Hand - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues In Hand, by Al Basile and I really like it. Opening with All of Your Lies, Al Basile on lead vocal and cornet create a real funky groove backed by Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on keys, Jeff "Doc" Chanonhouse on trumpet, Doug James on tenor sax and a stellar guitar solo by Kid Anderson. Excellent opener. Blues After Blues is another really strong track with a deeper feel and a soulful Albert King kind of vibe. Basile plays a soulful cornet solo and his vocals, along with Anderson's sweltering guitar work and Bears' organ solo give this track real traction. Up tempo soul track, Thank You Fool has a real radio appeal with it's solid melody and smooth organ solo by Bears. Good Rhythm is an easy paced blues track featuring Basile's vocals and a real nice piano solo by Bears. A lower octave, stylized, guitar solo by Andersen adds to the dark feel of the track. My Dearest Dream has a reaal nice bluesy feel with Basile on vocal and cool laid back trumpet work by Chanonhouse and smooth piano work by Bears. Wrapping the release is funky, When You Lose Your Money, has just a hint of BB King with accents by Chanonhouse and a firm bass line by Hallen giving the track a distinct feel. A simple, soulful cornet solo by Basile and his own distinct vocal style and a stylized guitar solo by Andersen makes this a solid closer for an enjoyable release.


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Sleeping Dog Records artist: Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon - Sleeping While The River Runs - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sleeping While The River Runs, by Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon and it's really strong. Opening with powerful R&B track, Pass You By features Gerald McClendon on lead vocal with Steve Bramer strumming rhythm guitar, Jerry Soto on keys, Gordon Patriarcha on bass and Jim Barklay on drums. A solid ballad with a bluesy feel, super opener. Soulful, Keep You From Harm, has an easy pace and tasty guitar guitar soloing nicely complimenting McClendon's sure vocals. Funk rocker, Common Ground, is another show of McClendon's vocal styling with a chukka rhythm accentuated by Soto on organ and Bramer throwing down on guitar. Bramer lays down a real nice intro on shuffle, Come To Me, and McClendon's vocal phrasing is super. Me & Ian is a real cool instrumental with jazzy textures and full surf like chords for drum and guitar. Habit of The Heart is a straight up rocker with flashy guitar riffs and an aggressive bass drum rhythm. McClendon leads the way on vocal and Bramer shows his chops. Very cool. Another cool rocker is Where's The Fire with fanning guitar rhythm by Bramer and Hurtin' Burt on harp with some funky bottom by Partiarcha on bass and Gikas Marks on drums. Really nice. Wrapping the release is a reprise of Sleeping featuring saturated organ work by Soto and lush vocals by Carole Baskin, Lara Jenkins and LaShann McNicholas. Strong closer.

 


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Origin Records artist: Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Time Change, from the Milan Verbist Trio and it's a solid set of tracks from introspect to lively. Opening with title track, Time Change, a somber yet insightful composition with Milan Verbist creating a calming presentation, adorned by Jens Meijer's light drum work. Toon Rumen takes the lead on bass with a standout melodic solo adding strong contrast to the track. Bop track, No, I Haven't has a strong groove with a driving bottom courtesy of Rumen and Meijer and a strong yet off jagged melody by Verbist. Rumen again steps up with a strong bass solo that really adds to the composition. Very cool. Brigitte's Waltz is a lovely composition which slowly unfolds and develops very nicely, starting first with mostly Verbist but blooming with the progressive introduction of Rumen and Meijer. Rumen again adds a powerful bass solo, accented nicely by Verbist's percussive piano. Bach's Sarabande is a terrific addition to the set allowing Verbist to illustrate one of his early passions for classical music. Very very nice. Wrapping the release is Gary Peacock's Flutter Step. Originally performed by Peacock and Ralph Towner, this track is rearranged to fit and a terrific closer for this strong set. 

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Guitar One Records artist: John Brennan - Bring It On Back To Me - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bring It On Back To Me, from John Brenan and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Junkyard Blues, John Brennan on vocal, guitar and drums sets his own pace. With a touch of reverb Brennan has the guitar firmly under his fingers and a slide at ready. Singing and playing with real conviction, this is hard not to like. On Elmore James' It Hurts Me Too, Brennan shows a good hand with the slide and his vocals are strong and steady. Very cool. JJ Cale's, Call Me The Breeze gets a hybrid cover somewhere between Cale's own arrangement and that of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hi vocal has more spunk than Cale's own but less than the swagger of Ronnie Van Zant and his guitar playing is more bluesy than Cale's but not as wound out as King/Collins and Rossington... still a lot of fun. Another great original, Ain't Gonna Cry For You No More is a strong blues rocker with a driving beat and sweet slide under commanding vocals by Brennan. I particularly like Brennan's cover of Robert Johnson's Love In Vain. The arrangement somewhat follows the Stones cover of the track in 1969 but this cover, maintaining it's guitar and vocal only pairing is particularly effective with deft handling of the slide by Brennan. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is a rocking version of Muddy Waters' Baby, Please Don't go, featuring Brennan doing call and response on slide before taking command on vocal with authoritative delivery and driving guitar. Strong closer. 

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Blues Root Productions artist: Debbie Bond - Live At The Song Theater - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release by Debbie Bond, Live At The Song Theater and it's live. Opening with That Thing Called Love, Debbie Bond on lead vocal and guitar. With an easy rock beat and soulful sax by Sam Williams, This is a solid opener. Slow blues, Watch Out For Your Heart, features Bond with some of her best vocals on the release and clean guitar accompaniment highlighted by a bluesy sax solo by Williams. Grand Funk's hit, Some Kind Of Wonderful gets a country rockin' 2 step feel with Bond on vocal and Rick Asherson on backing vocals and keys and Williams taking the lead on sax for a real nice solo. Ann Peebles track, I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, really ventures deep into pop music with Bond adding soulful enthusiasm and Williams again taking the lead solo on sax. Wrapping the release is Blues Without Borders, a blues rocker with a cool drum beat by Jukeman Lee on drums Bonds on vocal, glistening electric piano by Asherson and soulful sax work by Williams. Bond really enjoys her performance adding significantly to the release. 

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Earwig Music artist: Rusty Ends - Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-Tonks - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roadhouses, Juke joints and Honky-Tonks, from Rusty Ends and it's swampy, blues rock. Opening with Bad Like Billy The Kid, has a Tony Joe White feel with it's easy rock rhythm. With Rusty Ends on vocal and guitar, Dave Zirnheld on bass, Gene Wickliffe on drums and Wayne Young on guitar, this is a cool opener. Ballad, Lost In The Blues features Ends on lead vocal and strumming lush chords leading the track in step for that perfect slow dance. Rocker, Rockabilly Train is stripped down and raggedy with a solid beat. Featuring Ends on vocal and guitar and Roosevelt Purifoy on piano this is a a solid straight up rocker. I particularly like The Worm's Turned with it's surf flavored guitar flair. Ends' vocals are aloof and his guitar playing nicely stylized giving the track just the right amount of attitude. Slow and easy, Midnight Screams showcases Ends and Wayne Young on guitar laying down one of the deepest blues tracks on the release. Thing Called Love has a real nice strut with Zirnheld on vocal, Ends on guitar, and Purifoy on organ. Cool, stylized guitar soloing by Ends sets this track apart. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Bourbon Moon with cool trem bends by Ends set against a '50's backing by Wickliffe and Zirnheld. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Willie Nelson's Night Life with Ends singing surrounded by Purifoy's warm organ tone and the stiff snare snap of Wickliffe. A simple melodic guitar solo by Ends reinforces the track giving it just the right traction to close the release. 

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Doubleton Records artist: Saul Dautch - Music For The People - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Music For The People, by Saul Dautch, and it really hits the spot. Opening with Duke Pearson's, Hello Bright Sunflower, the band is in the groove. Opening with Noah Halpern delivering the melody on trumpet, and Hank Allen-Barfield on drum, cool intro. Saul Dautch on bari sax lays down the first solo lines and he's swinging with deep rich bari tones. Halpern follows back with a fluid interlude of his own. I literally was just looking at the internet an hour ago to see when pianist Miki Yamanaka may be touring and here she is on this release. I love her spirit and swinging punctuation is excellent.  Strong opener. Odious Din has a quick pace and distinctive drive. Halpern really opens up on trumpet with excellent phrasing and Allen-Barfield and Yamanaka work a hard line with Leager on bass. Dautch really digs in on bari delivering deep, warm phrasing and Yamanaka really shows what she's got with vibrant piano soloing, followed by Allen-Barfield who explodes on drums. Excellent! Ballad, L'Chaim, features Dautch with a full, beefy melody line, and a sparkling piano solo by Yamanaka . Very nice. Wrapping the release is easy shuffle, Bacher's Batch with Halpern and Dautch playing duet on the intro/melody. Dautch develops real nice bari phrasing and Yamanaka punctuation is spot on of course reinforced by Leager and Allen-Barfield. She takes center stage next with her lush and unpredictable piano style. Halpern rolls in with a breezy trumpet solo before Dautch rolls it all back together for a great bopping completion. Really nice release. 

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Origin Records artist: Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto - Mais Que Tudo: Live At Kerry Hall 1995 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mais Que Tudo: Live At Kerry Hall 1995, by Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto and it's exhilarating. Opening with Metamorph, Jovino Santos Neto on piano is joined by Hans Teuber on flute and sax, Chuck Deardorf on bass and Mark Ivester on drums creating a Brazilian flavored whirlwind. With a heart pounding piano solo by Neto, and a fluid hurricane of music by Teuber on sax, this is a powerful opening. Settling into a solid Latin influenced groove on Caranavalha, Teuber leads the way on sax with aggressive lead lines, spurred on by the solid punctuation of Neto on piano. Neto continues the push with fine articulation of his own taking the lead with Deardorf and Ivester in support. This is a live concert. I'm thinking the breaks between songs were lengthier than on the disc for musician recovery. Whew!  Hoping For The Day has a nice easy 3/4 timing with Teuber and Deardorf playing the melody in tandem, floating on a stream created by Neto and Ivester. Neto creates a sweet piano interlude followed by a lush solo by Teuber on sax and an inciteful solo by Deardorf on bass. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Neto's variation on Happy Birthday, a dedication to his son's 13th birthday, Happy Birthday Ariel! in fine Samba style. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Maria Muldaur - One Hour Mama - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Hour Mama - The Blues Of Victoria Spivey - from Maria Muldaur and it's her best in years. Opening with My Handy Man, is easy going with Maria workin the vocals like it's her own. Backed by James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (James Dapogny on piano, Kim Cusack on clarinet and alto sax, Russ Whitman on clarinet and tenor/baritone sax, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, Chris Smith on trombone and tuba, Rod McDonald on guitar and banjo, Kurt Krahnke on bass annd Pete Siers on drums). Solid opener. What Makes You Act Like That features Muldaur in duet with Elvin Bishop and their vocal styles work really well together. Danny Caron on guitar lays in some real nice guitar soloing and Johnny Bones on sax, Steve Height on bass, Neil Fortano on piano, David Matthews on piano, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums really make this track. Organ Grinder Blues really has an authentic feel with Tuby Skinny backing (Craig Flory on clarinet, Greg Sherman on guitar, Max Bien-Kahn on guitar, Shaye Cohn on cornet and trumpet, Barnabus Jones on real nice trombone, Todd Burdick on tuba, Robin Rapuzzi on washboard and David Torkanowsky on piano. Taj Mahal teams up with Muldaur on vocal on Gotta Have What It Takes, with terrific piano work by Matthews and Caron on guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is T-B Blues with excellent backing by by Dapogny's Chicago Jazz band and some of Muldaur's best vocals on the release. There's just that feel that you get when an artist hits the slot and Muldaur does it here. Great to hear. 

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Mercedes Nicole - Too High A Price To Pay - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too High A Price To Pay, from Mercedes Nicole and it's a cool mix of blues and soul. Opening with blues rocker, I'll Play The Blues For You, with Mercedes Nicole on lead vocal and featuring Rod Cook screaming some real nice King sized blues riffs on guitar. With Scotty Harris on bass, Jake Sele on organ, Andrew Cloutier on drums and Tommy Warren, Stacy Jones, Ben Lange and Patrice O'Neil on backing vocals a solid opener. John Hiatt's Feels Like Rain is presented as a soulful ballad and Nicole's lead vocals, caressed in backing vocals has a great feel. Another soulful ballad, Breathe Again is radio focused with a strong melody, slow danceable timing and a real nice sax solo by Alexey Nikolaev. Another slow blues track is Elmore James', The Sky Is Crying, with wailing guitar work by Cook. Solid vocals by Nicole and warm organ work by Sele flesh out the track. Wrapping the release is Ease My Soul an easy soul/pop track with a solid melody and smooth melodic guitar work by Cook. Nicole's vocals float on the melody with nice organ and piano work by Sele adding warm backing. Solid closer. 

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