I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,
Smokehouse Serenade, from
Kerry Kearney Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with
Shakin' Like Jelly, a driving shuffle, Kearney on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with some fiery riffs, supported by Frank Kingbee Latorre on harp, Mario Staiano on drums, Gerry Sorrentino on bass and David Bennett Cohen on keys. Blind Willie McTell's
Statesboro Blues gets a dash New Orleans with a stepping rhythm and cool trumpet by Victor Poretz and Charlie Wolfe on harp.
Fireplug is a somewhat funky blues rocker. Staiano's rhythm on this track sets the pace and I like Cohen's bouncy piano soloing. A more traditional delta style blues,
No Way Back Blues gives Kearney a solid opportunity to show his acoustic blues guitar work. Very nice.
Wake me, Shake Me, Bake Me is one of my favorites on the release with a great rhythm, a hot guitar, piano and harp solos. Very cool.
Sittin' On Top Of The World has a cool laid back feel with really nice acoustic slide, piano (by Mark Mancini) and vocals. Excellent! With a real New Orleans beat,
Goin' To the Mardi Gras has all the party elements. With Bob Paopucci on harp, an excellent trombone solo by Poretz, Jeff Naimoli on percussion, tight drums by Staiano and excellent slide by Kearney, this is a solid top track. Wrapping the release is
Pretty Baby, a lumbering blues rocker. Kearney's vocals are solid and with a tight bottom by Staiano and Sorrentino and his own guitar punctuation, a solid closer.
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