I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unemployed Highly Annoyed from Jeremiah Johnson and it presents a fresh take on southern rock. Opening with Burn Down the Garden, Johnson on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with his tight knit crew, Paul Niehaus IV on bass and keys and Tony Antonelli on drums. Nicely crafted melody and some heavy tom tom work makes this track a solid opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is bluesy, Cherry Red Wine with it low slung feel and call and response interaction between Johnson's guitar soloing and the the key organ work by Niehaus on a strong bass line. Very nice. Title track, Unemployed Highly Annoyed has a funky rock beat and a thumping bass line. A strong rocker with plenty of space gives Johnson room to lay out some nice guitar solos. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Different Plan For Me, with it's soulful lead guitar work and warm backing. Johnson sings sparingly but his jazzy approach on delivery and bluesy riffs makes this track a stand out. Wrapping the release is rocker, Rock N Roll For the Soul with flashy Chuck Berry flavored guitar riffs and boogie bass lines. Niehaus drives the bottom home and Johnson rocks it on. Strong closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spirits In The Water, from Dione Taylor and it's a mix of pop, blues and rock. Opening with Water, a pop oriented track with blues roots, Dione Taylor on lead vocal and tambourine joined by Joel Schwartz on guitar, Lyle Molzan on drums, and Mark McIntyre on bass. With warm backing and a swaying rhythm, Down The Bloodline is a cool track and nicely complimented by Schwartz on banjo. Bluesy ballad, One More Shot is a real nice track that showcases Taylor's voice nicely. Cool dobro work by Schwartz adds another dimension and just the simplest of drum work by Molzan makes it one of my favorites on the release. Darkness is my choice for the radio track on this release with a solid melody, vocal layering and interesting guitar work sounding a bit like Fleetwood Mac. Wrapping the release is pop rocker, Running, with it's simple rhythm and solid melody. Taylor has put together a solid package with a broad variety of music.
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cosmic Radio, from Dudley Taft and it's reinforces Taft's reputation as a blues rocker with dark metallic overtones. Opening with title track, Cosmic Radio, Taft and company storm into the grooves with that trademark pounding rhythm and well blended vocals by Taft and Ashley Charme. High energy blues rocker, The Devil mixes traditional blues riffs and more modern metal style figures giving this track a hot rocking sound with Taft's fluid finger work and vocals. Backed by Kasey Williams on solid bass and Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums this track hums. I like the modified funk bass line on One In A Billion with it's almost stroll tempo. The classic metal overtones in Taft's work always gives it a classic rock sound and the blues undertones gives it a fine complexity. Blues ballad, Relentless, features lead vocal by Taft's daughter, Ashley Charmae, and with it's radio craving melody and nicely crafted lead guitar solo, it's likely to be the top player choice. One of my favorites on the release is lumbering, All For One with it's heavy bottom and fused vocals and jagged, obtuse guitar soloing. A lighter footed approach on I'm A Believer uses vocal dynamics and snappy drum work propelling Taft's soaring guitar lead to real advantage. Wrapping the release is soft ballad, I Will Always Love You with almost the texture of Queen with smooth vocal lead and warm harmonies. Solid closer for a cool release.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Alliance, from Head Honchos, and it's a rocking jam party. Opening with Stuck Between The Middle, Head Honchos had a heavier, rockier sound than on earlier releases with the addition of Mike Boyle on bass and Will Wyatt on drums. Rocco Calipari Sr. and Rocco Calipari Jr manage the guitar leads handily with sr on lead vocal as well. Mr. Bad keeps that driving rock beat and with head snapping drum work milks a scorching guitar tone from the axes. Adding in a little rhythmic funk on She Got That Thang, Sr's vocals add swagger on a southern rock flavored entry. Mark Landes adds keys on this track and guitar soloing it strong. Can't Be Satisfied is another track with a funky underpinning and a "Jimi" like attack on guitar gives it a turbo boost. Wyatt's drumming on Willie Dixon's Evil is intense and overall reminds me of a supercharged Warpigs attack with excellent "metal" fused guitar soloing. Driving boogie, Rock 'n Roll sets up a real nice platform for paired lead vocals by the Caliparis and after a flurry of solid riffs, breaks back into a cool blues jam. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a total acoustic blues rework of Al Green's I'm A Ram. With cool acoustic slide work , paired with simple acoustic guitar, light percussion and soulful vocals, a different take on an often covered track. Nice closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weekend In London, from George Benson and it's a solid show. Opening the show, one of Benson's biggest sellers, Give Me The Night which not only showcases his famous vocal work but also his incomparable guitar work. Benson grew up in my home town (Pittsburgh) and continues to play his mix of traditional and contemporary jazz. Love X Love is a another lightly funky track with that fluid guitar soloing that is so trademark Benson. He is gotten miles of publicity for his smooth, soulful vocals but it's his incredible chops that get me going and this track has it. Backed by Randy Waldman on keys, Stanley Banks on bass, Thom Hall on keys, Michael O'Neil on guitars and Khari Parker on drums, he can do it all. New Orleans R&B singer Dave Bartholomew's I Hear You Knocking, made popular more recently by Dave Edmunds gets a warm R&B cover and is always a crowd pleaser. James Taylor's Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight is a terrific track and Benson's cover has a real nice feel. It's not just what he does vocally but his guitar phrasing is absolutely beautiful. James Moody's, Moody's Mood is the hidden gem on this release with Benson breaking away from the vocal style that made him popular and showing his incredible improvisational style, joined by Lilliana De Los Reyes. Very nice! One of my absolute favorite instrumental tracks from Benson's "popular" period is Affirmation, from his Breezin' release and his guitar runs are clean, fresh and indisputable. Should we riff on it... 7 minutes flies by! Closing the release is Cruise Control with Benson's signature guitar/scat soloing and tight drums work by Parker. Electric piano work by Waldman adds a bright texture but this is classic late period Benson showing why he's still in high demand. Very nice.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Whiskey, Women & Trouble, from Kurt Allen and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Graveyard Blues, Allen wastes no time showing the grit in his voice and his guitar rumble. Backed by Lester Estelle Jr. on drums, Craig Kew on bass and Beaux Lux on keys, a super opener. Slick shuffle, Watch Your Step, has a a cool pace and tight horn unit made up of Pete Carrroll on trumpet and Trevor Turla on trombone giving Allen a broad stage to lead both vocally and on slide guitar and with solid work by Estelle and Kew. Slow blues, How Long has a nice melodic guitar lead, working nicely with Allen's vocal and horn compliment. With it's potent lead bass line and electrifying soloing, this is likely a crowd favorite for the release. Tom tom driven title track, Whiskey, Women and Trouble has an up tempo shuffle beat and plenty of blues riffs to go around. My favorite track on the release is bass driven, Funkalicious, with it's ultra funky sound. Great rhythm guitar and perfect horn work surround those raspy vocals. Excellent! With a Latin rhythm, Cry Mercy, moves nicely. Allen's vocals are solid and hi-sticking drum work really sets the track apart. Wrapping the release is rock n roller, Sweet T with it's driving rhythm guitar and keen piano work by Lux. Allen really winds it up on guitar under his lead vocal and gets the blood pumping. Solid closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tired of Talkin', from Steve Strongman and it's his best release yet! Opening with title track, Tired of Talkin' with a wicked blues fused, southern rocker feel Strongman up front on lead vocal and guitar shows swagger. Backed by Dave King on drums, James Haggerty on bass, Jesse O'Brian on piano, Pat Sansone on on keys, and with Audrey Freed on guitars, excellent opener. Laid back, Still Crazy 'Bout You, is really cool with it's JJ Cale or Levon Helm texture. Strongman's dobro work complimenting his vocal work is the key. Funky, Just Ain't Right, is really fun with some strong slide work by Strongman, and tight bass/drum work by Haggerty and King and heavy organ by Sansone. Excellent! Hi octane blues rocker, Can't Have It All with Strongman on harmonica and guitar and snappy drumming by King really moves. Highway Man falls back into a more pure delta sound with dobro and vocal. This is stripped down and fluid. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Al Green's Let's Stay Together in it's original R&B format. Strongman does a real nice job on this track vocally and his added fusion style guitar soloing is tight. Solid closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live, from Justin Saladino Band and it's a cool rocker with plenty of radio potential. Opening with Take What You Need, Saladino on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Antoine Loiselle on guitars, David Osel-Afrifa on keys, Denis Paquin on drums, Gabriel Forget on bass, and Lucie Martel on vocal and percussion. Continuing with it's happy go lucky pace and beat, Honey has a great melody and some real nice guitar work. On Tom Petty's You Don't Know How It Feels, Saladino adds in a little slide and some heavy organ giving the track a more bluesy feel. On blues ballad, Peace With You, Saladino really works the vocals laying down the best track on the release. Nicely phrased lead guitar soloing and a quiet background really elevate this track. Very nice. Another favorite on the release is Purple Girl with overdriven guitars with traces of Jimi or Gary Clark Jr. Really a cool blues rocker. Wrapping the release is No Worries a springy rocker with heavy overtones. I like the Haynes like guitar accents to the vocal lead and tight rhythm section on this track. This is a cool closer for a solid release.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Getaway, from Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Say My Name, Dustin Arbuckle, formerly of Moreland and Arbuckle, is upfront on harmonica and lead vocals, backed by Branden Hudspeth on guitars, Dr Mark Foley on bass, and Kendall Newby on drums. With a solid rhythm and the strong vocals that M&A was known for, this is a strong opener. With a familiar Muddy Waters like melody, ramped up tempo and Arbuckle's soulful vocals, Across The Desert is a great follow up. You Got To Go crosses further into the rock arena with R&B rhythm and soulful vocals. With a strong harp vamp and a cool guitar riff, Arbuckle's vocals ride high on top like Peter Wolf on JGB. Very cool. Darlin' Dear is a really nice radio track like Jackson Browne meets Marshall Tucker Band. Nicely blended vocals, and a strong melody are the key to this track. Another interesting track is When A Song Comes Along with just a bit more country and western flavor. It has just the right amount to make it cool and works well with Arbuckle's voice. Very nice. Wrapping the release is jazz influenced instrumental, Swingling featuring Arbuckle on lead harmonica over Hudspeth on guitar. Foley's walking bass line sets a great anchor and an eventual solo is tight. Hudspeth shows he knows a thing or two (at least) about jazz structure taking the track to another level. Excellent closer.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart On The Line, from Vanessa Collier, and it's quite good. Opening with James Brown's, Super Bad Collier is off to a strong start morphing a quick tempo driver into a slow, funky instant hit. This track has it all with movement, great vocal, a great bottom, and saxy solo by Collier. Backed by Nick Stevens on drums, Scott Sutherland on bass, Laura Chavez on guitar, William Gorman on keys, Quinn Carson on Trombone, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, this track is hot! With a delta feel on Bloodhound, Chavez lays down a cool slide riff and Colliers vocals really take over. With CC Ellis on bass and Stevens on drums, this track has oomph. Randy Newman's You Can Leave Your Hat On gets a really nice rework with plenty of spunk. I really like the horn work on this one pushing it along and Chavez's guitar solo just just right in the groove. Excellent! Original track, Weep and Moan has a really great feel with a slower tempo, tasty guitar trem and solo work by Chavez and Carson, Woolverton and Colliers working the horns under death defying vocals. Very nice! Funky, Who's In Power really pours on the horn sauce with Colliers working up the band with choice vocal and sax work over a pumped bass line by Ellis. Hot! Wrapping the release is the most pop oriented track on the release, Heart On The Line, with Cornell Williams really working the bass line, punchy horn work by Carson and Woolverton and great vocal work, revival style by Colliers. Excellent closer for her best release yet.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues O' Blues, from Tony O. and it's solid old school electric blues. Opening with You Upset Me Baby, Tony O, who has played with a who's wo of blues greats including Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Rogers, Victoria Spivey, and James Cotton (to name a few) is upfront on vocal and guitar and his playing style, quite reminiscent of BB King keeps you bopping with super backing by The Uptown Horns. On rolling blues number, So Excited, Tony takes an extended intro and a driving bass line and great horn support to Tony's solid guitar lead. Very cool. One of my favorites on the release, My Love Strikes Like Lightning, has strong tempo, punchy horns and really tasty lead guitar phrasing. Jimmy Rogers', You're So Sweet, is up next and Tony leads with solid harmonica and vocal. Excellent piano and snappy drum and bass work give this track real zing. R&B style track, It's Just A Matter Of Time, is a real showcase for the tasteful guitar work of Tony with excellent sense of style. Very nice! Wrapping the release is fast boogie, Just Drive, with Tony playing both guitar and harmonica solos. This is a cool closer for a strong release.
I just had the opportunity to review the newest release from Johnny Iguana, Chicago Spectacular! and it's a cool mix of styles and packed with blues notables. Opening with Roosevelt Sykes' 44 Blues, featuring John Primer, Bob Margolin and Michael Caskey, Iguana does a great job on keys and Primer's lead vocals are super. On Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom ,Primer has the mic again and with cool guitar lead and with Michael Caskey on drums another cool entry. Gil Scott- Heron's Lady Day and John Coltrane has a cool, laid back jazzy feel and features Phillip-Michael Scales on lead vocal and guitar. Iguana really rocks the piano on this one with simple rhythms by Caskey. Lil' Ed guests on Burning Fire with flaming lead guitar and vocal. Rolling piano work by Iguana and solid drum work by Kenny Smith makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lil' Ed is back on Elmore James' Shake Your Moneymaker and Ed knows how to make that slide talk. Very cool. Sonny Boy Williamson's Stop Breakin' Down slides in nicely with Matthew Skoller on harmonica and lead vocal and Billy Flynn on lead guitar. Closing the release is Big Bill Broonzy's Hot Dog Mama with lead vocals by Billy Boy Arnold and lead guitar by Billy Flynn. Iguana did a really nice job putting htis set together and his piano work throughout is strong.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stronger Than Strong, from John Nemeth and it's tasty. Opening with Chicago bluesy, Come On And Take It, with Nemeth on vocal and harmonica, Danny Banks on drums, Matthew Wilson on bass and Jon Hay on guitar. With it's tight rhythm and classic styling, it's a solid opener. With darker overtones and Nemeth's soulful vocals, Sometimes is a strong player that is a great showcase for Nemeth's vocal strength and harmonica reinforcement. Throw Me In The Water is a great rocker with a rockin beat and a moving bass line by Wilson, potent vocals by Nemeth and some flashy guitar work by Hay on guitar. Very nice. I really like Chain Breaker with it's blues vamp driven by Wilson and plenty of room for Nemeth and Hay to cruise. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Work For Love with it's infectious bass line and Nemeth's soulful vocals. Adding a little bounce to a classic blues pattern, Nemeth crafts a real nice track here with extended harmonica soloing and a bit of hot guitar work by Hay. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Sweep The Shack, a hot paced R&B track with nicely harmonized vocals and bluesy, Texas style guitar riffs. This is a solid closer for another super release from Nemeth.
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