Landslide Records artist: Damon Fowler & Friends - Live At The Palladium - New Relase Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Palladium, by Damon Fowler & Friends and it's a smoking release. Opening with It Came Out Of Nowhere, a cool R&B infused blues track, Fowler on lead vocal and guitar is hot and heavy. I like his style and his voice. Joined by Dan Signor on keys, Justin Headley on drums, and Chuck Riley on bass, Fowler sets this one and lays his solo on the end like a pro. This is a fine opener. On Somethings Change, one of hte best Harmonica players on the planet, Jasson Ricci joins Fowler with some excellent riffs and both contributing to a energetic instrumental frenzy. Breaking into a a stretched reggae beat on Don't Feel Like Going There Today, Ricci, Fowler and Signor each have a turn at the wheel. Very nice. My favorite on the release, Tax Man, has a great blues structure ala Jeff Beck's Blues Deluxe. Fowler's vocals are excellent, coaxed along by Ricci who really lays it out there on harmonica. Fowler picks it up with tight low volume riffs but really knows how to work it, coming back with his soulful vocals. OI really like the swampy funk on Fruit Stand Lady. Fowler with Eddie Wright on guitar really sqeeze the juice out of this one. With it's double stop sound, this track is great! Wrapping the release is Sugar Shack with Fowler really laying the slide out there. After a chot solo by Signor, Fowler and Wright trade riffs, Fowler really leaning into the slide for an excellent closer. 

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Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers - How Many Roads? - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, How Many Roads?, from Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers, it's a solid mix of R&B, soul, blues and rock. Opening with In It Together, Lex Grey is upfront on vocal, backed by Vic Mix on guitar, Ed Wasilewski on bass, Brian Dewan on Hammond and piano and with Chuck Burdick on drums. Grey really slips into the groove and the track literally ozzes from the grooves. Very nice opener. On Willie Dixon flavored Ain't From Mississippi, Grey shouts out my favorite track on the release with a great guitar vamp by Mix, piano by Wasilewski. Strong. Slow blues infused, Aches and Pains is a nice showcase for Grey on vocal, with rich Hammond work by Dewan, and featuring Greg Holt on fiddleand Ken Marchesani on drums. Rocker, After A Lifetime, shows a different side of Grey with it's new wave feel. Tight with Sonny Rock on drums and Mix on synth. Wrapping the release is Angel, my top choice for radio track on the release. With Grey singing melody, harmony and playing acoustic guitar along with Wasilewski on guitar and bass and Ken Marchesani on drums a solid closer. 

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Greenwave Music artist: Douglas Avery - Take My Rider - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take My Rider, by Douglas Avery and it's jam packed with raw blues tracks. Opening with Kokomo Arnold's Bad Luck Blues, Avery on vocal and harmonica slips into a fine shuffle. Backed by Carl Sonny Leyland on piano, Franck Goldwasser spinning some real nice guitar riffs, Ralph Carter on bass and organ and Johnny Morgan on drums this is a solid opener. Original track, Malibu Burnin' opens with some really tasty slide work, a droning drum beat and thumping bass, providing a great backdrop for Avery on lead vocal. I like it raw and this is it. Little Walter's Just Keep Lovin' Her is a real nice showcase for Avery on harp. With a nice walking bass line, one of  my favorites on the release. Delta style Jelly Jelly is strong with slide resonator and Avery on harmonica. This is blues, man. Blind Owl Boogie has great tempo reinforced by Morgan and Carter. Avery's vocals are great and Goldwasser's guitar boogie is terrific with Avery on harmonica. Terrific. How about a little funk to get you up... Yup...we got it. Good To Me has a great funky guitar rhythm, a reinforcing bass line and Avery on harmonica riding the wave. Punched up by Aaron Liddard on sax, Jerome Harper on trombone and Simon Finch on trumpet, James Brown is smiling. Wrapping the release is radio trrack, Looking Over A Rainbow featuring Avery on vocal, accompanied by Leyland on piano. I really like this release. It really has some raw energy and pure blues. 

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WildRoots Records artist Dyer Davis - Dog Bites Back - New release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Bites Back, from Dyer Davis and I just gotta say, anyone who opens an album with a first class cover of a Jeff Beck rocker gets a free pass in my book and hearing Let Me Love You blowing out of my speakers with raw vocals and electrofired guitar riffs is great. Backed by Billy Dean on drums, Victor Wainwright on piano, Stephen Dees on bass, this track is excellent! Cryin' Shame has a bit of a R&B feel but is strong rock blues with clean guitar riffs and strong vocals by Davis. With David Weatherspoon on drums , Jacob Barone on bass, Billy Chapin on rhythm guitar and excellent trumpet punctuation and accents by Joe Young, Davis squeezes out for fine blues on buitar. Very nice. I really like the R&B feel of Lifting Up My Soul which makes a nice radio track. It's melody is strong and with melodic lead guitar and powerful horn work by Mark Earley and Patricia Ann Dees, this is strong. Title track, Dog Bites Back really has a nice bluesy rock groove and a strong guitar hook. Davis' lead vocals are really great and his command of the style of rock really is commendable. Great track. Wrapping the release is AKA which is consistant with the release and overall great writing. I really like Davis' vocals and his understated overall guitar attack is really nice. He can step on the gas at any time and pull the horses. The band is solid, tight and well presented. Looking forward to hearing more of this.

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DIVA Jazz artists: 3D Jazz Trio - 9 to 5 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 9 to 5, by 3D Jazz Trio and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Harry Warren's, I Only Have Eyes For You, Cleveland Jazz Legend Award winner, pianist Jackie Warren sets the melody, punctuated by tight drum rhythms by Sherrie Maricle. Critically acclaimed bassist, Amy Shook steps up with a tasty acoustic bass solo and Warren's followup improvisation is really nice. Super opener. Gil Fuller's Tin Tin Deo really gives Warren a lot of space to run, first in Latin rhythm with excellent syncopation by Maricle and Shook, before breaking briefly into a full swing and later a full gallop. Very nice. A really nice arrangement of Miguel Matamoros' Lagrimas Negras really hits the spot, first in classic Cubano styling but relaxing into a modern jazz samba. With light drum accompaniment and accented bass work, Warren's fingers literally dance on the keyboard. Shook adds in a bowed bass solo which really works nicely and Maricle's tom tom work is excellent. My favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Warren penned, Theme for B.T., again with a Latin rhythm. Warren really works the piano nicely and with snappy drum rhythms and Shook's excellent bass work both as accompanist and on solo makes this an excellent closer for a really nice release. 

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Cornelius Chapel Records artist: Ernie Vincent Original Dap King - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Original Dap King, by Ernie Vincent and it's great mix of R&B, blues, soul and funk. Opening with Body Shop, with it's funky feel, Ernie Vincent on lead vocal and guitar really gets it going. Jimbo Mathus drive the train on piano with Taylor Hollingsworth on guitar, Hank West on horns, Matt Patton on bass, Bronson Tew on drums and with wicked backing vocals by AJ Haynes, Schaefer Llana and Matt Patton. Blues rocker, Jealousy, is a cool, laid back track with super vocals and nicely stylized guitar work. Blues Filler is a funky groove with Vincent singing in what I'd call a Jimi Hendrix style and distorted, blues based rock guitar riffs. Very cool. On Seven Sisters, Vincent really does a nice job of singing and trading vocal lead with his blues rock guitar lead. Mathus' percussive piano rhythm adds nicely to the well poised bass lines of Patton and Tew's excellent drum work. With it's James Brown rhythm, emphasized by Hollingsworth's guitar and West on horns, Guilty as Funk has a real nice pop funk feel and lead/backing vocals by Haynes, Llana and Patton give the track a 70's R&B feel. West lays in a sassy sax solo really giving this track a kick. Wrapping the release is piano shuffle, Early Times with Vincent on lead vocal and hot rockabilly style riffs on guitar and West on sax. Solid closer. 

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CAP Records artist: Eric Goletz - Standard-ized - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standard-ized, by Eric Goletz and it's really enjoyable. Opening with Charlie Parker's Now's The Time, bandleader and trombonist, Eric Goletz shows exceptional skill on trombone with an excellent lead solo, followed by Don Braden on soprano sax. With Henry Heinitsh's strong guitar work, Jim Ridl laying in a really nice piano solo of his own, Brian Glassman on bass, and Steve Johns on drums, this is a great opener. On a more solitude take on Juan Tizol's Caravan, Goletz shows what great trombone tone is with nicely inventive phrasing. Joe Mowatt percussion on this track adds a lot of depth and Goletz lets it all hang out on his solo and in tandem with Ridl on piano. Add in strings by Robin Zeh and Paul Woodiel on violin, David Gold and Michael Roth on viola, Sarah Hewitt -Roth on cello and Brian Glassman on contra bass, this track really is cool. Eden Ahbez's, Nature Boy really is a showcase for Lajuan Carter on lead vocal and she does a really nice job. Gershwin's Summertime really gets kicked up a notch with a Latin rhythm by Glassman and Johns and Ridl anchoring on piano. Goletz's solo on this track is vibrant, further enhanced by Ridl's bright piano soloing. Very nice. Stanley Turrentine's Sugar really throws Goletz out front of this trio layout with a lot of sliding and articulate runs over a great bass line of Glassman and Johns on drums. Stevie Wonder's Overjoyed, is the solid radio ballad for the track with Goletz laying down a solid piano loead and then doing a straight melodic solo on trombone. This really is a strong release (and I love jazz trombone) so if you're inclined...it's definitely worth the listen. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - For The Feral Heart - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For The Feral Heart, by Mick Kolassa, and it's got a solid mix of blues, Latin and pop track. Opening with Running To You, Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with a galloping rhythm by Andrew McNeil on drums and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jeff Jensen on guitar, and Rick Steff on keys round out the mix for this solid opener.  A redo of Dave Mason's Feeling Alright really has a great feel with it's creeping "Season of the Witch" sensability. Steff's key work is spot on and Jensen's guitar work hypnotic with key backing vocals by Tullie Brae. Very nice. Easy flowing, Love Ain't Supposed To Make You Cry is another track to watch with really sumptuous guitar lead by Jensen, reminicent of the late Peter Green early in his career. Very nice. Love In My Size is a strong acoust ballad with a grat melody. Kolassa on acoustic guitar and vocal is nicely highlighted by Jensen on slide guitar really making this track stand out. Wrapping the release is classic pop track, As Time Goes By, with a traditional arrangement. Accompanied by Ruffino on bass, Steff on piano, Tom Leonardo on drums, a simple finish. 

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Regina Royale Records artist: Diane Blue All-Star Band - Live! At The Fallout Shelter - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live! At The Fallout Shelter, by  Diane Blue All-Star Band and it's a funky blues party. Opening with I Got A Good Thing and a cool R&B feel, Diane Blue on vocal gets things rolling with Lorne Entress on drums, Dave Limina on Hammond and Chris Vitarello on guitar. Reggae infused blues track, I Cry has a real nice feel with Limina setting up a cool bass line  (on keys) under Diane's solid vocal phrasing. Vitarello lays in a real nice guitar solo with fluid runs and gripping punctuation. Guitar virtuoso, Ronnie Earl takes center stage on slow blues, Leave Me Alone and of course he has some of the sweetest blues phrasing on the planet. Frequently paired with Diane, I think that he brings out the best in her. This is a deeply soulful track with warm Hammond work by Limina and of course an excellent solo by Earl and Vitarello. My favorite track on the release. Blues rocker, Take A Look is a strong radio contender with a great melody, really nice vocals by Diane, a slick solo by Vitarello and great balance overfall. Shuffle, I'm Gonna Get You Back, really is a great track with Diane hitting the groove. Vitarello and Limina both lay down some somking riffs making this a real great track. Wrapping the release is high strung, Push On Through, with Diane really swinging. Vitarello shows excellent dexterity and chops on guitar and Limina turns up the heat on Hammond making this an excellent closer. 

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Ruf Records artist: Eddie 9V - Capricorn - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Capricorn, by Eddie 9V and it follows his earlier releases chocked full of excellent blues guitar work, soul, R&B and blues. Opening with Beg Borrow and Steal, this track reall has the sound of the soulful south and Muscle Shoals and Capricorn Studios where this release was recorded. With Eddie on lead vocal, drums, bass and guitar,  Chad Mason on keys, Noah Sills on sax, Cody Matlock on rhythm guitar,  and Dusty Mccook Guitars. Solid opener. Slow blues, Are We Through has a real soulful feel with excellent vocals by Eddie. This is certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release with the addition of Spencer Pope on organ and some really tasty guitar riffs by Eddie. Excellent! Another cool, R&B track, It's Going Down has great radio appeal with Hoah Sills on alto sax and Chad Mason on keys. Very nice. Surprise track, Bob Dylan's, Down Along the Cove brings back rich memories of one of my own blues mentors, Duane Allman and his session work on Johnny Jenkins Muscle Shoals release. This arrangement is sweet, Eddie's vocals are great and the slide work excellent with top notch piano work by Mason! Another excellent cover is Mary Don't You Weep with lead vocal by Khristie French with full vocal gospel backing. Rich. Wrapping the release is I'm Lonely, and its Al Green feel. Eddie's vocals are really nice and the punchy horn work of Daniel Wytanis and with Tony Erice on percussion makes this a strong closer. 

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Seth Rosenbloom - As The Crow Flies - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, As The Crow Flies, from Seth Rosenbloom and it's reall good. Opening with title track, As The Crow Flies, Seth Rosenbloom shows excellent vocal skills and plays lead guitar, paired with Ryan Taylor on slide guitar and backed by Jesse Williams on bass, Bruce Bears on organ, and Mark Teixeira on drums. Taylor on rhythm and slide really works nicely to give Rosenbloom plenty of active guitar work to solo over with really strong results. Nice opener. Poised vocal phrasing over a really nice bass line makes Set Me Free a prominant leader for the radio track on the release. With full backing vocals by Sonya Rae Taylor and Erica Van Pelt, this is a real cool track. Slow blues, Can't Trust Your Neighbor, not only gives Rosenbloom a great opening to demonstrate his vocal skills, but show his excellent blues guitar phrasing and dexterity. My favorite track on the release. Excellent! Shuffle track, Ain't Nothing Wrong, with it's snare reinforced lope really hits the spot and gived Rosenbloom a great opening to lay down some Texas style riffs. Wrapping the release is slow blues, Give Me The Ring Back with it's BB King style phrasing is a really great closer. Rosenbloom is a great vocal front man and his call and response phrasing is strong. This track will have you sitting back and nodding your head. Great closer for a really strong release. 

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J&R Adventures artist: Joe Bonamassa - Tales of Time (Live)- New cd/dvd release review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tales of Time, by Joe Bonamassa and he is really pulling it together. A performance of his new solo release, Time Clocks, Tales of Time opens with Notches, and Bonamassa has a solid riff going with a heavy footed kick drum by Lemar Carter and full bass by Calvin Turner. Building a full blown blues rocker with Reese Wynans on keys,and Josh Smith on guitar Bonamassa on lead vocal and fluid guitar solos ans backing vocals by Jade MacRae, Dannielle DeAndrea and Mahalia Barnes makes this a terrific opener. The deeper you get into the release the more you see that it is built as a continuous piece of art somewhat like a Pink Floyd release. All of the songs relate and one is as powerful as the next. Mind's Eye starts off light with a ballad style, Bonamassa on guitar and vocal but slowly builds to epic proportions with full band and rich backing vocals. Very strong. Throwing in a bit of R&B construction, Known Unknown has a solid melody and lots of backing vocals. Bonamassa of course really continues to develop his vocals and holds his guitar in reserve for meaningful phrases. Very nice. Based around Albert Kings famous riff, Just Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should is a strong new look at blues rock. I love the riff and Bonamassa's guitar work and tight organ solo by Wynans really propel this track. Wrapping the release is Evil Mama with it's driving bass line and high energy. This track really does wind with Smith keeping the heat on on guitar and Bonamassa playing some esoteric but cool riffs. Wynans takes you for another ride on keys and Bonamassa winds it up one more time for an excellent blues riff filled solo. The man has grown up and his music shows it. All of the excitement has finally paid off. Can't wait to watch the DVD which is 18 tracks long. 

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Big Blue Records artist: Barbara Blue - From The Shoals - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Shoals, by Barbara Blue, and it's some funky, R&B blues. Opening with The Shoals, Barbara Blue on lead vocal leads way with a stellar backing band featuring  Bernard Purdie on drums, David Hood on bass, Clayton Ivey on keys and Will McFarlane on guitar. On Clarence Carter's Tell Mama, Blue adds a nice compliment of Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Brad Guin on sax plus Davor Hacic- Hutch on guitar for a solid rendition of the classic track. Shuffle track, Slide Man is a cool track featuring Blue on vocal and McFarlane on slide guitar. With it's catchy melody and smooth guitar work, this is a cool number. Too Far is my favorite track on the release with it's arpeggiated guitar submelody and excellent guitar lead by McFarlane and strong sax work by Guin. Wrapping the release is slow boogie, Trail of Tears with it's drone bass line by Hood and strong vocal lead by Blue, nicely accented by McFarlane and Hacic-Hutch. 

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Subcat Records artist: Tas Cru - Riffin' The Blue - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Riffin' The Blue, by Tas Cru and it's got a little bit of everything. Opening with title track, Riffin' The Blue, an easy shuffle with Cru on vocal and featuring Mike Zito on lead guitar, backed by Bill Barry on organ, Ron Keck on percussion, Lenny Milano on drums. With a rich piano intro by Katz on One More Time, Cru on guitar sets the stage with lush phrasing and his own soulful singing, cradled by Katz on organ. Backed by Andy Hearn on drums and Bob Purdy, this is a cool track. My favorite track on the release is House of the Blues, with it's slow, deep bluesy feel and Katz's fat organ bottom. Mary Ann Casale adds some really nice backing vocals and this may be Cru's best vocal effort on the release. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Memphis Gone with Cru on vocal, paired with Zito on slide guitar and only the minimal piano by Katz. With the addition of Casale, Keck, Hearn and Purdy, this is a solid closer for an enjoyable release. 

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Phenix Fire Records artist: Vanessa Collier - Live at Power Station - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Power Station, from Vanessa Collier and it's energetic. Opening with The Run Around, Collier has the mic vocally and on sax on a driving rocker. With the incredible Laura Chavez on guitar, William Gorman on keys, Andrew Crane on bass, and Byron Cage on drums, this is a bright opener. Rolling, Whiskey and Women has a really nice feel and is a grat showcase for Collier's voice. Chavez lays in a solid solo and Collier caps on the track with a nasty solo of her own. Sweatin' Like A Pig, Singin'' Like An Angel has a cool, swampy New Orleans styling and I really like the interplay between Chavez and Collier instrumentall over the tight bottom provided by Cage and Crane. Excellent track. On Chris Smither's, Love Me Like A Man  Chavez really shines and Collier not only really rips it vocally but gets a great groove going on her sax. Excellent track. Pulling out her James Brown funkiness on Tongue Tied and Chavez pulling  a strong grinding rhythm on guitar, Coolier shows great vocal feel. Gorman solos on electric keys and Collier expands on Maceo's lineage. Wrapping the release is rock and roller, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Lime and Chavez shows her rocking style. Collier solos in her best R&B style and the track is a runaway train. With boogie piano by Gorman and a tight bottom by Crane and Cage, this is an excellent closer for a really enjoyable release. 

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Origin Records artist: Rodney Whitaker - Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill, from Rodney Whitaker and it's a strong outing. Opening with bass driven, Betty's Tune featuring Rockelle Fortin on lead vocal. Bruce Barth on piano, Whitaker on bass and Dana Hall on drums really cement this piece together and excellent top work by Terell Stafford on trumpet and Tim Warfield really highlight the track. Excellent opener. Next up is Puppets with it's quiet piano/drum/bass bottom and Stafford with his muted trumpet laying out the melody. As the tune lays back into a more bop feel, Warfield on soprano sax really sings. Barth kicks it to double time on piano with a exciting piano solo and Whitaker stands out with the standup. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Minorabilia with it's traditional bop feel. Stafford on trumpet and Warfield on tenor sax hold the melody, reinforced by Barth on piano. This track really hits a great groove featuring first Barth on piano. His phrasing is tight and lush, expanded by Whitaker and Hall who double time the rhythm. Stafford really sits down in the groove and kicks it before handing if off to Warfield on tenor reminding me of the Miles/Cannonball exchanges of the 50's. An energetic bass solo by Whitaker with only punctuation by Barth and snappy drum rhythm by Hall ...Really terrific. With it's walking bass line, Blues For Gregg, Whitaker wastes no time stepping front and center laying down the first solo, punctuated by Barth on piano. Taking the reins, Barth really gets things moving with great movement, followed by Warfield on sax. Stafford's trumpet work on this track is really strong with perfect tone and heat and Hall's footwork works nicely with his snare attack. Great tune. Wrapping the release is title track, Oasis, the most radio like track on the release featuring Fortin on vocal over a primarily spartan backing. A tasty trumpet solo by Stafford, a stylish soprano sax solo by Warfield, and a particularly groovy piano solo by Barth, folllowed by a funky bass solo by Whitaker make this i solid closer for a reall cool release. 

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Trabants - Lockdown - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Lockdown, by Trabants and I really like it. Opening with Freddy King flavored, Detour, Eric Penna has the lead (melody) on guitar, joined by Pete Curry on bass and drums. Penna has his own sound, but the influence is definitely King and a great opener. Title track, Lockdown was inspired by the Covid pandemic and it's obvious that these musicians didn't let the time go to waste. Influenced by the likes of British blues masters like Rory Gallagher and Peter Green title track, Lockdown is a solid slower blues featuring Penna laying down clean lead guitar phrasing over simple drum / bass backing. Quarantine is a cool improvisational blues that has thematic influence by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac to my ear. With Penna on acoustic guitars, Glenn Brigman on Farfisa, and Curry on drums, this is an interesting venue. Tears In Rain is a strong soulful ballad with Penna on lead guitar and Hammond Organ, Anthony Brisson on drums. This may be my favorite track on the release with Penna's solid melodic soloing. Wrapping the release is Mudlark with some wide open acoustic picking and acoustic slide guitar. With a bright backing ambience this is a smart closer. 

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For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening