Geoff Arsenault - Hired Hand - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hired Hand, from Geoff Arsenault and it's sketchy and raggedy ...and maybe just right. Opening with Steps To Gumbo, Geoff Arsenault sets a simple drum template and underscores it with laid back vocals. Joined by Zev Katz on bass, and Glenn Patscha on B3 and Wurlitzer this track sets a cool line, underscored by Joey Landreth on slide guitar. Strong opener. Just a dash of funk in his drums on Bullet Won't Stop gives it a real nice feel with punctuation by Patscha on Wurlitzer. Creatively interesting. Balled, The Great Divide is really a strong track feeling a bit like Dylan. His haunting vocal pairing with Amy Helm is super and Patscha's B3  works really nicely with iridescent sonic backing. Very nice. I Ain't Locked Down is a pure 2 step rocker with JJ Cale like style. Easley on bass and Arsenault on drums (and vocal) set the meter and Patscha on B3 and George Sluppick on tambourine give the track texture giving Colin Linden a wide open road for some real nice guitar soloing. Jazzy, Already Gone, has a cool, acoustic guitar, drum B3 backing under Arsenault's vocals and Linden again shows great flair on electric guitar. Wrapping the release is simple ballad, Cajun Soul with Arsenault delivering the melody on vocal and acoustic guitar, supported by Easley on bass, Patscha on Wurlitzer and Accordion and David Mansfield on Cajun style fiddle. Very warm closer for a cool release. 

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Catfood Records artist: Johnny Rawls - Make Them Dance - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make Them Dance, from Johnny Rawls and it's full of R&B, blues and soul. Opening with rocker, So Cold, Johnny Rawls on lead vocal leads the attack with the style early Clapton/Bramlett collaboration with Will McFarlane on guitar, Steve Potts on drums, Bob Trenchard on bass and Dan Ferguson on keys, beefed up by Mike Middleton on trumpet, Andy Roman on sax, Nick Flood on bari sax, Frank Otero on trombone, Kimberly Horton and Trinecia Butler on backing vocals. Latin flavored rocker, Make Them Dance is the title track with rich backing vocals, warm keys by Ferguson, a real nice sax solo by Roman, and hot percussion by Potts. Give It To Me has cool R&B roots with a hi stepping rhythm and solid horn backing. Rawls works the vocals and McFarlane adds cool bluesy guitar riffs making the track just that much bluesier. My favorite track on the release, Say That You Love Me, has a distinct Curtis Mayfield feel, giving Rawls a real nice chance to shine vocally. Warm vocal backing by Horton and Butler and a smooth guitar solo by McFarlane gives the track even more depth. Wrapping the release is soulful, The Long Road, with it's full horn backing. Rawls shines on lead vocals and the melody is a certain radio track.  Middleton and Otero really beef up the brass and tight rhythms by Potts make this a solid closer. 

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Not from this release:

James Zito - Zito's Jump! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Zito's Jump!, from James Zito and it's a lot of fun. Opening with boogaloo title track, Zito's Jump, Rodney Whitaker on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums set up the rhythm expanded by Luther Allison on piano. James Zito steps up throwing down fluid, machine gun riffs with solid style. I can definitely hear traces of many of the greats in there but certainly not a copy. Joseph Miller wraps in some nice sax work concluding a fine opener. Laid back Island Girl has a light Latin flavor featuring Chris Lewis setting up the melody on flute and warm, relaxing solos by Allison and Zito. Very nice. Jimmy Smith's swing track, Ready N' Able really kicks into gear with horns blazing. Featuring Lewis on tenor, Nicholas Dimaria on trumpet, Joseph Miller on alto sax, Jack Kotze on trombone and of course Allison, Farnsworth and Whitaker, this track is flying. Zito steps up with some ear opening guitar riffs that are sure to lay you flat back into you seat. My favorite!! Another terrific addition is Minor Lies with a driving bottom and punchy horns. Bud Redding's  The End Of A Love Affair is a full out jam terrific solos by Zito, Jarien Jamanila on sax, Miller on alto sax, and Allison. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Turner Layton and Henry Creamer's quick tune, After You've Gone. Starting with Zito laying down the basic melody and quiet pace on guitar, just simple backing.... then kicking it to double time really ripping up the fretboard over  Whitaker, Farnsworth and Allison. Super closer for an strong release. 

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ZOHO Records artist: Juan Perea - Lightkeeper - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Lightkeeper, from Juan Perea and it shows depth including introspective, contemplative and Latin flavored compositions. Opening with Tito Puente's Ove Como Va, of course famously interpreted by rocker Carlos Santa. Featuring Eric Marienthal on alto sax, Gary Haase on bass, Steve Thornton on percussion, and Dean Brown on guitar Juan Perea really does a nice job on piano maintaining the Latin influence and pulling in the rock styling with brilliant guitar riffs by Brown. I really like El Sueno with it's quiet attack and a mix of piano and electric keys by Perea and light and tight bottom by Thornton and Haase. Breaking into full samba Perea really gets it rolling and again Brown lights up the fretboard. Very nice. Remembering You has an introspective melody blending keys and piano over Haase on bass and Tom Brechtlein on drums, and with a smart acoustic guitar solo by Brown. Wrapping the release is title track, Lightkeeper II with a quiet inciteful piano melody. Nice closer for a solid release. 

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Cellar Music artist: Geoffrey Dean Quartet - Conceptions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Conceptions, from Geoffrey Dean Quartet, and it breathes. Opening with Came And Went, Justin Copeland on trumpet has the melody, with strong support from Geoffrey Dean on piano and tight rhythm by Harish Raghavan on bass and Eric Binder on drums. Dean takes over expanding the melody with crystal clarity. Solid opener. Quiet ballad, Amidst A Dream, features a quiet yet essential trumpet solo by Copeland. Dean expands on the melody on piano and Copeland closes the track. Very nice. Springy, Song For Hannah is an adventuresome exploration on piano with a Latin twist.  With light drumming and bass, this track works nicely. Prism has a strong driving rhythm and with fluid lead on trumpet by Copeland. Dean takes the lead with strong support by Raghaven and Binder making this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the set is What May Come with a calculated pace and well structured lead by Dean. Copeland's solo is subtle and isolated giving it a strong attack. Very nice closer. 

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Silvano Monasterios - The River - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The River, by Silvano Monasterios and it's very cool. Opening with title track, The River, Silvano Monasterios sets a suoer piano rhythm with a Latin beat. Troy Roberts on tenor sax, Nestor Torres on flute, Alex Norris on trumpet, Jeff Lederer on clarinet, Ricky Rodriguez on contrabass, Lusito Quintero on percussion, Jimmy MacBride on drums and Juan Diego Villalobos on vibes create a synchronous melody. As the band drops back, Monasterios creates the first improv on the melody followed by Lederer on clarinet. Roberts on tenor really kicks things up with a juicy solo of his own, followed by Norris on trumpet. Very nice opener. Against The Current has a great Latin beat that will really suck you in. Monasterios sets the first solo on piano and his phrasing is potent and engaging. Norris on trumpet picks it up and delivers with strong intent. The melody is delivered with brilliant vibes by Villalobos and Norris and Roberts on trumpet and sax with snappy drum work by MacBride. Tight! Wrapping the release is The River Between Us, a real nice track with complex percussion rhythms. Monasterios illustrates the melody beautifully on piano and Torres' contribution on flute really float nicely. Roberts steps up with a well sculpted tenor solo, turning the track over to Monasterios and MacBride to close. Solid closer. 

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

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Rodney Whitaker, and it's strong. Opening with title track, Mosaic, Rodney Whitaker on bass lays down an excellent groove, bound by Rick Roe on piano and Dana Hall on piano. Terell Stafford on trumpet sets the track on fire with excellent solo phrasing, followed by Tim Warfield on soprano sax. Very nice. Roe picks up his own lead on piano with confident improvisation with Warfield and Stafford joining the reconciling  refrain giving the floor to Whitaker for a masterful solo on bass. Strong opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Claxilever features another crisp lead solo by Stafford on trumpet over tight piano/bass/drum rhythm leading to a super tenor solo by Warfield. Not to be left behind, Roe steps up scorching the ivories and Whitaker well composed bass solo, coaxed on by Roe, and Hall on drums trades riffs with Warfield and Stafford making for another excellent track. Still Life With Tuba is a cool piece with what sounds to me like a modern Brazillian influence. Pairing Rockelle Whitaker's melodic lead vocal with Warfield on sax the melody is formed and Roe's springy piano work carries the load. I like Warfield's warm trumpet dialog paired with the aggressive percussion of Hall and Warfield on soprano sax paired with Whitaker on bass and Roe on piano really is nice. Slow Gin Fizz is another track with a super groove. After and punchy intro by Stafford and Warfield, Whitaker leads the way with a dynamic bass solo, chased by Hall and Roe. Stafford picks up the lead on trumpet with super flow and dynamics. Warfield on tenor sax really works his solo on this one developing an excellent groove and Roe punctuating on piano picks up the lead without losing any momentum. A snappy solo by Hall is accented by nice riffs by Stafford, Warfield and Roe making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Sunday Special, a more subdued track with a laid back, syncopated pace and interesting melodic solo by Warfield on soprano sax. Stafford picks up the lead adding his voice followed by Roe who gets a bit bluesy in the mix and finally Whitaker who puts an exclamation point on with his bass. Strong closer for a very cool release. 

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Little Village Foundation artist: All Things Swamp - Dressed - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dressed, from All Things Swamp and it's a blast. All Things Swamp is like a poker circle of pros from unrelated bands who get together on their days off to play funky jams on their days off. I think you'll be glad they do. Opening with Sidewalk Strut, Luke Kirley on tuba starts funky, Nawlins sound quickly joined by Brian Switser on trumpet, Tim Hockenberry on trombone, Dan Gordon on bass trombone, Dean Parks on tenor sax, Aaron Lington on bari sax, and Gary Novak on drums. Lington rips a great bari solo followed by Kirley on tuba and with a smart melody and a crisp drum snap, this is an excellent opener.  Joe Zawinul's hip track, Mercy Mercy Mercy made popular by Mr Cannonball Adderley on the jazz scene and by the Buckinghams on the hit parade, gets a bigger band redo lead by Hockenberry  with some real flash on trombone and a settled down organ groove by none other than Jim Pugh. The ever present tuba line by Kirley is great. You gotta check the trombone solo by Hockenberry on Blues For Ben. Switzer on trumpet digs in nicely with a solo of his own but it always comes back to Kirley on tuba who is killer. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Rebirth's Take It To The Street with it's punchy brass lead. Gordon, Switzer, Hockenberry, Parks and Lington really get it moving with the punchy tuba work of Novak, Novak on drums and Pugh turning up the heat on keys. Excellent closer. 

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RD Records artist: Mike Dangeroux - Empty Chair - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Empty Chair, by Mike Dangeroux and it's a cool mix of blues and rock. Opening with shuffle, End Like This, Mike Dangeroux leads the way on vocal and guitar as well as bass, joined by Vincent Varco on piano, and Daron Casper Walker on drums. With an Elmo James kind of turnaround, this is a cool opener. Blues rocker, Play My Cards Right, has a snappy drum beat and Dangeroux's vocal/rhythm guitar sets the pace. I like Mike's guitar phrasing and style on this one. Solid contribution. Wrapping the release is slow blues, What's Taking So Long, featuring Dangeroux showing his chops over his soulful vocals. Varco on organ and tight drums from Walker makes this a solid closer. 

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Russ Spiegel - Nitty Gritty - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nitty Gritty, from Russ Spiegel, and it's a cool release with some great tracks. Opening with Hank Mobley's Soul Station, Jim Gasior on organ, Lucas Apostoleris on drums set the foundation for Russ Spiegel's guitar lead. Nicely complimented by Gasior's organ accents a solid opener. Lennon and McCartney's Norwegian Wood gets a light redo with glistening tones from Spiegel's guitar and features a really nice bass solo by Kurt Hengstebeck. Francis Lai's pop track, A Man And A Woman, is approached with a subtle yet effective hand, pumping up it's Latin nature slightly and a soulful sax solo by Tim Armacost adds a warm richness to the track and Spiegel's lush guitar phrasing carries the melody. Consuelo Velazquez's Besame Mucho, a terrific Latin pop track, has an even more distinct Latin emphasis thanks to the drumming of Apostoleris and Spiegel's guitar approach is really clean. Gasior on organ adds a solid, rich, solo of his own. Very nice. Original fusion composition, Epic has a great rhythm setup and rich sax work by Armacost really sends it spinning. Spiegel steps back on guitar with more aggressive guitar attack and feel. I really like this track... possibly my favorite on the release. Excellent! A terrific take on Coltrane's 26-2 gives the band a chance to really hang it all out there with a snappy rhythm by Apostoleris, supportive work on keys by Gasior and smoking lead sax by Armacost. Spiegel's guitar solo will get you on your feet melding perfectly with Hengstebeck and Apostoleris on bottom. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Jimmy Guiffre's Four Brothers, given a mambo rhythm and a new flavor. Light and breezy work by Spiegel on guitar and full and fat work by Gasior on organ delivers the closer for a really solid release. 

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Zhengtao Pan - Scenery In My Story - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Scenery In My Story, from Zhengtao Pan, and it's interesting and adventuresome. Opening with Windy Days, a moody, orchestral type composition, featuring Itai Kriss on flute, Andrea Guerrini on trumpet, Massimo Morganti on trombone, Chen Wang on guitar, Manuel Trabucco and Jesse McGinty on sax, Isamu McGregor on piano, Zhengtao Pan on bass and Federico Gucciardo on drums, this is a comprehensive opening. City Machine opens with a super drum rhythm by Gucciardo and McGrego on keys. With a super fusion/orchestral blend and aggressive layering of bass by Noah Justice, Sax by Trabucco and McGinty, Wang on guitar, Morganti with a hot solo on trombone, Nick Frenay with a real nice trumpet solo, and Pierpaolo Pecoriello on flute, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Nardis is an up tempo track with hot brass courtesy of Guerrini and Morganti and and wailing sax by Trabucco and McGinty. Pan adds keys and bass and Gucciardo is tight on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is title track, Scenery In My Story, another broadly orchestral piece painting a sonic landscape.  With McGinty on flute and bass clarinet, Guerinni on trumpet, Trabucco on sax, McGregor on piano, and Ross Pederson on drums, this is a composers closer. 

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Bungalo Records artist: Micki Free - Dreamcatcher - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dreamcatcher, by Micki Free and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with bluesy, When The Devil's At Your Door, Micki Free on screaming lead guitar and Ray Green on vocal really anchors down and fires. With Mark Leach on keys, Benny Rietveid on bass and Cindy Blackman Santana on drums, this is a powerful opener. A funky bass line by Rhonda Smith on My Sweet Baby, and drums by Santana on drums sets the pace and Free on lead vocal and guitar carries the weight. With a bit of a heavier feel, Night Crawler is bass heavy with Rietveid holding the bottom and Santana setting the rhythm. Free's vocal and guitar attack gives this track real acceleration and Leach on keys is a solid addition. Wrapping the release is a live version of title track, Dreamcatcher featuring a real nice Native American flute solo and guitar work by Free over a nice bed of keys, bass, and drums by Leach, Rieveid and Santana. Solid closer. 

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RaShad The Blues Kid - Live In Clarksdale - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Clarksdale, by RaShad The Blues Kid and it's hopping. Opening with Feel Alright, RaShad sets a funky beat on lead guitar and vocal with a thick bass line by Omari Jones on bass and Devin James on drums. Jock Webb Sr. on harmonica adds a lot of texture to the mix and with Gabriel Spells on keys, and Tyler Criglar and Jadarion Taylor on backing vocals, this track is moving. Up tempo rocker, Do It Right is bound to get everybody up and moving. With RaShad on vocal and guitar, Spells on keys, Webb on harmonica and a stiff bottom by James this track is a real rocker. Soul track, That's What You Are, is a strong contribution to the release with great vocals,  a terrific melody, solid guitar tones, and a memorable beat. Slow blues, Singing The Blues, really digs deep with soulful vocals and solid harmonica by Webb winding down with super lead by RaShad. Jimmy Wilson's soul track, Tin Pan Alley, popularized by SRV among others get a real nice rework here with deeply soulful lead and backing vocals and my favorite guitar work on the track. Sit back and enjoy. Wrapping the release is driving Chicago style blues, Juke is a hardy jam with a solid bottom by Jones and James and coaxed along by RaShad and Webb. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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Run It Back Records artist: Andrew Duncanson - California Trap - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, California Trap, from Andrew Duncanson, and it's a busting with soul. Opening with Relearning To Climb, a cool soul tune with a great melody, featuring Andrew Duncanson on lead vocal, backed by Tia Carroll, Lara Price and Lisa Leuschner-Andersen on backing vocals and a full compliment of Memphis instrumentation. Kid Andersen on guitar, Michael Peloquin on tenor sax, Ed Morrison on trumpet, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Dmar Martin on drums, Jim Pugh on B3, and Mike Rinta on trombone really give this track a breath of reality. Solid opener. Chugging, Hold Me Back, really gets moving with Duncanson on vocal and guitar and featuring Peloquin on harmonica as well as guitar. Title track, California Trap is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a BB King/Mike Bloomfield feel. Kid Andersen is stellar on guitar backed by Baxter Robinson on piano and excellent vocals by Duncanson. Dripping in soul, What Kind Of Man, is a nice showcase for Duncanson on vocal with rich horn backing by Peloquin, Rinta, Mike Rose on trumpet and Doug Rowan on bari sax and warmed by the backing vocals of Tia, Lara and Lisa. Very nice. Loping blues, Feelin' Better Now features real nice harmonica by Peloquin nicely complimenting Duncanson on vocal. Strong. Another terrific track, Next Life, features Duncanson's best vocals on the track, with Andersen really laying in some excellent blues phrases on guitar and solid horn backing by Rinta, Rose, and Rowan. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Better Off Now, with nicely stylized vocals by Duncanson and punchy trumpet work paired with bari sax by Morrison and Rowan. Strong closer. 

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VizzTone label group artist: Will Wilde - Blues Is Still Alive - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Is Still Alive, by Will Wilde, and it's a strong new blues entry. Opening with title track, Blues Is Still Alive, Will Wilde on vocal and harmonica is coming on strong. With solid vocals and scorching harp lines, paired with Walter Trout on lead guitar, Blues Is Still Alive a ear catcher. Backed by Bobby Harrison on rhythm guitar, Greg Coulson on keys, Steve Rushton on drums, Russell Carr on bass, and backing vocals by Dani Wilde, Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine on backing vocals, this is an excellent opener. Wilde really opens the door on blues rocker, Don't Play With Fire with some of the most intense harmonica work that I've heard in a while. Driving blues rocker, Trouble Of That Girl has a great driving bottom thanks to Rushton and Carr. Wilde really adds a hot lead harmonica making this one of the hot radio likely tracks on the release. On Slow blues, Stole My Love, the band lays back and gives the floor to Wilde on vocal and harmonica and he knows how to work it. High impact harmonica soloing, accented by Rushton on drums makes this my favorite track on the release. Another solid blues rocker, Learn How To Love, has a solid shuffle beat and with potent lead harmonica work and vocals by Wilde and nice backing vocals by Wilde, Bonnic and Josephine, this is another solid radio candidate. Another slow blues, Broken Dreams Blues gives Wilde a great opening to dig down deep on harmonica. Chided along by Rushton, it's really cool to hear harmonica play guitar like phrasing. Excellent!  Wrapping the release is shuffle, Don't Trust Me, with it's rocking bottom and power organ by Coulson and a slick guitar lead by Harrison. Solid closer for a super release. 

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Ian Siegal Meets Johnny Mastro - Easy Tiger - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Easy Tiger, from Ian Seigal and Johnny Mastro and I really like it. Anyone who's been reading my notes for a few years, knows that I really like my blues with a raw edge and this release has that covered in spaces. Opening with blues rocker, Four On The Floor, I hear traces of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Oh Well. This is a great rocker with Ian Siegal on vocal and guitar, and Johnny Mastro on harp and vocal, backed by Josh Kerin on bass, Smoke on guitar and Chris Davis on drums. Explosive. Rock and Roller, Baby You Can Get Your Gun has a great rhythm with Mastro really blowing the harp and a driving bottom. Dog Won't Hunt has a real Hill Country feel with a monstrous bellow of vocal over a great super rhythm guitar, followed by Mastro's harp work. Excellent! I really like the hooded and echoed vocals on Miss Your Cadillac over the conventional rock rhythm and solid guitar lead by Siegal. Another of my favorites on the release is Quick To The Gun which really digs deep. I love the hooded vocal and clear vocal in parallel along with frenzied guitar work over an Otis Rush like attack. Really strong. Wrapping the release is Oedipuss, a cool rocker with a blues edge. Paired vocals and paired lead (guitar and harp), gives this track a real different feel. I gotta say I really enjoyed this release and will be listening a bit more at home. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Frank Bey - Peace - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pease, from Frank Bey and it's a solid  compilation of Bey's music. Opening with That's What Love Will Make You Do, Little Milton's funky blues, Bey on lead vocal is joined by Anthony Paule who really lays out some real nice riffs on guitar, Loralee Christensen on backing vocals, Tony Lufrano on keys, Nancy Wright on sax, Tom Poole on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Endre Tarczy on bass and Paul Revelli on drums, this is a great opener. R&B track, Midnight and Day has a really nice feel with Doug Travis on keys and Kevin Frieson on bass and Thomas Jefferson on drums creating a great bottom and Bey's rich vocals sharing the spotlight with  Jeff Monjack on guitar. Rolling blues, Blues Comes Knockin' is bound to get you moving, with a great bottom by Jefferson and Frieson and with with Beys dynamic vocals, hot harmonica work by Sark Damirjian and smoking guitar lead by Monjack, this is my favorite track on the release. If You Want Me is a really nice track featuring real nice sax work by Bob Maxon and deep organ work by Andrew Samuels. Bey really digs in vocally and Monjack rips on lead guitar making this another stand out track on the release.  Hi stepper, Blues In The Pocket has a terrific groove with essential woodblock (muted cowbell) by Omar Hill and a sassy sax solo by Allen Weber. Wrapping the release is a soulful take on John Lennon's, Imagine, with Beys soulful vocal set off nicely by Jim Pugh on organ and piano.  Kid Andersen on guitar, John Halbleib on trumpet, Ric Feliciano on trombone, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Dmar Martin on drums fill out a the excellent backing group and Nancy Wright  adds a stellar sax solo. 

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