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Nelson
Adelard - South By Southwest
Albert
Castiglia - Keepin On
The Delta Wires - Live @ 105
Cee
Cee James - Seriously Raw
Billy
Lavender - Memphis Livin
Bernie Pearl - Old School Blues
Saturday Night Mojo - Neighborhood Sweetie
Watermelon Slim & The Workers - No Paid Holidays
Albert Castiglia is a great guitarist and singer, but that's not the best thing about this new cd "Keepin On," out August 10 on Blues Leaf Records. The best thing is that Albert keeps getting better. I listened to Castiglia's work from "Burn" (2002) to "A Stone's Throw" (2006) to "These Are The Days" (2008) and now this new cd "Keepin On" (2010) and the growth is remarkable. Albert's guitar playing is hotter, better, cleaner and his singing stronger, more emotive than ever before. Albert and his band, bassist AJ Kelly and drummer Bob Amsel, kick things off with the Sir Mack Rice-penned "Cadillac Assembly Line." Check out the first time Albert did this song, on "Burn" and compare that take with this one. Albert did a good job of covering Albert King on the 2002 cd, and this time out he completely knocks it out of the park.
Next
Castiglia repeats another theme--the state of the economy is the subject of
"Keep on Keepin' On," which recalls his Blues Song of the Year 2009
nominee "Bad Year Blues." Castiglia's guitar testifies to the
difficulty of hard times, and the result is exhilarating. Next up is a pair of
originals, "Mojo 305," an instrumental which showcases the talents of
this three-piece band, and "Keep On Keeping On," which features a
great Credence Clearwater Revival-style guitar melody broken up by one of
Albert's finest solos yet. That is followed by a cover of T-Bone Walker's
"My Baby Is Now On My Mind," which in less than 4 minutes amply shows
the genius of both T-Bone and Albert's guitar work, which is followed by a cover
of Peter Green's "Could Not Ask for More," with guests Bill
"Mighty" Quinn on piano and an uncredited Sandy Mack on harmonica.
Then comes a wonderful break--Albert on acoustic guitar with Toby Walker on
dobro for "Sweet Southern Angel," a Castiglia original, followed by a
standout cover of Robert Nighthawk's classic "Murderin' Blues." This
is the direction I'd love to see Albert explore further--I already know he is
one of the very top electric guitar players out there, but his guitar touch and
his fine sense of dynamics, along with his remarkable voice, have both improved
so much since 2002 that I think he could do a GREAT acoustic cd. Maybe someday?
The rest of the disc includes a John Lee Hooker cover "Goin'
Upstairs," with Quinn on the Hammond B3, and concludes with two more
Castiglia originals, "Gettin By" and "Closing Time," which
each turn the heat up again with some great electric guitar work.
These two are not just coda to all that has gone on before--they illustrate how
Albert Castiglia is clearly on top of his game. He closes things down with 12
minutes of great guitar work on these 2 songs, and it reminds me of the way
Stevie Ray Vaughan would just spin out these great melodies and riffs like it
was easy for him. Albert is terrific and this is a great cd.
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Cee Cee James - Seriously Raw (Live At Sunbanks)
This
is a terrific disc! It's an old-style live disc that needs to be played loud.
Cee Cee burns the place down with her singing, and the band is great too. Cee
Cee is backed by Chris Leighton on drums with Dan Mohler on bass and Rob "SlideBoy"
Andrews on slide and rhythm guitar and Jason Childs on lead guitar. There's not
a weak second anywhere. It feels almost as through you're hanging out at your
favorite blues club on a hot hot Saturday night, and Cee Cee is singing to expel
the demons and save her life. There's a lot of Janis Joplin in her soulful
growl, but I think on this set Cee Cee does Janis maybe even better than Janis
did. Especially recommended is "I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues."
My favorite live disc, not only of 2010 but maybe of the century so far.
You can buy this disc at ceeceejames.com
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Billy
Lavender - Memphis Livin
On - I-55 Productions
This disc came out in January/February while I in the doldrums and somehow it
got buried under the other stuff on my desk. I overlooked it then, but I have
been enjoying it a lot lately! Billy Lavender brings together an all-star cast
of Memphis' finest musicians and great singing and playing ensues on a batch of
mostly Lavender/Brad Webb originals.
The backbone of the band is Russell Wheeler on Hammond B-3 organ, Brad Webb and
Billy Lavender on guitars, Vince Johnson on harmonica, Dan Cochran on bass and
Tony Adams on drums. If you have read the back of nearly any cd that came out of
Memphis over the past twenty years you have seen these names, and if you have
listened to any cd that came out of Memphis over that same time period you know
these guys can seriously bring the goods. This great band is augmented here by
some great guest talents--Reba Russell sings on three songs, and Blind
Mississippi Morris plays harmonica on one, "Let's Party." The first
four songs set up the rest of the disc--everything starts off with the Rolling
Stones-ish "Singin The Blues" written and sung by Tony Adams. That is
followed by the aforementioned "Let's Party" with strong harp work by
Mr Morris and vocals by Reba Russell. That's followed by "Tonight"
sung by Ken Dinkins and featuring dynamite guitar work by Lavender. Then comes
my favorite tune of the bunch in "Just Chillin," which I have been
listening to back to back four or five times in a row every day for weeks. After
that opening 15 minutes the rest of the cd just flows out seamlessly, just as
together and smooth as butter.
I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall when these sessions took
place--it sounds like it must have been a great time.
You can buy this cd by going to: www.memphislivin.com
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Saturday Night
Mojo - Neighborhood Sweetie
Saturday Night Mojo has made a fine cd that showcases their fun, up-tempo, rocking brand of the blues. These guys have plenty of experience--they used to be The Porkchops, a well-regarded cover band from Cleveland Ohio. Then they began writing their own songs, and in 2002 they evolved into
Saturday Night Mojo.
The band is made up of Ed Durma, (drums and harp) Ray Fisher, (bass) Denny Klisuric, (guitar) and Joe Piete (guitar). The songs are all originals. Things get off to a rocking start with the title track, written by Joe Piete and featuring a great Hendrix styled funky guitar sound. Next up is "Just The Way We Like It," written by Ed Durma, a harp showcase with another great guitar solo and hot drums. This one has potential hit written all over it. Then the Ray Fisher-penned "I Ain't Lying," a barroom blues shuffle that showcases the twin guitar attack. Then Denny Klisuric's song "Fool No More," it starts out rocky but soon is redeemed by a very nice guitar solo. "Boston," written by Joe Piete, is another of those eternal "gotta get back home" blues song. Then a very cool things happens. The rest of the cd just takes off--Ray Fisher's "Nobody Got Dem Blues" and Ed Durma's "Ashtabula Blues" and "Old Black Moe" and "Never Givin' Up," both written by the band, are clearly the highlights--strong harp and guitar songs, great vocals, blues all over the room. And how many bands do you know who have the chops to close their cd with an instrumental? A really good instrumental--"Never Givin' Up" sounds like the Butterfield Blues Band on a good night!
I truly expect these songs to get Saturday Night Mojo plenty of blues radio play. These guys are really very good. They play a variety of styles, they write good songs, they all sing. It's an independent production and that does show--I think the cd could sound a little better, especially in the vocals, with more money spent on production. But the future Iooks bright. I like this cd, and I'm already looking forward to where these guys will go with their next one.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/saturdaynitemojo1
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
The Mojo Roots are a really good 'n hot 4 piece band that hails from Columbia Missouri. They came together in the summer of 2008 and have been playing together since then all around mid-Missouri. Thanks to my friend Chris Puyear I recently came into possession of their EP, five tracks that show a lot of energy and potential.
The members are: Andy
Naugle on drums, Peter Bermudez on bass, Trevor Judkins on lead and slide
guitar, and Jordan Thomas on vocals, harp and guitar. These guys play an
ear-friendly twin guitar and harp blues with a big fat back beat. It sounds like
they have listened to The Bel Airs and learned a lot--the Mojo Roots' sound is
perfectly made for live performances. The songs are all originals, written by
Jordon Thomas--kicking things off is "Green Eyed Baby," a twist on the
jealousy angle--sample lyric: "you better think twice before you chase me,
because it just might get you killed." The next couple of songs are about
different types of addiction: "Can't Quit Cigarettes" and
"Fishnets." The rest of the EP is filled out with "She's Got A
Smile," a love song with some especially fine harmonica playing. Last but
not least is the best song on the EP, "Ain't New To The Blues," sample
lyric "I may be a young man, but I ain't new to the blues." All
together a very fine start indeed. On my next trip to Missouri I want to make
sure I get to catch these guys live. The band is currently unsigned.
Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/themojoroots
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Joe
Price's cd "Rain Or Shine" should be in the hands of every bottleneck
slide guitar blues lover--and every slide guitar blues student, and every blues
lover. This guy lays it down with passion and exuberance and taste. He has been
playing the blues in and around Iowa for over 35 years, beginning with the
Rocket 88s (through 1974) and continuing with Mother Blues (from 1975-1981)
opening shows for Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Koko Taylor and a host of others.
He reminds me of Bernie Pearl and Geoff Achison--really good guitar players who
have paid their dues for years and years despite never getting their props,
players that the national media have never heard of, players who can and do take
the stage and bring the real-deal blues out of a lifetime of experience and give
their listeners a joyous good time with playing that is always new, always old,
but most of all true to life.
Price should be wayyyyy more well known than he is. So what if his singing voice
reminds me a little bit of Leo Kottke? Blues is not about notes, it's about FEEL
and LIFE. On this disc Joe, along with his wife Vicky on vocals and second
guitar, brings old-school blues to clattering, rocking, screeching LIFE, built
around that acoustic and/or resonator guitar slide sound, full of joy and
lament, alternating between instrumentals and vocals. Highlights for me include
the songs "Steel Guitar" and "Blues On Twelve" and
"Beer Tent Boogie Woogie." But my favorite song is the last one,
"Rock Slide," when you actually get to hear what Joe & Vicky can
do working with a band--and Keni Ewing on drums and Al Naylor on trumpet really
add a funky spice to the proceedings. I hope next time out the whole disc is a
full band outing!
It all makes me wonder--why does this guy languish in relative obscurity while
we get a seemingly endless parade of crap singers on the radio?
You can buy Joe Price's cd at http://www.cdbaby/cd/joeprice4
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Bernie Pearl - Old School Blues
I have to thank my friend Chris Puyear for tipping me onto Bernie Pearl. Chris is a DJ at KOPN in Columbia MO--he does the Blues on Broadway show on Saturday nights. He played this great version of a song--"Automobile Blues" which was originally done by Lightnin' Hopkins. l have heard everybody do this song, but I had never heard it so cool and soulful. I called Chris while he was on the air and asked him "Who was that?" We ended up talking for a while & it was Bernie Pearl.
Bernie is not a kid--he has been playing guitar in the Los Angeles area since the 50s. He learned to play hanging out in his brother's club, learning from the greats as they traveled thru--from Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee. Mr Pearl is VERY excellent on both acoustic and electric guitars. He describes this set "Old School Blues" as typical of his live shows recorded live in the studio. There is one disc of acoustic and one disc of electric, and they were recorded earlier this year. By now I hope I have dropped enough hints to get you excited--you need to hear this guy play the blues. The acoustic disc is especially great--Bernie plays "Blues in a Bottle" and "Goin' Down Slow" and "Country Sugar Mama" and "Pawnshop Blues" and they're all great. I think the only acoustic guitar player that compares is the great Doc Watson. This is the way Doc Watson would play blues if he played blues. On the electric disc Pearl plays "Cherry Ball' and the aforementioned "Automobile Blues" and "Crosscut Saw and "Drivin' Wheel" and a bunch of others. It is terrific blues music played with soul and taste and command. This is a worthy disc for every blues-lover's library.
You can find out more about Bernie Pearl, and you can buy his cds, at his website: http://www.berniepearl.com
Bruce Edwards -
Bruces blog
"Let Life Flow" marks Kenny Neal's first cd on Blind Pig Records. It is really good to welcome him back. I've been a fan of Kenny Neal since 1989's "Devil Child." His swampy harp and guitar playing have always sounded good to me. This disc is his first release since he came back from hiatus. In September 2006 Kenny announced he was taking a year off from recording and touring because of an undisclosed illness. He returned to the public eye at the Monterey Blues Festival in June 2007 and the illness was disclosed as Hepatitis C. But let me tell you, he must have gotten himself healed of it--this is the best cd he has ever made.
It is recorded with his regular band--Kenny on vocals, guitar, harp, and lap steel, Lucky Peterson on organ & piano, Frederick Neal on keyboards, Ken Johnson on drums, Darnell Neal on bass, and a crack horn section led by Joe Campbell on trumpet. The vocals are sweet, the guitar is exactly right on the money, the rhythm section keeps everything moving along, the piano and organ sound like they're being channeled from the bordello or from the church--whatever each song requires is right there sounding exactly right. I especially recommend the track "Since I Met You Baby." This Ivory Joe Hunter tune is given the definitive treatment--Kenny Neal does it better than anybody ever has. He sounds more confident, stronger, more soulful than ever. This is one of those cds that should be BLASTING out of every radio station in the USA. It deserves to be a big hit--you should buy five or six copies and give them to your friends.
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
Watermelon
Slim & The Workers - No Paid Holidays
On - Northern Blues
If I were to start this review by saying that this CD was just more of the same from Slim & The Workers you might mis-understand and think that was a bad thing. What I am trying to convey is Watermelon Slim & The Workers latest release is more of the same great roadhouse blues that you expect from Slim & the band. No Paid Holidays has a good selection of ten originals and four covers, all done in Slim's unique style.
The first track, Blues For Howard (Howard Zinn) charges out of the gate with plenty of powerful slide and hard vocals and with some help from David Maxwell on piano, very nice but too short at just over 2 min. Archetypal Blues No 2 steps up the pace, (not that it was needed, but nice) it's classic Slim, hard driving kickin slide blues and powerhouse singing with a short "up close & personal" interlude in the middle where the band quiets down and Slim seems to be almost whispering to you. The whispering message is "the blues is an aching heart disease", then it's back to warp speed. This is one of my personal favorites that Slim and the Workers do well, blazing along at full speed then slowing down for some quiet time then cranking it up again, I like it.
Archetypal Blues No 2 is my #1 favorite track on this CD, it's like being at a revival with Slim in the pulpit preaching the blues, it's powerful stuff.
You might think you know Call My Job, it's been done before by everyone from Detroit Jr to Son Seals but Slim and the Workers did a great job updating this one, it's a different up tempo beat with whole strings of fresh lyrics. There is enough to remind you of the original but with a whole new style to make it Slim's own, lots of nice harp work too.
The band slows down on Dad In The Distance, it's about Slim and his daughter, lots of slow slide with serious real life lyrics. You're The One I Need is another quiet one, it's got a good beat and harp but it's a relaxing sound. Bubba's Blues has a slightly different sound with Leroy Parnell playing slide on this track. I have to admit I can hear the difference but he does a good job playing much like Slim would if he were playing it.
A real surprise on this CD was And When I
Die (remember Blood Sweat & Tears?), Slim does it acoustic/solo, just
him and his harp. I can only describe Into The Sunset as a cowboy blues
style song, then again Slim is a Oklahoma bluesman so I am sure there is a
little cowboy in him somewhere, it's a little different but good. Gearzy's
Boogie is an instrumental cooker with some great work by all. Slim sneaks in
a holler with This Traveling Life, a holler about flying to Australia.
Although not exactly the usual even for Slim you have to like Max The
Baseball Clown, it's another solo/acoustic with Slim and his guitar. You get
a dose of serious international blues on The Bloody Burmese Blues, the
music is great and the lyrics will make you think. I've
Got A Toothache is something a kin to a solo John Lee Hooker tune, just a
beat a guitar and a talking story. If you have ever had one you know what it's
all about.
This album finishes up with a solo acoustic number that will remind you of Slim's Up Close & Personal CD, just him and his guitar. Everybody's Down On Me has that sweet acoustic slide much like Blue Freightliner where his playing mirrors his singing it makes for a nice close to this CD.
Before finishing this review Slim & The Workers came to play the Twilight Fest in my town, as usual they put on a great show. They played a mix of their older and newest songs from this CD and a few others too. As always Slim is quite the entertainer in several ways, if you get a chance to see this band don't pass it up.
Chris Puyear - moblues.org
Nelson
Adelard -
South By Southwest
On - Blue Track Records
Nelson
Adelard's most recent disc is a treat. Nelson was on the West Coast for a number
of years, and he recently relocated from Southern California to Mississippi.
Here he plays harmonica, guitar, piano and sings -- and he does each with an
abundance of energy and joy. The first two cuts here "One More Mile To
Go" and "Rocket 88" were recorded live back in 2006 by the West
Coast Band--Nelson and John Duzik on bass, Uncle Ben Beckley on drums, Mikey Mo
on guitar and Mark Norris on sax--and they set a high standard for the new band
to follow on the rest of the disc. But it soon becomes obvious that moving has
lubricated Adelard's song writing in really good ways. These new songs stick in
your head. And the band--Nelson with Louisiana natives James Slaughter on bass
and Greg Worley on drums--is surely up to the challenge. Nothing is fancy, but
these guys splash love and chops all over this disc. There are songs here from
"I Ain't Gonna Miss LA" which wouldn't sound out of place on a Randy
Newman disc. "Sweet Home In McComb" sounds like Fats Domino, and
"Do What You Do" sounds like Dr John, and "Rock It Right"
sounds like a Memphis-style swing boogie. "Boogie Down The Road" is my
favorite song here, an especially sweet driving song--I'd really love to hear
this on the radio, but it would be hard for me to stay under the speed limit! My
only quibble is I wish there were a few more songs here.
This is a fine disc, and an artist that many people would like. This is
uplifting happy blues music. This disc is on Blue Track Records, and you can buy
this disc from Nelson's website: http://www.nelsenadelard.com
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog
The Delta Wires - Live @ 105
On - Mudslide Records
The DELTA WIRES website starts its description of the band with this: "The DELTA WIRES is a big, high-energy harmonica and horns blues band from the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area. They were Finalists out 100 blues bands from all over the world, in the Blues Foundation's 2008 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis TN, and were voted "BEST BAND" 2008 Oakland/East Bay in Oakland Magazine's annual readers' poll. The DELTA WIRES have recorded 5 CDs, were voted Best Live Band by readers of the East Bay Express in 2002, played the San Francisco Blues Festival in 2008, have appeared at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival 8 times including 2007, headlined the Shasta Blues Society’s Redding Blues by the River Festival in 2005, have played Crescent City Blues Festival, Central Valley Blues Festival, Oakland Blues and Heritage Festival, Napa Valley Mustard Festival, and many others...."
Quite a start, eh? What else do you need to know? Go buy this disc--you're going to love it! When I started listening to Delta Wires' latest cd I heard one tight, hot blues band! They are a 7 piece band: Ernie Pinata on harmonica and lead vocals, Richard Healy on guitar, Tom Gerrits on bass guitar and vocals, Tony Huszar on drums, and a 3 piece horn section: Jim Orsetti and Danny Sandoval on saxophones and Larry Jonutz on trumpet. This disc was recorded at Northern California Blues Festival on June 21, 2008, Fair Oaks California. Things start out strong with Willie Dixon's "Monkee Man." Right out of the box the band is a powerhouse clicking on every cylinder. The disc's sound is an updated Louis Jordon west coast jump blues sound, but I mean that in the most complimentary way. "Monkee Man" is followed by a fine band arrangement of Rice Miller's "Pontiac Blues" and the Chuck Blackwell/Leon Russell song "Big Legged Woman." With each tune I am more and more impressed. Ernie Pinata is a strong singer and harp player, and the band is tight and full. You can tell these guys have spent lots of time together on stage. (They have played together since 1970.)
The more I listened the more I began to think of Delta Wires as a west coast version of the Canadian band Fathead. Maybe they're just a notch below the top echelon of blues talent, but these guys are good at what they do, REALLY GOOD at what they do, and these guys put it all out there when they're on stage. They give good value for time spent with them--especially if you see them live. I notice that this cd is predominately covers, which may be part of why Delta Wires isn't given their due. But then again, aren't most of the songs on the Mannish Boys cds covers too? I like Fathead, and I like Delta Wires, and I liked Omar & the Howlers. A LOT.
Next time you have a hundred mile drive in front of you pick up this Delta Wires disc. It will make a great soundtrack for your next road trip. And you'll find that it will be an enjoyable trip no matter where you might be going.
You can and should buy this disc from the band's website: http://www.deltawires.com/
Bruce Edwards - Bruces blog