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Archive past reviews
5 jan - 2 sept 2000
4 nov 2000 - 5 feb 2001
Buddy Guy
Sweet Tea
Silvertone
Easily his best work since ages, Guy’s Sweet Tea is a controversial record. Shaping the sound on the immense poetry of the last Mississippi Blues masters, Guy betrays his once crystal-clear Chicago approach for a dark Blues, plenty of tension and sorrow, obviously difficult to reproduce in its peculiar essence. In doing that, Guy may appease his chronic lack of ideas and revive his declining status of bluesman. All in all, a missed opportunity for Guy whose supporters may feel a certain discomfort looking back to ancient masterpieces. For the sake of truth, something good remains, especially CeDell Davis’ “She got the devil in her”, a great song in itself, and Spam’s drumming throughout the record.
(L.L.)
Craig Horton
In my Spirit
Bad Daddy records
Unknown to the Blues audience at large, Craig Horton, a talent in his own right, has been working in a number of bands since the early sixties. Through this “In my Spirit” he is trying to find his way with the help of West Coast six-string wonder Rusty Zinn who produces the album. Horton is a musician of substance, with an unspectacular yet possessed fret work, and a very inspired singer. In addition, several originals buttress the retro quality of the sound boiled up by the marvelous work of Zinn’s band and Jim Pough. An outstanding record plenty of personality.
(L.L.)
Kenny “Blue” Ray featuring Jackie Payne
Soulful Blues
Tone King
This is one of the best electric Blues record of the year. No kidding. Kenny “Blue” Ray, underrated Texan guitarist, and soul-blues singer Jackie Payne are a dangerous couple. Blue Ray, an Albert Collins’ disciple, has been trading licks with virtually everybody around and in “Soulful Blues” his no-gimmicks no tricks playing is terribly effective; you could not find a note in excess. Payne has been in the business since the mid-sixties, his voice got power, tone and true emotional depth. The man at the ivories, Audie de Lone, greases the sound and often takes the lead with his Hammond. Likewise, tenor sax aces Cal Green and Rob Sudduth, in addition to a more than solid rhythm section, gives a precious contribution to this wonderful contemporary recording.
(L.L.)
BURNT SUGAR
Blood on the Leaf
(Trugroid)
Superb, slow-burn, acid-jazz-funk-rock-psych voodoo groove mainly instrumental and a simmering treasure. Led by longtime Village Voice writer Greg "Ironman" Tate, who used to run Women in Love. Although I am unfamiliar with most of the crew - the four guitars, piano, synth, violin, two basses, occasional vocals and various percussionists - do a marvelous job of weaving the cosmic, space-jazz-rock groove through the layers of Frippian guitars and mesmerizing inner fires. No distribution as of yet - $14.
(EDP)
JOHN MEDESKI-ROBERT RANDOLPH-NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL-STARS
The Word
(Rope-s-Dope 93046)
Burnin', bluesy and funky gospel tunes pushed hard to their limits. Robert Randolph plays pedal steel guitar and is only 22, but is one of the heroes of Arhoolie's 'Sacred Steel' compilations that have been knocking out steel guitar fans for the past few years. The North Mississippi All-Stars include Luther & Cody Dickinson (sons of Jim - the great southern producer and pianist) on guitar and drums with Chris Chew on el. bass. John Medeski, from Emergency and MM&W, plays wicked & greasy organ throughout! Somewhat like Little Feat or the Meters, this shit kicks hard! $16.
(EDP)
MEL BROWN & THE HOMEWRECKERS
Homewreckin' Done Live
(Electro-Fi 3370)
Mel Brown is sort of the missing link between Jimi Hendrix and another master of jazz/blues/funk/rock guitar. He recorded five pretty amazing records in the early to mid 70's for Bluesway which remain sadly out-of-print and which blurred the lines between blues/jazz with some wah-wah psych/funk as well. I believe this is only his third release since then and it is surely grand to hear that burnin' funky blues geetar once more! $14
(EDP)
Curtis Salgado
Souls Activated
Shanachie 9028 - 2001-05-14
Blue-eyed singer and harp player Salgado's curriculum vitae includes years of experience with Robert Cray, Roomful of Blues, Steve Miller, Otis Grand
and a solo career marked by five albums. For his last effort, "Soul Activated", he called in some friends like guitar wonders John Wedemayer, Jimmy Vaughan and Llyod Jones in addition to Ann Lou Burton in one track.
"Soul Activated" starts with the power of a thunder: "Old enough to know better" and Leon Russel's "I'd rather be blind" storm the house, but the commercial nature of other songs like "Portable Man", "Summertime Life" and "I sleep with the TV on" make the album money-oriented, a product good for FM stations, not for seriously engaged soul-blues heads. The reggae of "The harder they come" and "Funny Man" complete this smorgasboard of styles. All in all, "Soul Activated" misses any target. The passionate urgency of Salgado's singing, his decent harmonica work in "Lip Whippin", coupled by Llyod's gutsy guitar, would have deserved more. Salgado may look for further inspiration from the consistent activity of a number of successful soulmen like Joe Louis Walker, Mighty Sam McLaine etc. (Luca Lupoli)
Otis Rush
Good'un's - The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958
Westside 2000
You have probably seen an advertisement about "The Essential Otis Rush - The Classic Cobra Recordings 1956-1958 - The only authorised collection". On the cover of "Good'un's" there is Otis Rush in action with his unmistakable
Epiphone, while on the cover of "The essential Otis Rush &Mac183;the only authorised collection", our man smiles at the camera hugging a Fender Stratocaster. In addition, Paule Records issued a similar record a few years ago. This means that you have three albums the contents of which might be basically the same: unfortunately this problem is quite common with re-editions and customers happen to be seriously confused and ultimately penalised. Moreover, I sincerely doubt that many re-editions of the same recordings are actually welcome as CDs are expensive and customers' passion, not to mention their finances, should be respected. Now let's go back to the music with this excellent "Good'un's" which could easily overshadow any other recording of the then twenty-seven years old Blues star Otis Rush. In this twenty four tracks album, including seven alternates takes, either Rush's original compositions or Willie Dixon's major hits, Rush's singing is absolutely magnificent while, bearing in mind his young age, his blistering guitar work may occasionally sound a bit raw. Cruising through Dixon's immortal "I can't quit you baby" and "My love will never die", enlightened by an unique vocal effort, through Rush's "three time a fool", "Double trouble", one can easily understand the reason why, in spite of many years of oblivion, Rush remains, ad honorem, at the highest rank of the Blues Heaven. Dixon, Little Walter, Walter Horton, Red Holloway, Lafayette Leake, L.B. Montgomery, Louis Myers, Odie Payne and other giants provided stellar backing.(Luca Lupoli)
J:T.Lauritsen & the buckshot hunters
Make a better world
BMG 74321856702
"Make a better world" second album (as far as the reviewer knows about...) by Norvegian J.T: Lauritsen and his band, The Buckshot Hunters, is a AOR friendly oriented Blues album with 90 % of original compositions well rounded on the J.T.'s personality, with a touch of swamp and zydeco here and there. There is nothing out of place in this good good album and let me tell the turth!:this is the real shame of it! Everything is quite perfect, everything is at its own place here where it ought to be; from the background vocals in the opening tune"Me & My Babe ", to the uptempo flavor in "i'm guess i'm tired" or the skillfull arrangements on "i hope she knows" where old school 's tricks from sixties' deep soul music patterns are exercised with frugality and style by the ensemble.
I suppose much of this joy and pleasure is up to Atle Rakvag, producer and bass player in the band who make the effort sounding (too) polished and pleasant to everybody's ears.teh album stand any comparison and this is the good news for any blues lover but i really hope next recording of this good band would be held down in Louisiana, please!!!
Ernesto De Pascale
David Clayton & Todd K.Smith
Free,Heavy Load
(Moonshine Publishing)
A fantastic book written by fans for fans but not only. “Free-Heavy Load”is an inseghtful piece of U.K.’s history in rock music about a very good band, with a sad story, guitar player Paul Kossoff’s one, to be told. Defined by Island’s muso Chris Blackwell as “The most powerful unit”,Free were unbeatable on stage and with a strong compores’ skill. Welle researched and documented with unseen photos and gig listing, this book is unmissable.
David Clayton
99 Graylands Road, Bilborough, Nottingham, England, U.K. NG8 4FF
Alexis Hightower
Lucy’s blues demo
Alexis is a pure joy to hear! I discovered her just by chance at the Jazz Gallery in New York City. To tell the whole story on that same evening i had ticket for The Rocket from the Crypt’s show at The Bowery Ballroom that i had to review for an italian magazine but some source of natural instict told me to follow my good friend Garon Peterson downtown for this “ununnounced-anywhere-else-but-word-of –mouth” showcase.Garon is a coll cat and has big open ears,he can tell you no wrong. No wonder that Mrs Hightower is a young gifeted black singer and composer with a good knowledge of the black musical tradition and a strong sense of contemporariety.This cd includes some great original songs as the opening one”Que Sera Sera Sera”and a evident musical personality. Keep her name in mind and spread the word around. You firts heard about her on
Ernie Hawkins
Bluesified
A great acoustic cd by Maria Muldaur’s sideman, Ernie Hawkins, a man with deep respect for the history of the acoustic blues, “Bluesified” is a good starter and the best way to know his musical tastes.
The cd show how much the acoustic blues is back on the track. An helpful effort for those who trust to roots blues.
Aa.Vv
Epiphany projetc 003
Adel’s puro malto
Wild wild live ADSR 006
Babbo & l’altra birra demo
Be Bop Boys
Mexico demo zampaleo records 003
Bo’ & The Trippers
live demo Guitarbo@xplanet.it
Boppin’Shoes
Live in Monza demo
Brian Gitkin
Delta blues demo
Den
Non solo sogni demo
J.Sintoni and the blues tribe demo
Los Blancos (Syracuse N.Y) demo
Lou and the blue’s
Good time for the blues demo
Ole Ask
Turning point NARNIAN RECORDS 9906-2
Ollie Watkins
Used to keep me worried FEDORA 5025
Sandro Morini
This’s my way to say...I pray PLANET SOUND JR0015
Sonny Black and the dukes
Heart and soul BLUETRACK RECORDS BRCDOO4
Stacy Mitch Hart
What I feel DSR004
Texas special blues band demo
Thor & The Thundercats
Diggin it! BLUESTONE TT-002
MARK SELBY
More Storms Comin'
Vanguard 2000
Better known as songwriter for Kenny Wayne Sheperd, guitarman and singer Selby delivers an outstanding efforts in the purest rock tradition appropriately contaminated by the blues. Delta ghosts walk together with spices of Tony Joe White, Delbert Mc Clinton and Rolling Stones, played with great easiness and mancraftship. "Don't you throw that mojo on me" is the convincing opening where Selby, who wrote or co-wrote all songs, shows the most consistent feature of the album: the use of the slide guitar.
Enveloped in a cool digi-pack, songs like "You're gonna miss my love", "Smoked" with the unforgettable Kim Carnes and the Mississippi-flavoured slow numbers "More storms comin'" and "Down by the tracks" disclose a bit of true genius in this young fellow. Rock punch in "Blind since birth" and
"Satisfied" may increase positive feelings. Two heavy-weights of the rock American scene, Chuck Fields on drums and Reese Wynans on keyboards are helping Selby to look foward to fame and success, in addition to more storms comin'… (Luca Lupoli)
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Been a long time
(tone cool)
Tommy Shannon & Chris Layton were SRV’s rythm section, The double Trouble, in other words, and they are back in business with a strong album which is more rooted in a classic rock & roll mood than a in blues one. Doyle Bramhall II ‘s "Say One Thing" is my favorite selection from the album as well Susan Tedeschi’s rendition of Led Zeppelin‘s classic, "Rock & Roll". Double Trouble pays a tribute to Muddy Waters ("She’s all Right") but if you are looking for a real blues deal go looking somewhere else. This album will be dear to all Steve Ray Vaughan ‘s fans and to a newer generation of young guitar slinger and — maybe, we hope so- it will stimulate somebody to go searching for the real McKinley Morganfield.
www.doubletroublemusic.com
www.srvdoubletrouble.com
THE HOLMES BROTHERS
Speaking in tongues
(Alligator)
Ben Harper helped shaing the new Holmes brothers effort with 3 original composition but are Bod Dylan’s "Man of Peace" and good ol’ Gamble/Huff’s "Love Train" the best selection of this conving new album by the three brothers. The quality of thier efforts is high as ever and this album deserves a wider audience. Those of you who has a radio show on air somewhere in the world better take note!
www.alligator.comHUGO RACE & TRUE SPIRITS
Long Time Ago
(Glitterhouse)
The dark side of the blues from one of the loneliest man on Earth, just seen in the Nick cave ‘s band. Don’t miss this colection if you are looking for something unusual and if "murders, money, motels and madness"are your cup of tea.
ANDRE WILLIAMS
Is the black Godfather
(In the red)
Being the Black Godfather, ex Detroit barber and pimp Andre Williams, he feels free to do what he wants. In this new album, deeply rooted in blues (Andree sang blues and recorded blues in the fifties)
Is backed up by some of the hootest rock & roll band on the contemporary US scsene as The Jon Spencer blues explosion, The Countdowns, Complusive Gamblers, The dirtbombs, Cheater Slick, The Oblivians. Simple songs, just one object of desire (the never out of style pussy) and a power never seen so often embodied in a 70 years old man. But this is Andre…
In the red records, 2627 E.Strong Pl, Anahaeim, CA 92806
OLLIE WATKINS
Used to keep me worried
(Fedora)
Chris Millar’s fedora records introduces us the blues world of Mr. Ollie Watkins,born early’30 and never heard of outside the Fresno area by nobodyMillar included.Imagine LI’Son Jackson or Blind Lemon Jefferson but with a harsher approach. A genuine and uaffected artist, Ollie watkins recollects his memoirs back and forth all through the cd. A man from a bygone era and a welcomed release for blues fans all around the world.
www.jazzdepot.comCALEXICO
Aereocalexico 2001
(private pressing)
Gorgeous music, lush sounds and a band to go after. Echoes of Ennio Morricone, surf music, torch songs, Great American Cosmi music and a touch of genius from the Burns brothers and John Convertino (from Giant Sand). "Aereocalexico" is a collection of demo and unfinished songs but is even more intimate and personal thantheir official release. The cd is sold exclusively at their concert or through their fan club.
Go looking for it, you won’t be disappointed!
2509 N.Campbell Ave.# 335, Tucson, Az 85719
GREATEFUL DEAD
Ladies & gentlemen, the Grateful Dead, Fillmore east, N.Y.C., April 1971
(Arista)
A 4 cd set by Jerry Garcia and his mates.No frills but plain rock & roll and a coerence second to no one. The group is at their peak and the improvisations are very well rounded. The music flows and the vibes is strongly positive. Among the many live issues of the last few years, this the one to have.
SETH YACOVONE
Dannemore
(private)
The next big thing ? From this live outfit it is hard to tell if young Seth will be remembered as guitar hero or just another name on the great book of rock & roll. The trio jells and rolls on trough some long form jams which deserve to get into them more than listen to.
www.sethyac.comSPENCER DAVIS GROUP
Mojo rhythms & midnight blues, vol 1 & 2
(RPM)
One of the first great band of Rythm & Blues to appear on the British ground, the Spencer Davis Group with the 16 years old Stevie Winwood on piano and vocals were the real thing for 3 solid years (1965-1967) untile the demise of Stevie (he went forming Traffic, a band which deserves to be reconsidered in full). In that short period of time Winwood and mates (his brother Muff, now executive at Sony UK, Spencer Davis and Pete York on drums) were a driving force of the Rythm & blues movement which exploded mainly in Soho, London with bands as Animals, Them, coming from north, or Rolling Stones. "Mojo Rythms & Midnight Blues" (2 volumes) documents their career from the beginning all through the line up changes (Ray Fenwick and Eddie Hardin took the place of the Winwood brothers) with live recordings from the era. The skills of the Spencer Davis Group are easy to understand and the killer performances of the band are an evident sign of their won musical capabilities.
www.rpmrecords.co.uk
NICOLA ARIGLIANO
Go, Man!
(Nun/edel)
HENRY SALVADOR
Chambre avec Vue
(Virgin France)
Two of the most classy jazz singer of today and yesterday - the italian is 77 years old, the french one is merely 84 years old - at their best with great songs,(original ones and not original), great musicians and a natural sense of humour which makes these two album unique and their presence on the scene a rare gift to today’s music.
JARED BOOTY
Better Days
(private)
Guitar player and singer from the New York area, Booty eplores different music boudaries with a collection of eleven original songs. IN "Better Days", Jared Booty show a musicianship and a skill not common in today music world. The man played with many great names as Al Green, Cecil Womack, Rufus Thomas, Terence Trent D’Arby, Groove Collective to name them a few. The music is reminiscing Lenny Kravitz here and then but with a looser feeling and no obligations to top ten charts!. Jared Booty is clearly looking for his own way as composer and the main aim of this project is make the word about him spread around. I hope this small review might help him in any way. At the very end of the cd he plays a short finale (just flute and drums — overdubbed ?. who knows…) and even if it might be considered as a joke is a pretty one and i like what cmes out of it. Bravo!
MARK SELBY
More Storms Comin'
Vanguard 2000
Better known as songwriter for Kenny Wayne Sheperd, guitarman and singer Selby delivers an outstanding efforts in the purest rock tradition appropriately contaminated by the blues. Delta ghosts walk together with spices of Tony Joe White, Delbert Mc Clinton and Rolling Stones, played with great easiness and mancraftship. "Don't you throw that mojo on me" is the convincing opening where Selby, who wrote or co-wrote all songs, shows the most consistent feature of the album: the use of the slide guitar.
Enveloped in a cool digi-pack, songs like "You're gonna miss my love", "Smoked" with the unforgettable Kim Carnes and the Mississippi-flavoured slow numbers "More storms comin'" and "Down by the tracks" disclose a bit of true genius in this young fellow. Rock punch in "Blind since birth" and "Satisfied" may increase positive feelings. Two heavy-weights of the rock American scene, Chuck Fields on drums and Reese Wynans on keyboards are helping Selby to look foward to fame and success, in addition to more storms
comin'…
(Luca Lupoli)
