Chris James and Patrick Rynn - Gonna Boogie Anyway
(Earwing Records)
(USA , 2011)

The first time PDB saw these two guys – momentarily deprived of their instruments – we thought they were a mathematics professor and a taxi driver – very ordinary and genuine people. After their concert, we were persuaded that this duo is playing some of the best Chicago Blues you can find around today. Gonna Boogie Anyway is the proof that we were not wrong.

Blues has never been so popular world-wide before. This is a compelling period of transition in which one can find new trends and musicians who keep the flame of the Blues high. San Diego-based vocalist/guitarist Chris James and bassist Patrick Rynn belong to the latter group. PDB had praised their previous effort - Blues Music Award-nominated Earwig debut, “Stop And Think About It” - as one of the best traditional Chicago Blues records of the past decade. This “Gonna Boogie Anyway” is not different: it is an excellent record augmented by a number of terrific musicians: Bob Corritore and Rob Stone on harp, the legendary Henry Gray and Dave Maxwell on piano, Jonny Viau on sax and one of the monument of Blues drumming, Mr. Sam Lay in person. The remaining are outstanding musicians as well. Twelve tracks mostly include untreated Chicago and Delta styles, and a few unplugged selections. James and Rynn wrote all original material, but four classics from by Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, and Robert Lockwood, Jr. The most amazing thing is that Chris James and Patrick Rynn are playing in a natural and effortlessly way like they born and raised up in Chicago a century ago. Everything sounds real but not perfect and consequently a bit artificial. Should we single out a specific high point of this CD, we would say that James’ singing has remarkably improved and its timing is terribly good (Money don’t like me and You can’t trust nobody). “H.M. Stomp” and “Can’t stand to see you go” see a juicy harp duel by Corritore and Stone, who repeats himself in the unplugged “The tables have turned”. Jonny Viau marks “Money don’t like me part 2” with a raw saxophone solo followed by a terrific guitar attack by James. In conclusion, Gonna Boogie Anyway merits five stars and a special mention for its quality. We are eager to watch these artists again playing some fine Chicago Blues.

Luca Lupoli