New Blues & Soul News – 11/21/2017
New Blues & Soul News – 11/21/2017
New Blues:
Backtrack Blues Band – Make My Home In Florida (Harpo): Veteran blues band based in Tampa Bay offers their seventh release. They have a classic blues sound featuring Sonny Charles (lead vocals, harmonica) as the center piece, Kid Royal (lead guitar, lead vocals on two songs), Little Johnny Walter (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Joe Bencomo (drums) and Stick Davis (bass). This is a solid roadhouse blues band centered on the sounds of the fifties and sixties. They cover songs like “Checkin’ On My Baby” (Sonny Boy Williamson), “Woke Up This Morning” (B.B. King), and “T-Bone Shuffle” (T-Bone Walker) and also offer four originals based on the same style. The group would no doubt be terrific live based on the evidence of this live disc. This is blues with a feeling for the Chicago style without the heavy rock influence so many of today’s bands offer. You can certainly cook your fish in this kettle! Click here to listen to a sample performance from this disc.
Albert Cummings – Live at The ’62 Center (Ivy Music): Veteran blues rocker Albert Cummings offers his first live disc and his eighth altogether and he kicks things off right from the start and barely lets up until the end of the set. Cummings was deeply influenced by the style and artistry of Stevie Ray Vaughan and even though he is not a mimic, anyone who ever heard Vaughan would not miss the significance of that influence. There are two covers in this set, but they are “It Hurts Me Too” (Tampa Red) and “Midnight Rider” (credited to Dickie Betts? instead of Gregg Allman?). Everything else is original. Cummings has a full voice and plays terrifically throughout the set. Backing players include Warren Grant (drums), Yanko Valdes (bass), Pete Levin (keys) and Kit Holiday and Lydia Harrell (backing vocals). A solid performance. Click here for an introduction to this disc.
Andrea Marr – Natural (Self-produced): Australian soul singer and songwriter Andrea Marr presents her first disc which includes ten originals and a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady”. While the music certainly contains strong elements of the Soul of the 60’s and 70’s, it also has its own flavor. There’s a clear shade of rock’n’soul, just enough to honor both. Marr has a strong voice, but she’s not a screamer or shouter. The backing musicians include Dave Reynolds (guitar), Rob Little (bass), Roby Corelli (drums), Sean Rankin (trumpet), Stuart Byrne (bari sax), Jeff Mead (tenor sax) and Cameron Fallaw (Hammond organ). This is a very solid release, recommended to any soul fans. The chemistry is just right. Click here to listen to the opening track.
Peter Parcek – Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (Self-produced): Singer/Guitarist Peter Parcek has been playing blues for many years and developing his own style, whether playing a blues standard or performing his own compositions. Parcek has a somewhat raspy and melodic talking/singing style and plays “soul guitar”, a result of playing with blues masters like Pinetops Perkins and in the regional blues band, Nine Below Zero. This disc features mostly original compositions, with a few covers of songs like Peter Green’s “World Keep On Turning” and Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean”. A central strength of his performance is arranging older songs in order to make them “new” while creating the musical atmosphere they had. Parcek is backed up by a constantly shifting set of musicians: Marco Giovino (drums, percussion, loops), Luther Dickinson (guitar), Spooner Oldham (keys), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Dennis Crouch, Dominc John Davis, Marc Hickox and Joe Klompus (trading off on bass), Russ Pahl (pedal steel, mouth harp), Andy Santospago (lap steel), Deanie Richardson and Jeremy Van Cleave (violins), John Jackson (electric mandolin) and the McCrary Sisters (vocals). This again supports the range and variety of the recording. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
New Soul:
Bootsy Collins – World Wide Funk (Mascot): Bootsy Collins is back with a bunch of old friends and funkin’ competitors that clearly celebrate the possibilities and realities of world wide funk! Who’s at the party? Doug E. Fresh, Buckethead, Alissia Benveniste, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Mandu Callo, Dru Down, Blvckseeds, Mr. Talkbox, Tyshawn Colquitt, Musiq Soulchild, Bid Daddy Kane, MC Eiht, X-Zact, Kali Uchis & World-Wide-Funkdrive, Snowbunny, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Bernie Worrell, Justin Johnston, and Eric Gales! AND they are ALL looking to party with Bootsy and you, of course. Not hip to this style? Well, slide right in! It is world wide thang after all! A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here for just one slice!
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
