New Blues News – 12/17/2019
New Blues News – 12/17/2019
11 Guys Quartet – Small Blues And Grooves (VizzTone): “They released “Hot Time In The City Tonight” in 1985, the first record on the fledgling Tone-Cool Records imprint, and went on to play together off and on for the next few decades. They all stayed busy with other pursuits, musical and otherwise, but their unique musical chemistry and friendship kept bringing the “11 Guys” back to their original quartet. Around 2008 they decided to go into the studio to record some original instrumentals – straight-ahead, unadorned live takes, mood pieces and variations – nothing screaming, all self-contained and, well… small. After considering the possibilities for another decade or so, they decided it was time to release this music to the world as “11 Guys Quartet – Small Blues and Grooves.” (https://www.vizztone.com/2019/11/04/11-guys-quartet-arrives/) The band members are Billy Mather (bass), Paul Lenart (guitar), Chuck Purro (drums) and Richard Rosenblatt (harmonica). It’s definitely blues on the middle to laid-back side with no vocals. I regret I am unable to find any samples from this disc.
Jay Gordon’s Blues Venom – Slide Rules! (Self-produced): “Jay Gordon grew up in Chicago, the center of the blues world. Throughout his career, Jay Gordon has become famous for his slashing guitar solos, his passionate vocals, and his dedication to the blues.… his inspirations have included Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan….” (http://www.bluesvenom.com/who_is_jay_gordon/) On this disc, his guitar is the centerpiece and he plays like armageddon in high gear. There are few forces on earth that can match his guitar. This is his fifteenth release. Click here and scroll down to listen to the songs on this disc.
Rae Gordon Band – Wrong Kind Of Love (Self-produced): “Wrong Kind Of Love, the Rae Gordon Band’s follow-up to 2017’s award-winning Better Than I Was, offers up ten original blues-soul songs produced by Kivett Bednar and engineered and mixed by Jimi Bott at his studio Roseleaf Recording. The CD covers a wide gamut of styles, from lowdown barroom blues to dance-worthy funk, from heart-tugging soul ballad to slide-drenched rage rocker, from minor-key blues angst to uplifting soul anthem. The recording features the regular members of the 7-piece Rae Gordon Band: Rae on lead vocals, Kivett Bednar on guitar & vocals, Pat McDougall on keyboards & vocals, Ed Pierce on drums, Joseph Conrad on bass, Allan Kalik on trumpet & horn arrangements, and Scott Franklin on saxophone. Six songs were written by Pat McDougall, three co-written by Rae and Pat, and one by Portland guitarist Rod Furlott.” (https://raegordon.com/press-kit) Gordan has a large voice but she’s not a shouter or screamer. She is full of fire in her own way – sometimes reminiscent Bessie Smith with an extra cup of sass. This is a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of top three songs on the disc.
Jack Mack & The Heart Attack – Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta (Free Roll): Jack Mack & The Heart Attack are back and this live gig is an attempt to return a fantastic performance back to the spirit the musicians intended it to be. The band included Andrwe Kastner (guitar, vocal), Bill Bergman (tenor sax, vocals), John Paruolo (Hammond B3, vocal), Lester Lovitt (trumpet, vocal), Tim Scott (bass, vocals), TC Moses (lead vocals) and Alvino Bennett (drums) with guest singers Mark Campbell and Carlos Murgula. The songs ranged from “More Soul” and “Breakin’ Down The Walls” to “I’ll Take You There”, “Respect Yourself”, “Sex Machine” and “Take Me To The River”. “As the band closed their set and performed their original tune, “I Walked Alone” in the early morning of 27 July, a pipe bomb exploded in very close proximity to the stage directly killing 1 person and injuring 111.”(https://www.jackmack.com/press) Hopefully, this release will remind us of the power of love, even in the face of hideous stupidity, hatred and ignorance. It’s a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of the music from this concert before the terrible this terrible incident.
Popa Chubby – It’s A Mighty Hard Road (Self-produced): Popa Chubby sends out his thirtieth disc offering 13 original songs and two covers. Thirty years of rocking blues have seen him really loud and yet this set seems a tiny bit mellower than many of the earlier ones. In fact, I would offer that this disc is one of the best he has done. Born Ted Horowitz, Popa Chubby has covered a lot of ground. He plays guitar, drums, harmonica, bass, keys and sings. He composes the vast number of song he has performed. Backing players are Dave Keyes (piano, organ), Steve Holley and Don Castagne (trading off on drums, and Brett Bass and V.D. King play bass. Click here to see a live version of the title song.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
