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Bernard Allison: Keepin'
The Blues Alive Sonic Quality = 4 For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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The son of Luther Allison, Bernard Allison has
certainly come into his own with this album. No grabbing onto dad's fame
here, Bernard has been in training for his whole life to be a blues
player. Stints with Koko Taylor's Blues Machine and Willie Dixon's band
have brought a maturity to both Bernard's vocal and guitar skills.
Highlights of the CD include some great harp playing by Matthew Skoller
on "Baby Chile" and "Rocket 88", some righteous
Hammond B-3 sounds from the hands of Ron Levy, and a solid rhythm
section with Ray Allison on drums and Greg Rzab on bass (both currently
serve as the foundation of Buddy Guy's band). Although Bernard isn't a
"blazing" guitarist, he has a classic style, plays some mean
licks, and really stands out on the slidework that he does on the album.
His vocals add punch and feeling to a great compilation of blues songs,
most composed by Bernard. This CD is recommended for those who like
electric blues.
Reviewer: Brian Scherzer |
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Johnnie Bassett
& The Blues Insurgents: Party My
Blues Away Sonic Quality = 4+ For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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| Johnnie
Bassett & The Blues Insurgents are no one-man band. This is a tight
ensemble with loads of talent at every instrument. Party My Blues Away
is not a CD that highlights a flashy guitarslinger. Rather, it is an
album that shows the various musicians off, yet keeps a groove that is
consistent throughout the record. Johnnie Bassett sings, plays guitar,
and even blows a mean harp.....all in a very traditional style. The horn
section is great and is present on most of the album. The sax really
sets the mood on the tune "Kissin' Me Goodbye". Chris Codish's
Hammond B-3 fits in perfectly without being distracting, and guest
pianist Bill Heid puts some ivory magic into the tune "Wonderin'
Blues". The synergy of The Blues Insurgents, along with the fine
engineering job, kept me glued to this CD throughout my review session
without ever feeling like I needed to skip a cut or fast-forward through
a song. A real listening pleasure and recommended for those who love
blues with horns and minus a blazing guitarist.
Reviewer: Brian Scherzer |
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Tommy Castro: Right
As Rain Sonic Quality = 4 For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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Tommy Castro's third release on
Blind Pig Records is an absolute winner from beginning to end. His style falls
somewhere in the "Blues meets Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels"
genre of blues-rock. Castro is probably best known for his guitar playing, but this album
features much more than that. The vocals are a knock out, with Castro's voice
proving itself to be an instrument unto itself. Of course, the guitar playing
continues to shine also. The band is as tight as a band can be (and they're that
way live!). There are plenty of albums out with good guitar and
vocals. What sets this gem apart is the quality of the songs.....lots of emotion
and fun with a real swing to it. This CD is very highly recommended and should
please fans of electric blues!
Reviewer: Brian Scherzer |
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Jimmy Hall: Rendezvous With The Blues Sonic Quality = 4 For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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| Some of you may remember Jimmy Hall from his days as the frontman for Wet Willie. His appearance on this CD is a totally different happening.....and a happening it is! I'll start the review off by stating that this is my favorite blues album, even though it was released three years ago. Jimmy's voice has matured and his vocal pace on these songs is simply spectacular. Not only does he sing, but Jimmy plays a super blues harp and even pulls out the sax for some added dimension to his performance. As great as Jimmy is, many of you will find that the real story on this CD is Jack Pearson playing guitar. Jack is a Nashville bluesman who, most recently, played a stint as the Allman Brothers replacement for guitarist Warren Haynes. Jack's playing on the album just absolutely smokes! His tone is incredible, his licks just bursting with feeling, and the impact of his playing lends a real tempo to the music. His solo in "A Change Is Gonna Come" is one of the most tasteful I've heard in a long time.....it literally brought a lump to my throat and gave me a chill. This album has some great songs on it, starting with tunes like "That's The Truth" and "Twenty-Nine Ways", that will pull you up out of your seat. The slide guitar work on some of these numbers is a "how to" experience. I couldn't recommend this CD more highly! |
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Jimmy "T99" Nelson:
Rockin'
And Shoutin' The Blues Sonic Quality = 5 For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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| Make
no mistake about it....this album is about Johnny "T99" Nelson
and his incredible voice. With an eight piece band backing him up,
Nelson's singing brings up images of Bourbon Street and good times. That
may sound strange to say about a blues album, but this CD is not strict
blues. There is an element of the old big bands, a solid horn section,
some great piano, and I even think I detected a bit of Randy Newman
influence on "I'll Miss Show Business". It would be fair to
categorize Nelson as a crooner in every sense of the word. This is a
"feel good" album from beginning to end and it makes you want
to snuggle up next to a loved one by a flickering fireplace, especially
listening to "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying". The total
package is one of a bygone era, ballrooms, jump music, and Saturday
night dances looking into the eyes of a loved one. This CD is certainly
not a classic blues album in the true sense of that term......but it is
a great CD that contains enough blues to qualify for this review. Johnny
Nelson is an undiscovered treasure. Most highly recommended for
listeners who want something different!
Reviewer: Brian Scherzer |
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ZZ Top: XXX Sonic Quality = 3 For CD samples or to purchase, click on the CDNOW Box:
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| ZZ
Top's newest CD, XXX, is much like their last CD....lots of
distorted guitar, fairly slow pace, and little originality. This is a
band I have loved since they formed, but it seems like the flame has
died. Billy Gibbons appears to have given up the concept of tone,
choosing instead to see how gritty he can make his guitar sound. The
biting riffs that highlighted some great ZZ Top albums in the past are,
for the most part, missing in action on this CD. Is it really
bad? If you loved the old stuff, this album won't rock your boat.
However, if you love guitar with oodles of fuzz and are into the
mystique of the bearded ones, XXX might just be the ticket. Not
recommended unless you're a faithful fan of this band.
Reviewer: Brian Scherzer |