May
2002
Susie Arioli Swing BandPennies from Heaven Justin Time JUST 181
The first CD, It's Wonderful, saw three different label incarnations and it's been some time since that first one on her manager's own. So to say that this one is eagerly anticipated is a serious understatement. That CD generated so much work and media attention that it would have been daring indeed to tamper with the sound and they have not. What they have done is grown into it, incorporating a couple of blues songs into their neo-Tin Pan Alley blend. We were treated to those two songs at the last Women's Blues Review, "Sit Down Baby" by Otis Rush from his Cobra days and "Having Fun" by Memphis Slim from his Premium/Chess recordings originally from the late forties. The Rush is also a throwback to that sophisticated period in that it owes a great deal to Willie Dixon's Big Three Trio, about as far from his gritty, electric West Side blues as possible. It didn't sound quite so different backed by the WBR band as it does here, with Jordan Officer leading the band on the hollow body electric guitar. The band on most of the songs is Michael Jerome Browne on acoustic guitar, Solon McDade, upright bass and Arioli on her trademark snare. Jeff Healey takes over on acoustic guitar on "Having Fun". This instrumental combination is essential to the blend, as imposed categories seem to melt away. One wonderful addition is stride pianist Ralph Sutton, whom they caught at the Montreal Bistro on one of their visits here and asked to record. He contributed mightily to Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" and to Officer's driving "Walter's Flat". This was to be his last recording session and he passed away shortly afterwards, the CD is dedicated to him. Officer continues to mine the T-Bone Walker/Charlie Christian style and is consistently inventive throughout. Arioli's vocals are a treat, warm and intimate, and she gets to show her power on the closer, "No Regrets". A fine second album indeed and I hope you get a chance to hear them live.
Georgette
Fry & The B-Side Blues Band
Let Me Drive Spare Rib SRR004
The title song is one she's been performing
for some time and has just now gotten around the recording. If memory serves,
it has slowed down considerably since I heard it first at a Women's Blues
Review a few years ago. But no matter, this declaration of equal rights (and
frustration) is a fine choice as a title of the mostly original songs for
first half of her third release. The press kit says she started writing more
because she ran out of other people's songs that she wanted to do. I'm tempted
to write that I wish this had happened earlier, so good are her songs. Fry has
a very good sense of what she can do with her wonderful voice and her songs,
with their effective lyrics, are much stronger for it. With sensitive and
inventive contributions from the B-Side Band, it's too bad there weren't
enough originals for the full CD. It seems she likes to cover songs that are
rather more literate than her own and it creates a jarring effect, as if one
were listening to separate albums. It seems to have affected her too as only Bill
Carter's "The Richest One" gets a memorable performance. The
B-Side Blues Band are Cam Schaefer, keyboards; Gerry (Dirt) Clancy,
drums; Zak Colbert, bass and Jim Preston, guitar with guests Pete
Pereira & Scot Mulligan, saxes and Ken Hall, Hammond
organ. Georgette Fry & The B-Side Blues Band will debut the
album at the Silver Dollar on May 25.
Mocking Shadows Long Way
Mocking Shadows 623667-204699/Festival
"The Mockers" are a seven-piece horn band from Calgary and this is their third CD. They are much closer to being a revue than a blues band but they are very good players indeed. There are eleven original songs here, covering styles such as ska, soul, R&B and jazz fusion although most of the songs are in the Tower of Power vein. Guitarist Rod Phillips, one of three excellent lead singers, says in the press kit they all come from different backgrounds and will play any kind of music. On Long Way, readers here might like "Never Meant", "I Can't Tell You" and "Loose Lips". They are opening for B.B. King on his eastern Canada tour, so many of you will see this band. You will get a good show before the main show. There's more at www.MockingShadows.ca.
Jimmy Thompson
She's A Snake In The Grass Fox Lake 2001
Veteran Aurora guitarist/singer Thompson has his own studio and has used it to carefully craft the sound he wanted. He uses the words "honest, raw, restless and powerful" and it certainly is all that. Thompson has a raw, gruff voice with an extremely limited range but he stays within it and Laura Lee Montgomerie & Lori Gottfried provide some welcome variety with their backup vocals. The band with Thompson consists of Michael Fonfara on B3, Wes Miller, bass, Freddy Duvall or David Mitchell, drums with Tortoise Blue on occasional harp. The fifteen songs are all Thompson originals with "What Ya Gonna Do" and the "Green Onions"-styled "You Know I Love You" standing out musically. It's not clear to me if these songs get performed outside the studio but I'm sure that if they were, it would be a loud show. This in fact reminded me of my Blue Cheer LP. It's available by calling or faxing 905-841-9011.
George
"Wild Child" Butler
Sho' `Nuff Analogue Productions APO 2015
A long time Windsor resident, harpman Butler has roots that go back to Chicago and further back to Arkansas. It's been a couple of years since his Rounder CD's and the results of his recent journey to Blues Heaven Studios in Kansas City are very much worth mentioning, albeit just a tad late. APO has a high end audio facility set up in an old church there but they don't let that get in the way of the music. Butler has some good friends helping out in Jimmy D. Lane, who is Jimmy Rogers' son and who fills the Willie Dixon role in this operation, playing guitar, Bob Stroger on bass and Sam Lay on drums. Together they play some of the finest, understated Chicago blues you're likely to hear. All the songs are by Butler and they're firmly in the traditional style, some being reworked older ones of his and the four that sit out the rhythm section are the best of the bunch, "You Had Quit Me" adds Jimmy Lee Robinson on acoustic guitar. This one has not made much of a splash but it really is too good to let languish in the stores for too long.
Coldsweat Nocturnal Indie
Coldsweat is a new local quartet with Anthony Salvatore on vocals, Robert Anthony, lead & rhythm guitar, Gary Boudreau, bass and Rob Randazzo, drums. Salvatore writes most of the material, often with Anthony and their sound puts them in the power trio category. Salvatore certainly has the power and energy for this role and with Michael Fonfara helping out on keys, Anthony's chops, the tight rhythm section and Alec Fraser's production, they've put together a fine effort. With so many bands performing in this style, a lot now depends on original material and their songs hold up well. I especially liked "Tradesman", "Every Time You Go", "Some Kind Of Lady" and "Cadillac". Freddie King has clearly been a big influence but they're well on their way beyond that that. Check them out as soon as you can.
Gary Comeau Letters From Eve
Monkeyboy MON301
Opening with a great slab of electric slide a la Sonny Landreth, BC's Gary Comeau's third CD rocks out, Louisiana style. Born in Nova Scotia, Comeau is of French-Acadian heritage and he sure has found a home in Vancouver's roots community. Self-taught on fiddle, guitar, harmonica and accordion and with a good dose of Dylan in his songwriting and his singing, Letters From Eve touches a lot of stylistic bases but there's more than enough here for blues fans. That opening rocker, "Goin' Down The Road", has Robbie Steininger on slide and he plays throughout as do Doug Elliott on bass and Pat Steward on drums. "Nothin' On Your Mind But Me", "Easy Street", "Blow Whistle Blow", "Oh Mary" and "Home Of The Mardi Gras"(done live on the Yale CD) are all excellent bluesy songs. The others would please any fan of roots music. This is an accomplished effort and you can check out video and sound clips at www.garycomeau.net.
Ray Lemelin
Here To Stay Indie
Edgewood BC's Ray Lemelin traveled to Calgary to visit his friend Tim Williams to record this one. This is mostly a band album, with vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Lemelin backed by Marvin Yakowishen, sax; Zeke Chambers, bass; Paul Marty, drums and guests Rusty Reed, harmonica, Ron Casat, keyboards and Williams on occasional guitar, vocals and production. Lemelin spent some time in Fenton Robinson's band and this shows in his version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" and his guitar playing generally. His vocals remind me more of Morgan Davis than any one but he does have his own sound and songwriting style. You can contact him at raylemelin@hotmail.com.
Steven C. Barr
Black Cat Bone Rootetoot/Indie
Terry B. the blues daddy Rootetoot/Indie
Local veteran, cat lover and now Oshawa resident Barr has been blowing harp for many years now and has put out this second CD with the assistance of fellow Oshawan Terry Blankely, who as Terry B., sent along his own CD as well. As you might guess, this is mostly straight-ahead Chicago blues with always interesting lyrics. Steven C. has chosen a rather mannered recording voice, which mars the proceedings as does the fact that aurally each song is a surprise, although the sound is usually serviceable. Steven is an avid 78rpm collector and some of this may be intentional. Terry B., the blues daddy, sounds a bit like the late Waylon Jennings and is a very good keyboard player - his contribution on piano to Black Cat Bone is a consistent highlight. His own CD, however, is mostly country, with indulgent, FX-laden vocals and it lacks the focus of Steven C.'s work.
W.C. Clark From Austin With Soul
Alligator ALCD 4884/Warner
Guitarist/singer Clark is a veteran of the Texas blues scene who had a couple of well-received CD's on Black Top, a now -defunct label then associated with the Rounder family. With those no longer around, this new one from Alligator is most welcome. As a teenager, Clark played in T.D. Bell's band and was a member of the Charlie's Playhouse band, the 50's blues club in Austin. After a stint in Joe Tex's touring band he left the music scene to work as a mechanic until a young Stevie Ray Vaughan talked him into starting a band with him and Lou Ann Barton. He co-wrote "Cold Shot" for their Triple Threat Revue. Fame did not come as quickly for him as it did for his bandmates but he kept on with his unique blend of blues and soul. He has since won two Handy Awards, has battled back from a serious car accident and more recently, prostate cancer. On this CD some familiar Austin names in producer and saxman Mark Kazanoff and guitarist Derek O'Brien lead a large band with a full horn section. Fellow Alligator Marcia Ball guests on vocals and piano on "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing". Highlights include "I've Been Searching"; his own "Let It Rain", with its almost orchestral arrangement; "Midnight Hour Blues", "Get Out Of My Life, Woman" and "Real Live Livin' Hurtin' Man". The tour supporting this soul blues extravaganza stops at the Silver Dollar on May 17. Be there.
Watch for these recent releases:
Guy Davis Give In Kind Red
House/Festival
Asie Payton Just Do Me Right/Fat Possum Epitaph
VA The Blues White Album/Telarc
Roy Rogers Slideways/Evidence
Mike Morgan & The Crawl Texas Man/Severn
Corey Harris Downhome Sophisticate/Rounder
Tommy Bankhead Please Accept My Love/Fedora
Jimmy Dawkins West Side Guitar Hero/Fedora
Buddy Miles Blues Berries/Ruf
- John Valenteyn, jvalenteyn8724@rogers.com
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2002