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February
2005
Carlos del Junco Blues
Mongrel NorthernBlues NBM0026/Festival
"…Some Recycled Blues and Other Somewhat Related Stuff (Part 2)" continues Carlos & Kevin Breit's collaboration but this is not Carlos & the Sisters. Henry Heilig on bass, Jorn Juul Anderson on drums, Dennis Keldie on keys and Arturo Avalos on percussion form a different kind of unit that sticks closer to blues song forms. What the two bands share though is a love of sophisticated arrangements and here is where the `mongrel' comes in. The interaction among the players is a lot closer to jazz than it is to your average blues band. The star attraction of course is Carlos' incomparable harp technique and Breit's `slash `n' burn electric guitar. Fans of up and at `em will be delighted with this one. The instrumental prowess though is in the service of some fine songs. Little Walter's "Blues with a Feeling", "Plain Old (Down Home) Blues)", "Long Highway" and the title track are all strong tunes that prove this approach can work. There are also several excellent instrumentals and surprises ("Our Man Flint") that we've come to expect and not too much under the somewhat related stuff. Breit's "Don't Bring Me Down" could be on a Colin Linden CD and "Let's Mambo" seems out of place here. Carlos also does a solo spot again with a fine version of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Nine Below Zero" before he and Kevin close out the CD with an acoustic duet. This CD also has a most interesting package, designed by A Man Called Wrycraft that features Carlos with several sets of teeth but it also has the usual useful info on harp positions and keys.
Shakura S'Aida Out There and Lovin'
It Deep Jamm 2004
A self-produced solo debut from a singer who has been picked up on the radar several times with appearances at Women's Blues Reviews and with the Saturday Night Fish Fry. Her contributions there were outstanding so it was with more than a little interest that I slid the CD into the player. Out There and Lovin' It is taken from an evening at one of our newest nightspots, Trane Studio, and features her in a small group setting that she obviously loves. Brooke "Bentley" Blackburn is on guitar and Eric Sooster is on double bass. Shamakah Ali adds percussion and Alexis Baro muted trumpet on some of the songs. Her impressive program covers a range of jazz, R&B and show tunes and three solid blues. After opening with a fine version of "T'Ain't Nobody's Business (if I do)", she begins "Backwater Blues" with a confessional verse that shows she might know something about hard times. One of her medleys begins with Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" and seamlessly goes into "Here Comes the Rain Again" from Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart and then into "Stormy Weather". Her more jazz-oriented originals, "Odyssey", "A Moment" and "It's Over (Should Have Been)" stand up very well indeed in this company and feature stellar soloing from Blackburn & Sooster. Her original blues, "Lonely Ol' Girl", continues the confessional theme from the opening and I hope she can continue to write such good songs while not having to live them. The CD concludes on a higher note with Etta James' "Damn Your Eyes". Well done, and I hope there's more to come! She says that she's performing regularly at Trane Studio so you could check out the show and get the CD there or you can contact her at Shakurasaida@hotmail.com.
Robbie Antone's Blues Machine It's Time Indie
Robbie Antone is a harp player from the Oneida Nation and you're going to be hearing more from him. The Blues Machine is David Wahl on guitars, Rick McClelland on bass and Gordie Hill on drums and this CD will be a useful calling card. The nine songs are all originals by Robbie with music by Robbie & David Wahl and they're not particularly beholden to any other bands. "Free" is an especially good rocking blues. "Too Much Whiskey Blues" shows they may have plenty to sing the blues about. "Change the World" with its monstrous guitar chords from Wahl shows they don't want to stay there. "Love is a Loaded Gun" is another highlight. There's no info about acquiring this CD or its predecessor, Tribute to the Blues but if you email rezblues@hotmail.com, I'm sure they'll help you out.
Aylie Sparkes Beautiful &
Deranged ASCD001
Whitehorse is the chosen home of Mr. Sparkes but I do hope he tours. He tells some of the story on this almost-all original CD, especially in "Klondike Beauty Queen" the song in which the title occurs, referring to some of his fellow residents. The reason I hope he tours is that he has some strikingly original songs here using just the usual ingredients: he plays guitar(s) and sings with Paul Stephens on bass and Marc Paradis on drums. It reminds me a lot of Garrett Mason's CD I'm Just a Man but I suspect Sparkes lives much closer to the edge. The opener, "Hell Hounds" is a furious slide piece with one foot in "Maggie's Farm" and the other with Robert Johnson - Paradis' drum kit drives everything before it. The traditional song "Shadow of Doubt" gets a solo National steel backing and is thoroughly convincing. On "High Heel Sneakers" an appropriate analogy might be to Hound Dog Taylor _ the sound and manic energy is that high. "Problems" incorporates an English ska beat that almost obscures the lyrics. He has the ability to make these seem like they're totally ad-libbed in the studio but gems such as `Sitting on a levee in Dawson City' must surely be composed. If Joe Hall were a bluesman, he'd be named Aylie Sparkes! A further highlight is the heartfelt performance of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome". Sparkes can be reached through ayliesparkes@yahoo.com and when you get your copy, play it loud.
Bill Dowey Look on Yonder Wall Ruby Moon RMWL 6002/Festival
The King Eddy in Calgary is no more, standing abandoned and condemned, but thanks to the perseverance of Tim Williams, an outstanding memento of one of Canada's most famous blues bars is now available. Bill Dowey led the house band there for years, backing innumerable guests and developing the mastery of the blues that this disc so clearly demonstrates. In a bar, you don't do all that alone of course and joining Dowey, who plays slide guitar and keyboards, is Paul Finn on lead guitar, Richard Kowaleski on bass, Dylan MacDonald on harp and Brad Carter on drums. The program here has a few warhorses but you will seldom hear them this well-played, in fact, from the first notes of "Seventh Son", you'll be too busy enjoying yourself to notice. Dowey's wonderful vocals and the beautifully restrained contributions from the band are the keys here. There's an original by Dowey, "Running Out of Time" and Randy Newman's "Sail Away" to go along with "Spoonful", Born Under a Bad Sign" and the title song as highlights. Dowey & The Blue Devils have found other venues to play in Calgary, so check them out if you get a chance.
The Mike Clark Band
Clarkology MCSAX2004
Mike Clark is a tenor saxman from Calgary who has turned into a triple threat, adding songwriting and singing to his arsenal. And he has some powerful friends in Amos Garrett & Johnny V on guitars, Ron Casat on keys and Ian Tyson on harmony vocals & rehearsal hall rentals. Greg Carroll on bass and Thom Moon on drums round out the band. Their first CD, Saxman, received good reviews and that may have had something to do with his nomination for Horn Player of the Year. It certainly seems to have resulted in a jump in confidence. It Clark wrote all the songs and generally on topics and styles from the American south. He opens with a tribute to Buckwheat Zydeco and CJ Chenier, "Zydeco Man", with Casat on accordion. "Huggy Drunk" worked as a drinking song on the last one, so here's "Forget About You", equally effective and with great solos from Johnny V & Clark. The swampy "Morning After Blues" needs no explanation except as to how Clark is going to perform this while playing all the parts of the large sax section! It also features a solid slide solo from Johnny and Clark's best vocal turn. The best song here is "Alibis and Lies", a marvelous slab of blue eyed soul that should be a single. The sax/organ lines are perfect. Tyson's farmhouse is the "Stone House", a gentle acoustic country song on which Tyson does the harmony vocal. Another song that deserves mention is "Tribute to Big" for Clarence "Big" Miller, the KC shouter who made Alberta his home. Again, Clark handles all the sax parts and does a creditable job as a shouter. Clark was here for the Summit and guested at the all star jam after the awards. This CD isn't at www.mikeclarkband.com yet but I'm sure he'll get one to you if you contact him.
Various Artists The Rainbow-Double Decade-Volume 1 Rainbow 001
This is Ottawa's contribution to the `famous blues bars' list and it is celebrating its 20th year with a strong collection featuring artists who've played the room. Powder Blues opens the set, with Downchild, Fathead, Dutch Mason & the Shuffle Demons leading the non-Ottawa contingent. Sue Foley, Tony D, Suzie Vinnick, The Jivewires & the J.W. Jones Blues Band part of the local list. The songs are mostly all from current CDs form a strong listening experience. The one artist that is new to me is Mitzi Chitty (with Bombast Blues). This is a single, "Voodoo Love", released on Rainbow Records last year. This isn't a bad song but unfortunately the vocals need work. That song notwithstanding, this is an excellent survey of the current Canadian blues scene. Go to www.therainbow.ca for more info.
Ann Rabson In a Family
Way Emit Doog EDM0008
Saffire, The Uppity Blues
Women, had one of their first non-local gigs at an early Harbourfront Blues Festival and they've stayed close to us all these years later, most recently as part of Downtown Jazz. It appears
that Saffire dates are getting scarce but that doesn't mean that its members are not performing.
Ann Rabson has sent along her latest solo CD and she does what she had always done with Saffire: take old songs that intrigue her,
learn to play them, learn their history and then record them. The difference with this CD is that members of her family constitute the band behind her. Her sister
Mimi's violin is a real treat as is a brother-in-law's trombone and
others pick up bass, piano, guitar and organ. Highlights include her performance of the original version of "See See Rider", "Midnight Hour Blues" and a gender-switched, New Orleans-flavoured "Three Hundred Pounds of Joy".
Her originals are always fun and "I Want to Hop on Your Harley" is no exception. A more serious "Blindsided" is also a highlight. Emit Doog Music is based in Hughesville, PA and you can get this CD at
www.annrabson.com.
- John Valenteyn,
jvalenteyn8724@rogers.com