CD Reviews -- Cathi 12-17-06
Flowers, Mary – “Instrumental Breakdown” (Yellow Dog Rec.) AMary Flowers is a rare breed…a lady fingerstyle guitarist who, though she sings, prefers to let the guitar do the talking. This is especially rare because she makes the tunes works without vocals, adding some tuba and a little accordion to keep the ears from getting stale. Resonator guitar licks are superb, and she really knows how to put a song over. Highly recommended. Entire record good for any mix.
King, Willie – “One Love” (Freedom Creek Music) A-
Willie King is a homegrown, rough-sounding, totally convincing blues guitarist whose sound is ragged and just great! He’s got a real cool call-and-response vocal thing going with his usual back-up singing partner, Willie Lee Halbert, yet on this disc blues star Debbie Bond throws in her licks on vocals too – to my way of thinking sometimes stepping on the power duo to not necessarily good effect. Yet the tunes are just wonderful, although most are really LONG. This is what blues is all about though – heartfelt and rough, low-down and gritty. Highly recommended.
Lang, Jonny – “Turn Around” (A & M) B+
I’m surprised by this record; don’t quite know what to make of it. Seems like Jonny Lang has taken a definitive step toward Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson vocals over some got-religion soul and songwriting. Verrrrry interesting. He’s definitely miles forward on vocal adept-ability. Some interesting and scary reaches which he pulls off nicely. BIG BLACK Chorus backup on many tunes, stunning vocal duo on # 8 – another come to Jesus tune. Less accent here on his playing than his singing. Not blues anymore this guy. I’d say he’s moving toward Stevie Wonder, and this kid is daring enough to maybe pull it off. This disc is probably going to be popular with the Wonder/Jackson fans.
Sidewalk Saints -- “Roots Gospel Guitar” (Talking Taco Music) B
This is largely a solo instrumental disc of Ben Bowen King’s adept resonator fingerpicking and slide guitar. Song choices are gospel and apparently tunes he has done for a long time as a street singer. Partner, Covita Moroney throws in moans, percussion, objects at hand, and a little bass, but mostly it’s some interesting fingerstyle gospel. Suitable for all mixes, though I get bored pretty easily. Nice covers of some old blues players’ stuff though.
Sliptones, SouthSide Cindy and the -- “Change from a Penny” (Southside Rec) C-
Vocalist vying for blues belter status, and with a pretty hefty voice, yet not particularly subtle. Band half distorto rock and not-so-exciting playing. Not recommended.
Wells, Junior – “Live at Theresa’s” (Delmark) A-
Smokey nights at a famous Chicago blues bar…friends gathered, locals droppin’ some serious whiskey and ladies calling encouragement to the players. That’s what you get on this disc…a night at Theresa’s (one of Jr. Well’s favorite hangouts) where he plays tunes and then chats up the crowd. The tunes are great – complete with a few mis-tuned instruments from time to time and crowd calls. Every other cut is talk between songs which I wouldn’t recommend for the most part as, though they offer a real “feel” to the club gig atmostphere, they often have some non-FCC swearing going on. Very good snapshot of Jr. on the job.
posted by Cathi N @ 2:34:00 PM
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