Big Apple Blues - Brooklyn Blues

Big Apple Blues – Brooklyn Blues
2010, Stone Tone Records

Big Apple Blues is a New York City-based blues collective working to keep the storied art form alive and relevant.  Built around a revolving roster of New York City blues cats, the current cast includes Zach Zunis (Janiva Magness, Great William Clark, Rick Holmstrom); Barry Harrison (Shemekia Copeland, Michael Powers); Anthony Kane (Muddy Waters, Junior Wells); Admir “Dr. Blues” Hadzic; Hugh Pool (Hugh Pool Band); Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Al Green, B.B. King, Mary J. Blige) and the irrepressible Christine Santelli.  Formerly known as the Stone Tone Blues Band, Big Apple Blues looks to keep the Chicago electric blues sound alive, and does so from the burgeoning Indie music scene of New York with the aptly titled Brooklyn Blues.

Brooklyn Blues opens with an entertaining blend of blues, R&B and rock n roll on “Too Many Drivers”; an innuendo-laden tune expressing romantic interest in a woman but also wondering, perhaps, at her morals.  “Too Many Drivers” is a great, energetic start to the album, showing hints of what is to come.  “Killing Floor” is energetic and danceable; a sour grapes song about why he hasn’t left a relationship before now.  “Brooklyn Swamp” is a solid but uninspired instrumental.  Big Apple Blues is tight and technically proficient here; you just don’t get the sense that much is going on behind the scenes here.  “Honey Hush” brings out a man’s inner Neanderthal; an old school blues tune that is entertaining and is vaguely reminiscent stylistically of Cab Calloway. 

“Whole Lotta Lovin’” is full of the machismo of a top notch pick-up artist.  The vocals show great presence, and the Big Apple Blues provides among their best instrumental performances on the album.  “How Many More Years” is a kiss-off song; a song of walking out.  The song itself is middle of the road, but Brian Mitchell’s guitar work is first-rate.  “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright” turns into a long form blues jam, showing off the distinctive instrumental talents of the band.  The guitar work of Mitchell and the harmonica work of Hugh Pool in particular stand out.  “It’s My Life Baby” is a song of pining for someone who is gone that’s well constructed and tightly played.  Pool once again stands out blowing some of the hottest harp east of Chicago’s South Side.    “Hate To See You Go” is musically and lyrically repetitive.  Big Apple Blues gets caught in a brief rut here and on “Who’s On Third (Duvel)”, but recover nicely with the closing track, “Mellow Down Easy”.  “Mellow Down Easy” is a party song of sorts; lyrically simplistic but with a solid vibe.

Big Apple Blues brings the early days of electric blues alive on Brooklyn Blues.  The sound here is dynamic, and probably best suited to a live setting, but Big Apple Blues make a solid effort at capturing that sound on CD.  The highlights on Brooklyn Blues are found in the seams of the music.  Hugh Pool is a rock star, figuratively speaking, and Brian Mitchell seems alive in every moment on the album.  It’s all tied together by the impressive musical heartbeat provided by Barry Harrison, but it’s ultimately the chemistry achieved by Big Apple Blues that will win you over.  Not every moment of Brooklyn Blues works perfectly, but there are enough perfect moments to go around.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Big Apple Blues at http://www.bigappleblues.com/.  Brooklyn Blues is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  Digital copies are also available from iTunes.

Review: Jesse Dee - Bittersweet Batch

Jesse Dee – Bittersweet Batch
2008, 7not Records

Boston native and Burlington, Vermont resident Jesse Dee has a love for classic soul music that shines through everything he sings. Notably an artist and graphic designer, Jesse Dee made the decision to make a career of music. He’s already open for R&B Legend Al Green, and credits influences such as Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Etta James and the old Chess vocal groups as influences. Jesse Dee is a former member of college favorites Decifunk, and also has done time with The Dirty Whites and Sea Monsters. Jesse Dee’s solo debut album, Bittersweet Batch, hit shelves in September of 2008. If it’s any indication you’ll be hearing a great deal more of Dee in the future.

Jesse Dee is the real deal. You won’t hear the sort of aural airbrushing on Bittersweet Batch that is some common these days. Dee’s voice is highly emotive and textured, with the sort of vocal flaws that made the classic R&B and Soul singers so distinctive and interesting to listen to. The album opens with Alright. Dee’s rough-velvet voice is right up there with Melinda Doolittle for bringing classic soul back into the spotlight. Slow Down is one of my favorites in the album, with a highly positive message and a great arrangement. This song will stay with you. Over & Over Again sounds like classic Motown, complete with Stax horns. Dee brings the funk on Reap What You Sow, a must-listen song. My Two Feet brings in the sounds of New Orleans on a great classic pop song. Dee revisits New Orleans on New Blades Of Grass; a song about Hurricane Katrina and about the will of New Orleans residents to rebuild and survive that tragedy. Be sure to check out Alive & Kickin’ as well; the biggest soul/rock/gospel/roadhouse sound on the album.

Jesse Dee kicks it old school on what may be the most traditional Soul/R&B release of the year for 2008. If you are a fan of these genres then Bittersweet Batch is a must-have disc.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jesse Dee at http://www.myspace.com.jessedee/, where you can purchase a digital download of Bittersweet Batch.

Review: Jason Harrod - Bright As You Are

Jason Harrod - Bright As You Are
2007, Jason Harrod

Jason Harrod is familiar to many as one half of folk/pop duo Harrod And Funck, but has drawn rave reviews since setting out solo. Harrod's latest CD, Bright As You mixes Americana, Southern Rock and Blues across ten impressive tracks. Assisted by a top notch backing band featuring Phil Madeira (Mavis Staples, Al Green, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller), Harrod has created what has to be an early favorite for consideration on year-end Americana/Rock lists.

Bright As You Are opens with The Sun Is Up, a great bit of upbeat Americana. Harrod reminds me of a cross between Francis Dunnery and Del Amitri here, on what may be the best and most obvious potential single on the album. Kickin' Mule breaks out in a Southern Rock/Blues hybrid that is instantly memorable. Messed Up Everywhere Blues is a strong concert tune, with Harrod sounding a bit like Peter Gabriel on vocals. Night Fall On Me is a fun listen and For Your Time is a great straight-up folk song with both heart and mind in the composition. My favorite track on the disc is My Mad Girlfriend. This rocker with real pop sensibility has universal appeal and is destined to become a fan favorite.

Jason Harrod has some great things going for him. His songs are catchy and memorable, his voice is a pleasure to listen to, and he appears to have a touch for writing that is accessible and likable. Bright As You Are is highly recommended as a great listen; Jason Harrod is one of those artists you'll find yourself gravitating toward and looking for that next release. Excellent.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jason Harrod at www.myspace.com/jasonharrodmusic or http://www.jasonharrod.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Bright As You Are.

Review: Sam "Shake" Anderson - Stories From Sammie Lewis

Sam “Shake” Anderson – Stories From Sammy Louis
2008, Sam “Shake” Anderson

If you’re ready for some classic mid-western R&B and Soul, then check out Sam “Shake” Anderson’s Stories From Sammie Lewis. Marching to a beat somewhere between Marvin Gaye and Al Green, Sam “Shake” Anderson lays down twelve classic sounding tracks on the CD The cover of Set It Off is sublime, and Anderson will lull you into reverie with songs like Don’t Come Roun’ Here No Mo’, Sold Me Down The River and The Only Game In Town. Anderson possesses a sugar-smooth voice, but finds the Rock N Soul sound when called for. Be sure to check out Shine On, That Won’t Mean and We May Never Get Out Of Here, but there really isn’t a weak track on the disc.

Sam “Shake” Anderson plays and sings like he built the old school. There are a lot of pretenders out there, but Stories From Sammy Louis proves that Sam “Shake” Anderson is a champ.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Sam “Shake” Anderson at www.myspace.com/samshakeanderson or http://www.shakeanderson.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Stories From Sammy Louis