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Blues Beyond Borders-Live In Istanbul-Mitch Woods      Club 88 Records    8812    2012

The Blues goes across borders in a jive talking, swing walkin’, jump boppin’ pogo stickin’ set recorded at the final show of Turkey ’s 2010 Efes Blues Festival. It captures Mitch and his Rocket 88s the way they should be and that’s live. After 26 shows in 20 cities over 5 weeks, it was clear that the folks in Turkey loved Mitch and Mitch loved ‘em back. The CD (there’s also a DVD in the package) features all the energy that the Rocket 88s can pour out and that’s considerable wattage c/o Woods’ piano pounding, Amadee Castanell on various saxes, big bad Cornell Williams on bass, Larry Vann’s rhythmiticitation and Adam Gabriel’s 6 string magic. The 14 cuts are all familiar to anyone who knows Mitch, loves boogie piano or is into New Orleans piano professors. The show opens with a burning “Solid Gold Cadillac”, goes Big Easy via “Mojo Mambo”, “Crawfishin’” and Professor Longhair’s “In the Night.” From there, it’s a short hop across the border into Texas where you get down partying via “Boogie Woogie Bar B-Q”, “House Of Blue Lights” or “Long Lean and Lanky.” Vehicles figure greatly in the Woods pantheon from his “Solid Gold Cadillac” to “I Got A New Car” and the eponymous Jackie Brent/ Ike Turner monster “Rocket 88.” When you need to shift into “ Jukebox Drive ”, Mitch’ll put you into the driver’s seat with a blast of boogie octane!    8.5 snaves

My World Is Gone-Otis Taylor     Telarc    TEL-34028-02      2013

 Otis Taylor thrives on love but he lives to give truth to the world about injustices the country has heaped on the Native American and Black citizens there of.  The past consists of genocide, broken promises, lies. lynchings, Jim Crow and only a hope for the respect that they deserve. On this disk, Otis is joined by Mato Nanji, formerly of Indigenous and his electric 6, Brian Thompson on trumpet, Larry Thompson’s guitar, Annie Harris on fiddle as well as Otis’ banjo, vocals and words. The sound is spare, minimalistic and jazz inspired with Indian influences and spiritual feel. The songs vary between love, lynch mobs, massacres and making a home together. Taylor ’s songs all have a background sadness yet joy bubbles like a spring shining in a desert oasis in the moments where happiness and love pour out. Taylor ’s blend of spiritual vocals and Nanji’s sublime axe create a unique sound not attainable anywhere else and the semi-historical story telling technique makes every song more than just music. Otis Taylor builds on his own view, his own approach and his own style in a way that is different, unique and righteous.  8.5 snaves

Show Of Strength-Michael ‘Iron Man’ Burks    Alligator   4951     2012

The Iron Man was just hitting his stride when his massive persona was stilled by a heart attack on 5/6/12. Burks had it all from a mighty voice that could roar blue or croon soulfully to an axe of distinction. To me, Burks sounded like Cray on steroids with the soul and hurt and axe skill that pumped it up a whole lot. The 3^rd generation of music men in his family, Burks was born in Milwaukee and grew up surrounded by the blues world of his father Frederick who was a bass player. His grandfather was Joe Burks, an acoustic bluesman in Camden , Arkansas . Michael first held an axe at age 2 and was working his father’s collection of 45’s by age 5. It wasn’t long before Michael was fronting bands and eventually, when the family moved back south, that he was the Saturday night house band at the Burks family’s Bradley Ferry Country Club juke joint. Fast forward, Burks has become a festival staple renowned for his feral axe, brilliant vocals and sweat soaked hours long blues marathons. His final CD highlights the man hitting all the bases from soulful low, cracking hot, blues long and grinding powerful. My favorite cuts include opener “Count On You” with aforementioned Crayness. “Storm Warning” (written by Jon Tiven and Jimmy Vivino) pours out waves of relationship on the rocks desperation and power. “Cross Eyed Woman” reverbs with Wayne Sharp’s organ and slow blues intensity while “Little Juke Joint” is a good timing shuffle in the autobio vein. “Twenty Four Hour Blues” is long and balladic Shytown, pure and simple with Roosevelt Purifoy’s stellar piano pouring out pain. Ending on “Feel Like Going Home” we are asked the eternal question, “what does it take to please you” while shuffling good and sweet. Michael Burks was it, so RIP. Blues heaven should enjoy your thing.  9 snaves

What’s It Gonna Take-Doug Deming and the Jeweltones      Vizztone     DD2583   2012

The Jeweltones lay it down sweet and hard. This Gulf Coast, FL trio pounds out cool and swinging rockabilly, 50s rocking and jumpy blues. Axe and vocals are c/o Doug Deming who has certainly paid his dues behind Kim Wilson, Lazy Lester, Gary Primich, AC Reed and Alberta Adams. On his big Gibson and vocally, Doug is smooth yet authoritative. Joining the fun is Andrew’s upright bass and Mr. Neel’s pounding as well as the gail force hurricane wails of NJ’s giant Dennis Gruenling on diatonic and chromatic harp. Together, the pounding rhythms, tortured soul burn harmonica and soulful vocals create a downright rock and blues experience. The opener is a jumping little number I want my jockey to play called “What’s It Gonna Take.” “Poison Ivy” by Willie Mabon is a completely different song from the Coasters one. “An Eye For An Eye” is dark and compelling like a blues should be while “I Want You To Be My Baby” jumps 8000 to the bar and Gruenling’s blowing is sublime. “No Big Thrill” does blues with lyrics you can feel and “Stay Away” resonates with primal rhythms, Duane Eddie vocals and organ tones with a loud plea to stay away! The close is a jammer rocker written by Gruenling with swing all over it called “Bella’s Boogie.” Hot damn, these guys do it fine.     8 snaves

Rockin’ All Day-Dennis Gruenling      Vizztone  BBR711   2012

Dennis Gruenling is NJ’s newest Basie, Sinatra, Springsteen, Bon Jovi… well, hyperbole aside, Dennis is a sheer monster harmonicat. Together with Doug Deming and his Jeweltones as seen above, Dennis unleashes a Baker’s dozen of the hottest, swingingest, jumpingness you’ve ever tapped your feet to. This CD is pure badass groove with lava licks, volcanic tone and Vesuvius chops. You will be blown away! Opening with Jimmy McCracklin’s “Rockin’ All Day (Reelin’ and a Rockin’)”, the doors are thrown wide open to a front view of Mt. St. Helens fire power. Gruenling’s “The Rev” shoots pumice and scree at 16 to the bar, leaving a lasting impression that’s sheerly explosive. Swinging to the jam, Louis Jordan’s “Saturday Night Fish Fry” roars with DG’s chromatic. “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer” has the same lyrics but no connection to the JLH, G. Thorogood versions, being right smooth and cool. Carl Perkins’ “You Can Do No Wrong” is pure Sun Studio shuffle while “It Went Down Easy” is a typical story involving liquidity with a familiar ending yet is smoothly satisfying. “2:22AM” feels like the wee wee hours and we blow the top off this stratified cone with “Hotso.” Dennis Gruenling does some pyrotechniques like a pyroclastic flow to your soul!   8.5 snaves

Slide Brothers-Robert Randolph      Concord      CRE-34262-01       2013

The strains of sacred steel have poured out of House Of God churches for 80 years and Robert Randolph has been carrying that banner high but this grouping of practitioners and musical style has never been captured on a disk before. Joined by 4 of the finest purveyors of sacred steel and, if anything, major influences on Robert’s playing, this CD is a compilation of secular and gospel tunes and it cooks. Together, Calvin Cooke, the Campbell Brothers and Aubrey Ghent tackle worldly artists who spill out pain like the Allman Brothers’ “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’”, devotion as in George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord”, Elmore James’ “It Hurts Me Too” and “The Sky Is Crying” and “Motherless Children” as per EC. Songs of praise include “Wade In the Water”, “Praise You” which features Shemekia Copeland’s vocals, “Catch That Train” and “No Cheap Seats In Heaven.” The singing strings interlock and loop around while solos fly like birds. These men know how to exhortate and make the groove! From start to finish, the crisp power of steel rings out with expression and emotion. This is a real find.  9.5 snaves