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MICHAEL BLOOM MEDIA RELATIONS
GREG HOWE/Sound Proof: Sometimes, it never hurts to take the money and run and be glad you’re an MVP no one knows. Howe is a real shredder, but he’s made his dough by playing with Justin Timberlake, NSYNC, Michael Jackson and others when really being a Van Halenstorm in his heart. Here we find him in touch with his roots. A master blaster of a sonic assault, this finds him in touch with the side of his talents that finds him matching cats like Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers lick for lick. This is a must for people that like high octane jams.
40642 (Tone Center)
RETTA
RETTA CHRISTIE with David Evans & Dave Frishberg: If Frish sees something in an Oregon farm kid, that’s recommendation enough for me to see what’s going on. Bet he was attracted by that off centered something he saw in Blossom Dearie a million years ago. Christie doesn’t bother to define herself by anything and does music she enjoys, with some great chops at the ready to swing along. This might have been considered a charming boite classic back in the day, now it’s a fun romp by people unhampered by the machine and wanting to share the fun. Check it out.
2
VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP
BOYES-BRILL DELBROSSO/Live From Bluesville: These three well traveled players have been around a while but are still basically young enough to be called young cats, came together in the XM Studio to jam after kicking it out in Memphis during the blues awards. With nothing between them but chops and a mutual love for the blues, most of it from the same roots, four hours later, this improv session was done. With Howlin Wolf and others filling in the set list, it’s amazing how far a guitar, a bass and a mandolin mixed with a load of passion can take you. Boyes has been on our watch list for a few years and if you haven’t gotten the message yet, check it out now. Hot stuff that really goes the distance, even if it was simply pulled out of the air.
205 (Blue Empress)
GAYE ADEGBALOLA/Gaye Without Shame: Talk about taking blues to a new place, this founding member of Saffire doesn’t care who knows she’s out and proud and brings the blues into the realm of civil rights and gay rights showing you can make people think and let them do it with a walking bass in the background. A next step for both blues and womyn’s music, we’re certainly living in changing times once again, even if the changes are subtle and less confrontational than in the past. It might not be for frat boys that watch Logo for kicks, but there’s a lot of people out there sure to hear the message in the good music.
2120 (Hot Toddy)
SUPER CHIKAN/Sum’ Mo’ Chikan: A modern throwback to the old time blues man, this Delta picker can serve the clichés with a wink and proceed to burn the house down. Loaded with after hours roadhouse fire, this is the kind of stuff that people say is missing form the blues today. The funny thing is, James Johnson, the man behind the sound, keeps moving it forward while appearing to be running in place. With a real eye toward being entertaining rather than worrying about degrees of authenticity, this is fun stuff that really fills the blues sweet tooth well.
1 (Chikan Howse)
Volume 31/Number 255
July 12, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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