Live At Notodden ‘97
Little Village Foundation

Ten years since his passing and twenty since this recording was made at the renowned Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, hearing the voice and harmonica of Paul deLay was like hearing a long lost friend that brought back fond memories and tears for someone gone way too soon. It wasn’t even known until recently that these tracks existed. When hearing a song by Paul’s band from a compilation disc covering the festival’s history that came out a year following their appearance, the thought was generated “was there more of this performance out there?” As they dug deeper, they discovered this full set was in fact recorded and luckily for deLay fans, harmonica fans and blues fans everywhere it is now available for everyone’s enjoyment.

Paul and his crackerjack band, one of the best of his career, are in stellar form, despite Paul’s luggage being lost by British Airways for several days that he voices his disappoint with directly from the stage. Guitarist Peter Dammann, John Mazzocco on bass, Louis Pain on keys, Dan Fincher on sax and Mike Klobas on drums display the magic that they possessed together, each delivering masterful performances. And when it came to Paul deLay, there has never been a harmonica player before or since who could create those instantly recognizable sounds from the instrument. He simply brought forth a signature tone that one would never imagine coming out of a harmonica.

Riding on the success of their Ocean Of Tears recording, which the set list includes “What Went Wrong,” the band showcases multiple tracks from their upcoming Nice And Strong album, released the following year. Numbers from that album that were featured are “Come On With It,” “Love On A Roll,” “I’m Gonna Miss Talking To You,” “I Know You Got Another Man” and the title track “Nice And Strong.” Other classic deLay numbers include “Wealthy Man” and “I Can’t Quit You No.” The lone cover piece on the set list is a Muddy Waters’ song, “Come Home Baby (I Wish You Would)” written around 1954 that Paul jokingly states that he wrote for the legendary bluesman. Now that would’ve been some child prodigy for sure as Paul would’ve been two years old at the time.

This outstanding performance by the Paul deLay Band is very welcome. It offers a vision from our past sorely missed and showcases that great musicians last eternally in our memories through the music they delivered to us. Paul deLay is greatly missed, but Live At Notodden ’97 is here now to bring a smile to us all.

Total Time: 51:07

Intro / Come On With It / Wealthy Man / Nice And Strong / Paul Talks / Come On Home Baby (I Wish You Would) / Rainy Marie / I Can’t Quit You No / What Went Wrong / Say What You Mean / I Know You Got Another Man / I’m Gonna Miss Talking To You / Love On A Roll

Double Strike
American Showplace Music

Double Strike is a fantastic new recording from the Andy T Band, but sadly it is also the swan song for his partner and band vocalist Nick Nixon, with whom it released three sensational albums over the past six years. Forced into retirement due to health issues, Nixon appears on half a dozen tracks on the new album. They serve as a nice legacy alongside his previous recordings, showcasing his ever smooth voice that has graced many R&B and blues recordings since the 1960s.

To fill the void created by Nixon’s departure, Andy T recruited Alabama Mike Benjamin, a spectacular vocalist who has been bathed in the gospel tradition and made his reputation known around the Bay Area working with the likes of Anthony Paule in the trio The Hound Kings and by releasing three solo albums under his own name. He fits the mold of the Andy T Band perfectly. Alabama Mike also takes the lead voice on six of the thirteen songs on Double Strike, with the instrumental “Mudslide” being the one number left.

Though the Andy T Band is based out of Nashville, there is a strong Texas presence on the recording, including guitar ace Anson Funderburgh (who also co-produced the disc), The Texas Horns and Greg Izor applying harmonica to the song “Deep Inside.” The band is completed by Larry Van Loon on keys, Jim Klingler on drums and Johnny Bradley on bass, with Mike Flanigin contributing on Hammond for “Sad Times.” The album was recorded in Austin and later mixed in Nashville.

When you have the double strength of guitarists like Andy Talamantez (who worked in bands led by Smokey Wilson and Guitar Shorty before starting his own) and Texas guitar legend Anson Funderburgh, you know that the offerings are going to sizzle. It truly comes across throughout and shines brightly on numbers like “Doin’ Hard Time” and “I Was Gonna Leave You.”

The songs on Double Strike are mostly originals written by Talamantez and two by Nixon (one of which is sung by Alabama Mike, “Sad Times”), with collaborators in the band Van Loon, “Somebody Like You,” and horn player Kaz Kazanoff, “Where Did Our Love Go Wrong.” Another, “I Want You Bad” was written by Tom Hambridge. There are three covers on the album, all sung by Nixon, Goree Cater’s “Drunk Or Sober” and back-to-back Chuck Willis tunes, “I Feel So Bad” and “Juanita.”

Double Strike is both a bittersweet and a wonderful album. It is a sad day realizing that these are more than likely a final testimony of new recordings from the voice of Nick Nixon to be heard. But it is also a brand new opening of hope for new brightness to come from the band behind Alabama Mike’s vocals. Two vocalists, one sensational band. It is a double shot of bluesy goodness.

Total Time: 49:56

I Want You Bad / Somebody Like You / Deep Inside / Sweet Thing / I Feel So Bad / Juanita / Mudslide / Sad Times / Doin’ Hard Time / Drunk Or Sober / I Was Gonna Leave You / Dream About You / Where Did Our Love Go Wrong

Tattoo Burn-Redux
Mysterium Blues Records

The original album Tattoo Burn was a European release from 2012 that offered ten tracks, including two Hendrix covers, one live that was an exceptionally long performance. For the most part that album had its highlights, but treaded a little too thin. Luckily, Micki Free has gone back and remixed the disc, adding newer songs that make it much more complete overall. Thus the the title, Tattoo Burn-Redux. And the result is worth hearing as what was once an overlooked release now sounds like a number of tracks that could be essentials for blues-rock.

Micki Free is an extremely vicious guitarist who can bite with the best of rockers yet can bring a spell-binding slow blues to perfection. He is no stranger to the music world, though. Best known for his time with the popular bands Shalamar and Crown of Thorns, he is a winner of both a Grammy Award (for his work on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack) and five Native American Music Awards (he is of Cherokee-Comanche mixed heritage).

Free claims that his influences are from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Tommy Bolin, Carlos Santana, and Jimmy Page, so you know that this is very much going to be rocking blues recording. And that is exactly what you’re getting here. Hard-hitting fret work, and if that is to your liking, you will be very much pleased . That mode is exceptionally displayed throughout the disc with stellar originals, he gives a very tasty reading of Jimi Hendrix number (not from the original release) “Hey Baby (The New Rising Sun).” Even his holiday tune “Five Minutes Till Christmas” has a burning guitar shuffle going on that makes it a good listen even when it’s not that time of year.

Strong lyrics accompany his guitar work. On “Tattoo Burn” he talks about how much in love he was when he had her name placed on his arm, but that loved turned bad and now that tattoo burns. Perhaps it’s the same woman that his mama told him to stay away from, but he didn’t listen and now he finds himself “Six Feet Down In The Blues” since she left him, a searing slow blues that drives that sadness home.

There is plenty of help from guests, including The Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman, Mark “Muggy Doo” Leach (Buddy Miles Express), Cindy Blackman-Santana (Lenny Kravitz), and former Shalamar bandmate Howard Hewett who provides vocals on the funky gospel-inflected track “God Is On The Phone.” And despite the star power, this is a group of musicians that works tightly and doesn’t have one overshadow anybody else, though Free is clearly the center focus as he should be.

Micki Free has dealt a lot of different musical hands over the years with a great deal of success, but he has found a true winning formula with the blues. Tattoo Burn-Redux is a very surprising and exciting album that contains a lot of appeal that now cries to be heard. Perhaps instead of “redux” it could have been called “resurrection,” because the album has new life generated and is a masterful piece of work.

Total Time: 52:15

God Is On The Phone / Tattoo Burn / Greens & Barbeque / Six Feet Down In The Blues / There’s A Hole In The Heart Of The Blues /  Mojo Black Coffee / Co-Co-Gin / Angels In The Room / Hey Baby (The New Rising Sun) [Remix] / Five Minutes ’til Christmas / Sometimes In Winter

Yellow Roses
Ripping Glass

This debut EP from Julie Amici covers a good selection of Americana. It is all original material save for the inclusion of the traditional old English folk standard “The Fox.” And though this may seem like a completely different musical approach than you would expect from Dean Mueller and Julie Amici, a distance from their normal blues and jazz format, it is a beautiful accomplishment that showcases the diversity of their range and capabilities.

Julie has one of those voices that draws you into the music immediately. Noted for her expertise capturing the emotion and sensuality of bygone artists like Dinah Washington, Nina Simone or Patsy Cline. She crosses the lines of the various genres from blues, country and jazz with perfection. But here she has found a true calling with folk and roots music. It is a direction suited ideally matching the atmosphere behind her songwriting and vocal talents.

Though this is only an EP, with a meager six songs in total, it is crafted brilliantly with instrumentation and flow.  As explained in the liner notes, these are stories that recall Julie’s upbringing and dreams. Each has its own personality and flavor, completely enhanced by the musicians accompanying her. All are outstanding with my own favorites perhaps being “Put You Down,” “Lady Of The Mountain” and especially “Black-Eyed Susan.” But they’re all winning numbers.

The Yellow Roses project was six months in the making, working with good friend and collaborator Alan Jones at the helm. Instrumentation aside from Dean Mueller on bass and guitar and Alan Jones on guitar, percussion and background vocals the disc includes members of Timberbound, Gavin Duffy on banjo and mandolin and Jenny Estrin on violin; the award winning guitarist Alan Hager; and Duffy Bishop and Chris Carlson on background vocals whom Mueller works with in the Duffy Bishop Band.

The only downside I found with Yellow Roses? It’s just not long enough. It has left me wanting more. And that is a good thing as it leaves an anticipation for what they come up with next. Can’t wait!

Total Time: 21:10

Black-Eyed Susan / Yellow Roses / Put Me Down / Lilac Tree / Lady Of The Mountain / The Fox

Soul Barin’ Blues
Self Produced

The aptly named Soul Barin’ Blues delivers the goods!

The first thing heard on the new Lady True Blue CD is the purr of the singer also known as Lady Kat, and a spoken introduction. It’s unusual, and friendly – setting the tone for 12 songs that are exactly what the title promises: Soul Barin’ Blues. Putting on this CD is like inviting a friend into your living room for a drink, to talk about life, and to hear her story. And what a life story it is…

“My name is Lady Kat, but you can call me True Blue,” she purrs, throwing wide open the invitation to join an intimate party where secrets will be shared, friendships celebrated and a soul revealed.

Once inside the CD you’ll love partying with her pals – a who’s who in the best of Portland blues led by Sonny Hess, who also produced the CD and brought her longtime bandmates Kelly Pierce on drums and Jim Hively on bass. Guest artists include two-time BMA winner Lisa Mann, Peter Dammann, Renato Caranto, Leah Hinchcliff, Ward Griffiths, Bobby Ferrante, and LaRhonda Steele.

She kicks things off with her fan’s favorite “Shade Tree Mechanic” a sexy, playful tune that grabs you by the ears and gives you a shake. She’s naughty, funny and everything your best friend should be. Every song reveals another layer of her deep honeyed voice, with nuance and style that is hers alone. From the classics, “Thrill is Gone” and “Heartache Tonight” to an inventive bluesy rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep” the Lady shows she has what it takes to make the old very new, and the new instantly classic. When she croons “I don’t care if it hurts, I wanna have control” you believe it. And you want more. You get it – by the shovelful. When “Woke Up This Mornin’” comes on, I dare you to keep yourself from singing along with the gospel dished out with incredible backup by LaRhonda Steele, Sonny Hess and Lisa Mann.

It gets personal, including some relaxed conversation that opens a window to the long friendship between Hess and True Blue. She says they have a “Sweet Little Angel” watching over them, referring to Paulette Davis, the local blues goddess and central figure in both their lives, who died in an accident in the early 90s as her career was blossoming. She also mentions Paulette in the song “Blues is My Medicine,” and “Any Woman’s Blues” which were both co-written by Hess and Davis. She turns the classic “Drift Away” into a tribute to the friendship she shares with Hess, singing “give me the beat Son” in a way that is affectionate and lovely. It’s the song collaborated on by Hess and True Blue that earns the CD title that will rip your heart out – with the story of childhood abuse and neglect that is the very essence of the blues, and of the rise of strong women from the seeds of misery, sung with tenderness and defiance.

Soul Barin’ Blues is an intimate peek into the lives of women who have lived the blues and found a way to make it sound beautiful, hopeful and a reason to dance. Listening is like making friends with Lady True Blue and her very cool companions. Together they make some music that counts and is well worth the time to listen.

Review by Nancie Hammond