"BluzHarp's Favorite CDs of 2004" by Steve"Big Daddy
BluzHarp"Harvell http://bluzharp.tripod.com
Cds and products that I review are rated from (1) to (7)
Harps
- (Blues/Swing Harmonica!) Walter T. Higgs "Just A Few Miles To Go" www.docbluesrecords.com
I know,I know,whenever I say this is one of the best cds that I have ever had the honor of listening to you may say that I have gone off the harpend again.But seriously folks,this Cat,Walter T. Higgs,may be just the man to step in and take the place of William Clarke whom I dearly miss since he passed on.And I think that this is the first time that I have made this statement,I like Walter's voice as much as I do his harmonica playing.
Walter's harp playing is full of that Swing/Jump/Jazz kinda feel to it,his music-harp playing and singing just gets inside you and takes a hold,this fella has got some serious MOJO going down.I beg of you to go to this website Listen to Walter here! and check out the tune "I Have A Dream" and "Too Many Women Knockin'" and I am sure you will be convinced just how hard these guys can swing and jump.And for some dangerous blues my little Bluz Chillins you have got to buy this cd and listen to the tune "Is That A Teardrop?",it will carry you away!
Listed below are the musicians in the band.
Walter Higgs on vocals and harmonica
George Rains on drums
Larry Fulcher on bass
Derek O'Brien on guitar
Riley Osburn on piano
Johnny Moeller on guitar
Mark Kazanov on saxophone
Les Izmore on baritone saxophone
James Fenner on congas
Bradly Williams on rub board
Listed below are the songs.
1. Just a Few Miles To Go
2. I Have A Dream
3. Too Many Women Knockin
4. Shake Shuffle Shimmy
5. Don't Be Afraid
6. Is That A Teardrop?
7. Just How Bad I Feel
8. See Ya Real Soon
9. Chipped Off
10. Blues and the Gospel
11. Kiss Your Shoes
12. Keep It Going On
If you want to know a bit more about Walter T. Higgs go here History of Walter Higgs and get some background info.But what I am concerned about is that you know how important it is to get this cd and see and hear for yourself what Walter and his band have got going down,it's not just Walter,every member of the band is at the top of their form and are smoking!Go on back and give them another listen and then buy this thang.Listen To Higgs
Yes this one goes in my "BluzHarp's Favorite Cds of 2004" section as well.This is my most highly recommended cd so far this year because the cd is so consistant in that every song is worth listening to,ya don't get tired of hearing it repeated times.There is a good flow to this effort in that there are various tempos and types of music but they are in a order that is seamless,pure blues/swing boogie heaven.
Walter T. Higgs gets a solid (7) Harp Salute from ol' Big Daddy BluzHarp and I now appoint the title of "Sir Swing" to Walter for taking his chosen art form to the highest degree there is!
- (Blues Harmonica) Sonny Boy Terry with Little Ray Ybarra "Live At Miss Ann's Playpen" (Houston,TX) www.docbluesrecords.com
I have been getting email for months from harp lovers saying that I need to checkout a cat named Sonny Boy Terry based outa Houston,Texas.When I first put this cd on I was completely spellbound by the complete mastery that Sonny Boy has on the diatonic and chromatic harps.This cat rocks like a cross between R.J. Mischo/Rod Piazza and William Clarke,I mean this fella can rock like a mountain landslide.His amplified tone is absolutley to die for,just the right amount of overdrive to give ya those chill bumps and make the hair on the back of ya neck and arms stand straight up(that is how I feel music that is really good).
On the side Sonny Boy teaches harmonica to everyone from housewives to retirees to highschoolers.He picked up the harmonica more than 23 years ago while growing up in Ohio after his father gave him one as a gift.Back then most of his friends were in garage bands playing guitars, bass and drums but he was concentrating on the harmonica and picking up gigs.Sonny had thought about moving to Chicago and hitting the blues scene but with the recession he decided to move down to Texas and get in with the blues scene there.Sonny Boy was a sideman until 1995 when he put together his own band with guitarist Bill Anderson.He has since recorded 2 albums,2000's Breakfast Dance and a live recording at Houston‚s fabled Third Ward juke joint, Miss Ann‚s Playpen.
Listed below are the tunes on "Live At Miss Ann's Playpen".
1. Let's All Go To Miss Ann's Playpen
2. Have A Good Time
3. Too Late
4. PhD Of The Blues
5. Holman & Dowling
6. Tight Dress
7. Rats And Roaches
8. I'll Be Your Fool
9. Take Your Time
Bonus Track:
Stop Breakin' Down
Please go here Listen to Sonny Boy to check out some sound clips from this cd for yourself!
The musicians are as follows=
Benny Brasket on bass
Samantha Banks on drums
Little Ray Ybarra on guitar
Sonny Boy Terry on harmonica and vocals
Special guest=Jeffery P. Ross guitar on tracks 5 and 6
Band intro by Bobby Lewis
This is one of the tightest bands that I have heard in a very long time,Little Ray Ybarra can absolutely set his guitar on fire with such soulfull playing that it is uncanny.The whole band is PERFECT,I am in awe at what they are doing,I would go into more detail but as I pointed out above, Listen to Sonny Boy,go to the website and listen for yourself at what Sonny Boy Terry and his band are putting down.
I am giving Sonny and his band my highest rating of a (7) Harp Salute and Sonny Boy Terry Gets my "Nasty Harp Award" as well for making that harmonica sound like it is alive and breathing pure fire.I am also putting this release in my "BluzHarp's Favorite Cds of 2004" section as well.This is my most highly recommended cd so far this year!
- (Blues Harmonica & Guitar Too!) Healy and Reed"Mojo Madness" www.mojomadness.com Phone # (659) 341-3282
You have James "Loose" Reed on harmonica and vocals with Joe Healy on guitars and vocals as well.James looks to be about my age(52) and Joe is really young looking but is perhaps one of the top ten best blues guitar players that I have ever heard.Hell no,Joe is not Stevie Ray Vaughn(that is one reason I like him-he is himself!) and he plays tastefull but hard-driving at the same time.He plays well beyond his years in technique and mostly in the feeling that he projects.
And then you have James "Loose" Reed on harmonica and I will say that he can blow the doors off a tractor and trailer rig with that bigger than Texas tone that is dripping out of his harp.James is one of the most happening players I have ever heard and I am apologetic in saying that I have never heard of him but that is going to change.I am going to his website and try to find EVERTRHING that he has done and GET it.
The music that these two cats put dwon is so refreshing in this blues world of copy cats,they are completely original in their style and approach.On this cd you have some acoustic material that delivers the goods better than most amplified blues bands,and man,when they plug in you had better get ready for a ride that will rival the Space Shuttle(two fisted hanging on).helping out these fellas are the musicians listed below.
Paul Revelli on drums
Tim Wagar on electric bass
Dave Mathews on B-3 organ
Steve Lucky on piano
Vance Ehlers on acoustic bass
Dave Wellhausen on harmonica on cut #7
Tom Poole on trumpet
Michael Peloquin on sax
Keith Crossan on sax
The tunes are listed below.
Something To Remember You By
Sump'n Sump'n
If This Is Love
It Ain't Right
Time For A Change
Loe Down Dirty Shame
Wee Baby Blues
If You Don't Want Me Baby
Frosty
Just A Feelin'
Ridin' In The Moonlight
Please Don't Go
I Wish You Could See Me Now
Woke Up This Morning
Love My baby
I Don't Play
Mona
I give this cd my highest rating of (7) Harps and James "Loose" Reed gets my coveted "Nasty Harp Award" for making the ladies underwear melt and making the hair all over my body stand straight up.And Joe Healy gets my newly appointed" Muddy Waters Would Be Proud" award for carrying on the blues guitar tradition for REAL!This is one of the Top Ten Cds that I have gotten in the last two years,buy it now at www.mojomadness.com Phone # (659) 341-3282
- (Blues Harmonica) Tim Gonzalez & Friends "Straight From The Heart" Tim Gonzalez
Cds can be purchased by going to Tim Gonzalez's website or at CD Baby
Every now and then I get a cd and from the first few seconds you know that you have a cd that is miles above the average run of the mill music.And Tim Gonzalez ,is a harmonica player that will make the hair on your arms and the back of your neck stand straight up every time he hits a note.Tim is a play from the gut muscian that has so much soul you would think that the ghost of a hundred old Mississippi Delta Bluzmen were dwelling in his body.I am talking some serious mojo people.He plays both some acoustic and amplified harp here on this new cd,"Straight From The Heart",the acoustic is spellbounding but the amplified harp playing is like pure bombastic exploding supernovas,no bullsh#*!This cat has chops that would make Kim Wilson,William Clarke(if Bill was still with us),and Little Walker envious.I do not claim to be the know all of the harmonica world by any means because I still devote a lot of time to my family/work/and my own music making,but damn,I must be in a shell lately to not know of this cat.
Tim Gonzalez has been playing the harmonica since he was 14 years old .He grew up in Brownsville,Texas and some of his influences where George"Harmonica"Smith,Little Walter,Charlie Musselwhite,Paul Butterfield and Lee Oskar.His pro career started at the age of 18 playing around Texas with other Texas roots players.Tim moved to Nasville in 1992 where he performed and recorded with Ronnie Milsap,Doug Stone,Toby Keith, and Pam Tillis.And the same opportunity came with the following blues artist,Burton Gaar,Mark Selby,Larry MacRea,Chubby Carrier,and Anthony Gomes.Below is the list of songs on Tim's new cd,"Straight From The Heart".
Murdered By Love(My favorite)
Groove Thang
Voodoo Moon
Straight From The Heart
Summertime
Greyhound Driver
Walkin' Blues
Can't Hold Out
For Mona's Sake
Mississippi Blues
Tim Gonzalez's new cd,"Straight From The Heart",gets my highest rating of (7) Harps plus my coveted and seldom given,"Nasty Harp Award",that's right my little bluz chillin',this is dangerous pure 100% get down in the dirt and dig blues harmonica that is not for the faint of heart.Juke Joint stuff that would be played if a witch doctor was trying to bring John Lee Hooker back to life,get the idea!So seldom do I have the chance to review such great blues and boogie harmonica music,this cd is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED personally by me,"Big Daddy BluzHarp".
- (Blues-Rock Guitar) Bobby Messano "Holdin' Ground" Fishhead Records
Please also visit Bobby Messano's personal website at Bobby Messano
What a joy it was when I first put this cd in my player,I could tell from the first few seconds that Bobby Messano was the real deal.He is a very seasoned and polished musician but not in the vein that many of the cookie-cutter players come from today.Just stop reading this for a second and listen to the song,"Dominion Roads", at this website Click here to listen to Bobby Messano and listen for yourself at what a topself player he is.On this tune he is a cross between Robin Trower,Jimmy Hendrix with a touch of Stevie Ray.His extented solos are mind-blowing in that he does not repeat himself and KEEPS on reaching into new territory!To read about Bobby's bio and past history please go here Bobby Messano's bio and be enlightened.
Here are the songs on Bobby Messano's "Holdin' Ground".
Holdin' Ground
Hard World
Get Up And Dance
Dominion Roads
In The Depths Of Love
Guess Life Always Works That Way
I Will Try
Sea Of Hope
One Way Lover
The Way Things Use To Be
In true form with a top-notch release,Bobby does not barn burn all the way thru,there are very well placed tempo songs that flow and makes listening very smooth.For instance,right after the song,"Dominion Roads", that blisters the paint off the wall and jams more than the Gratefull dead ever thought of,you have a slow blues gut wrencher,"The Depths Of Love",that will have you thinking about all the good ones that got away or hurt you.Seriously,Bobby Messano,is one one of the very BEST blues/rock, player/singers that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing and I will be actively looking for his other releases to review.
I give Bobby Messano a (7) Harp Salute for this release and he also gets into my "BluzHarp's Favorite Cds of 2004" section as well!Messano is one of the very best blues/rock guitarist that I have ever heard!
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