"February 2005 Cd Reviews"

All Cd reviews are rated 1 to 7 Harps ! Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell

  • (Blues/Boogie Harmonica) The Mama's Boys "The Black Album" " The Mama's Boys"

    Around 12 years ago in the oldest blues club in Los Angeles,"Babe's and Ricky's", Johnny Mastro (who plays harmonica and vocals) ended up playing in a blues band called the " The Mama's Boys" . Ms. Laura-Mae "Mama" Gross who is the proprietor of the club since it's beginnings back in 1957, is the bands namesake and inspiration for the band.Johnny Mastro has built a following that comes back week after week and his chops are awesome and the whole band is super tight.The band was soon playing their gut bucket/on the edge blues all over Souther California clubs.

    " The Mama's Boys" have been playing 250 plus gigs each year for over ten years now. And you can only imagine how that much playing on a regular basis causes you to become a better musician. These fellas sound like Muddy Waters/Little Walter if by some chance they were reincarnated in todays world and made the blues current for today's taste.I have done reviews of all the cds that " The Mama's Boys" have released and they ONLY get better.As you all know,I am a fanantic about the blues harmonica but every member of this band is at the top of their game.Go to this link to listen to the Mama's Boys sound clip " The Mama's Boys sound samples" .

    These fallas play with an abandonment that gives me chill bumps everytime I listen to them." The Mama's Boys" are in my "Top Ten Most Listened To Blues Bands" list and and I have couple of thousand cds. Johnny Mastro always has new chops-runs and licks-chugging patterns for every new release.He is still growing as a musicain and has the most raw and intense style of any harmonica player that I have ever heard.This band is the real deal and is blazing new territory in the blues/boogie music world.I give " The Mama's Boys" a rock sold (7) Harp Salute as well as giving Johnny Mastro my coveted "Nasty Harp Award" for making that harp growl and spit pure hog fat.

    Please go to " The Mama's Boys sound samples" website and give this band a listen,you will be hooked like me!

  • (Blues/Latin Jazz Harmonica) Carlos del Junco "Blues Mongrel" "Click here for Carlos del Junco's website"
    Click here to listen to soud bites from "Blues Mongrel".Click on (cds) at top of page and choose "Blues Mongrel".

    Please check out " Northern Blues Music" who put out Carlos's latest cd,"Blues Mongrel" as well as having other great artist worth checking out.

    Carlos del Junco is one MONSTER of a harmonica player that you must give a listen to ! Carlos as well as the whole band are playing music that is absolutely groundbreaking with different ways of interacting with each other that is other worldly sounding and frankly I love it.Now as most of my readers know I am a harp player too and only play by ear,so it may be a little hard to explain but Carlos and the whole band have a way of coming in to play their particular parts in a song that is different than anyone I have ever heard and the first tune (Blues With A Feeling ) on his new cd is the perfect example .Carlos has that big fat tone like Kim Wilson and maybe even better and he uses overblows that he learned directly from Howard Levy,the person that pioneered this inovative technique on the diatonic harmonica.

    Carlos del Junco was born in Havana,Cuba and relocated with his family to Canada when he was one year old. He started bending notes on the harp at 14 years of age and graduated from the Ontario College of Art and then went on to start his visual arts career as a sculpter.As already mentioned,Carlos can play the ten hole diatonic chromactically by using the "Overblow" method which gives him the ability to add more complex textures to his playing.Using this technique Carlos plays blues/Latin rythms/rockabilly/ and a jazz-ska mixture that will intoxicate your mind and body on this new release. Even if you are a straight ahead blues lover you will not miss a beat on any of the tunes on this cd,Carlos has a way of making any style of music that he plays impossible not to lose yourself in and appreciate.It is people like Carlos del Junco that enable the listener to take their musical taste to yet even a higher level.So in a way I would liken Carlos to a "Musical Guru",you will walk away from listening to this cd an elightened traveler in the musical web of life.

    I give Carlos del Junco a hard thrown (7) Harp Salute for this new effort,"Blues Mongrel" on the " Northern Blues Music" label .Carlos is plowing new ground in the harmonica music world,this cat is one of the very best on the planet earth and possibly in our galaxy.

    This reviw is approved by the "Intergalatic Blues Harp Council of The Universe" (President/Barry Faust with Deb Faust as Secretary ).

    Click here to listen to soud bites from "Blues Mongrel".Click on (cds) at top of page and choose "Blues Mongrel".

  • (Blues/Blues Rock Geetar Supreme!) Eddie Turner "Rise" Northern Blues Music

    Click here to listen to soud bites from "Rise" by Eddie Turner.Click on (cds) at top of page and choose "Rise".

    Let me tell ya something my little bluz chillins,this was the first time that I had the honor of listening to Eddie Turner and I am as blown away as the first time I heard Jimmy Hendrix or Cream back in the 60s when I was a teenager.Most of the songs on this cd are originals by Eddie but the covers are done so tastefully and better in some ways,even the Hendrix stuff("The Wind Cries Mary" and "Gangster of Love") is so off the chart that I have no words to do it justice!.

    O.K., now,who the hell is Eddie Turner ?Mr. Eddie "deviboy" Turner strummed the guitar for the first time when he was 12 years old.Eddie was born in Cuba and raised in Chicago and attended the University of Colorado as a ruse he says to keep his parents sending the checks.Into music more than the academic scene,Eddie dove head first into the local music circles and some stints with notable acts ensued.Next came playing with the regions first punk/r&b band The Immortal Flames,then with Grammy nominees Tracy Nelson,Mother Earth,and the 4-nikators which became known for their unique mix of soul,Motown, and rock.His time in the big lights came when Colorado compadre Tommy Bolin left his band Zephyr to form The James Gang and Deep Purple.Eddie jumped at the chance to join the hard rock,psychedelic blues band as a guitarist,singer and songwriter.Unfortunately tragedy struck with the sudden death of Zephyr lead singer,Candy Givens.Eddie was so shaken that he took a hiatus from music,decided to "Grow Up" and become a realtor in Denver.

    Ten years later Eddie jumped at the chance to join the Ron Miles Electric Band led by one of the country's best trumpeteers.In 1995 he rounded out the Otis Taylor Band adding what Guitar Player magazine describes as "otherworldly atmospherics which lend a decidedly cosmic ambience to Taylor's sound".Eddie recorded 5 cds and toured the US and Europe extensively.

    "Rise" is Eddie's first sole cd effort and it is one of the best blues/rock cds that I HAVE EVER LISTENED TO!Eddie in my mind's ear is one of the most provacative-pioneering guitar players on the scene today.I instantly give Eddie a (7) Harp Salute for his new cd "Rise" and my newly appointed "I Met The Devil At The Crossroads Award" for he plays like someone with supernatural powers not of this earth.

    Eddie can play both acoustic and electric guitar as good as anyone I have had the pleasure of hearing,it is like Jimmy Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughn/Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton all rolled up into one man.PLEASE go here and listen to some sound bytes from "Rise" and let his guitar do the talking instead of me!This is possibly my most highly recommended blues/rock guitar cd that I have ever put my approval on,get down Eddie Turner cause you can baby!!!!!!!

  • (Acoustic Blues Guitar and Vocals)Rory Block "From The Dust" Telarc Records
    Rory Block's Bio Page

    Rory Block's personal webpage

    As most of you know that read my webpage on a regular basis know,I just love those amplified blues but what a retreat from the heat and loudness is this new cd from Rory Block .How refreshing is that beautiful voice of hers and that toneful touch she has on that guitar.I read a quote from Billy Gibbons(ZZ Top) the other day that went something like "Nothin' matters 'cept tone!".And when you hear Rory Block play you will know what I am pointing out is dead on my friends.Listed below are the tunes on this new cd that are a mixture of originals penned by Rory Block and covers of some great classics .

    1. From The Dust
    2. One Way Down
    3. The Gate
    4. David Had the Blues
    5. Big As Texas
    6. High Water Everywhere
    7. I Be Bound
    8. Stones in My Passway
    9. Dry Spell Blues
    10. Fargo Baby
    11. Runaway Dog
    12. Take a Train
    13. Remember
    14. Unprecedented Quiet

    One thing that I have noticed over the years in reviewing cds is how a select few artist that are reaching a higher level of playing match their voice and instrument together,and especially solo .They have a way of playing the guitar (or whatever their instrument may be-harmonica-banjo-mandolin-fiddle) and making it go perfectly with their style of singing.And this is where Rory Block excells!She has a way of weaving in and out around that subtle playing of her's that will have you hanging on every note.Besides the blues she has some tunes that borders on a spiritual side and frankly I love it.What a lucky man to be and have Rory Block sit on your bedside and entertain you with that sultry voice and mezmerizing guitar playing!

    On some tunes Rory Block has some lady back up singers that put the icing on the cake by only doing just enough to bring out the best in Rory's singing.Rory can take you from the point of shedding a tear in one song to shouting with joy and wanting to move to the music in another that she is generating from her soul.This lady is still looking oh so good and sexy but Rory has been singing and experiencing the blues just like the blues ladies and men from the past,she deserves our attention and admiration.I have never in my life heard a woman play/sing and deliver the blues so pure and convincingly,with authority but ever so softly.

    I give Rory Block a well deserved (6 1/2) Harp Salute for her new cd,"From The Dust".Please go to her website Rory Block ,and get to know Rory better ,she makes some of the most heartfelt blues music that can be had on the planet and maybe in our whole solar system!



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