Jazz and blues are kissin’ cousins and nobody knows that better than Yandall, in fact he does a great job of combining both genres at times during the run of this CD.

Although I am not accustomed to hearing any vocals on a Yandall release, I found it to be a refreshing switch of the gears and he did not disappoint, offering a bevy of fine instrumental cuts as usual.

“People Get Ready” the Curtis Mayfield classic, came as a pleasant surprise, probably because I have never heard an entirely instrumental version of it. Yandall plays it beautifully and I found myself singing the words anyway so my hat is off to him for pulling that off in such a convincing fashion. I have noticed over the last several months that guitar virtuosos that lean towards playing all instrumental recordings are playing a lot of Jeff Beck material from the groundbreaking albums Blow By Blow and Wired. Both albums were light-years ahead of their time and proof that what Beck did still leaves people with their jaw dropping to floor, particularly musicians with a penchant for jazz-rock-fusion.

Yandall pulls out all the stops on “Cause We Ended As Lovers,” and strangely enough I find myself listening to the original version as I write this now. Music provides passionate inspiration and a great album like New York Blues had me reaching into my archives for more music of the same, not to mention having the desire to hear this album repeatedly. Another barn burner is an Allman Brothers favorite “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” one of the best sessions Dicky Betts ever produced. Again, Yandall does it justice.

I think the one track that really shows off his chops is “Deception Point.” It runs just shy of five minutes, but every second of it is a crescendo of instruments assaulting your senses, albeit in very pleasing way. Yandall peels of some licks that are amazing on this track; he plays with style and grace and rocks the house all at the same time. Not an easy task for any player worth their salt. My favorite out of the entire lot is the mellow front porch toe tapping acoustic blues of “So Low.” That one really grabbed me because of its clean playing and live feel. You can hear Patrick’s fingers squeaking up and down the fret board.

This recording has a good mixture of vocal tracks and instrumentals; it is the kind of blues, rock, and jazz that offers it all for the listener. This is primarily blues however the rudiments of jazz and rock cannot be understated here, they provide plenty of juice for Mr. Yandall to do his thing, and does he ever do it well.

Artist: Patrick Yandall
Title: New York Blues
Genre: Blues-Rock
Label: Zangi Records
Website
New York Blues

Tracks:
01. Wrap It Up (3:43)
02. New York Blues (4:23)
03. Blues For Buddy (4:36)
04. So Low (3:32)
05. People Get Ready (4:23)
06. Fire In The Hole (3:59)
07. The Blue Room (5:24)
08. There’s Blues In This House (4:05)
09. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (4:41)
10. Shakeys Blues (4:20)
11. Deception Point (4:58)
12. Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (4:25)

© MuzikReviews.com

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

Gig Michaels has a hefty whiskey like vocal style that lends itself nicely to the lyrics and the sounds the band generates. Right at the outset “I’m Feelin’ Saturday” sets the tone and they grab hold and take control of the steering wheel, never once veering off track. As they move through each track you become increasingly entertained and engrossed in what they have to offer.

The one track that really says who they are lyrically and musically is “Sunday Southern Tradition.” It is all about backyard barbeques and pretty girls and the thrill of NASCAR racing. The south is veracious in their appetite for racing and the culture that has grown up with the sport. This tune tells the tale. It all sounds so darn real when you listen to the Swampdawamp wailing blues-rock machine pump out the music and Michaels starts churning out those vocal workouts. Then they hand out a “Little Pill Called The Truth” with a little ditty called “Tastes Like Chicken To Me.” This is a play on words and more than hints that what we are going through in Iraq right now tastes an awful like the last go round we had in Vietnam, accept this is much more complicated and difficult to get out of, but in the end it still taste like chicken. Yup, I heard that message loud and clear.

This is a very entertaining CD in many ways and well worth your time to check it out. If you have a hankerin’ for the blues-rock southern style, I have just the ticket for you, a little old band called Swampdawamp. You may not be able to say it or spell but you sure you can hear it.

Artist: Swampdawamp
Title: Swampdawamp
Genre: Blues-Rock
Label: Big Penny Entertainment
Website
Amazon Link

Tracks:
01. I’m Feelin Saturday (3:18)
02. Sometimes (3:33)
03. Birthday (4:38)
04. Blind Crippled and Crazy (4:56)
05. Backporch (3:55)
06.The River (6:06)
07.Sunday Southern Tradition (4:50)
08.Miss Becky (3:32)
09. Little Pill Called The Truth (4:24)
10.Tastes Like Chicken To Me (5:25)

Credits:

Gig Michaels: lead vocals & acoustic guitar
Marty Hill: lead & acoustic guitars and dobro
Duke Rivers: B3 & piano
Michael Hough: guitar & backup
Robbie Hegler: bass & backing vocals
David Lee: drums & backing vocals

Additional Musicians & Vocalists:
Michael Brignardello: bass
Eric Darken: percussion
Zippy Dokes: B3
Sabra Callas, Lokie Cloud, Vicky Hampton: background vocals

© MuzikReviews.com

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck