Arkansas Street Records artist: Bill Phillippe - Parade - New release review

I just received the newest release, Parade, by Bill Phillippe and it's quite good. This is not your typical blues release...in fact, not sure it's a typical release at all, but it's interesting. In a cool followup to 2014's Ghosts Phillippe set new roads in a sensuous and unconventional way.

Opening with Blues Come Calling, Phillippe, on vocal and guitar, creates an aural street feel joined by Ivor Holloway on clarinet, Swen Hendrickson on bass and Glenn Hartman on accordion. Nicely crafted and melodic, this track is soothing. Folk track, Proper Sorrow is so nicely arranged with Phillippe's vocals backed by a very strong acoustic bass work and weaving clarinet line it's quite enticing. 14th Street, with warm accordion work and clarinet lead gives the track a sense of old Paris. Sensitive writing, vocals and a very strong bass line give this track nice contrast with clarinet overtones. If I Should Lose My Mind is the most straight forward melody on the track but again with sophisticated accordion and clarinet support and great bass. Duke Ellington's Solitude / A Kinder Voice is very subdued with only critical accompaniment. Everything I Have Is Grey, a quiet ballad adheres to a haunting ballad style with really nice bass work and a super clarinet/accordion duet. Little Zion has a more jazzy yet folk approach. Hendrickson really plays a nice bass on this release and his style on this track is outstanding. Balanced with Phillippe's vocals and Holloway's clarinet work, this track is magic. With a 30's sound, Holloway opens Red Beret with clean clarinet work over that solid bass work. Phillippe uses his vocals and guitar work creating a perfect balance of music. Wrapping the release is Tom Waits' Take It With Me, a bluesy number with a nice clarinet intro. Phillippe's vocals are deeper and the track is bathed in accordion. A nicely written and performed release, check it out for a change of pace.



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Arkansas Street Music artist - Bill Phillippe - Ghosts - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Ghosts, from Bill Phillippe and it's quite true to it's form. Opening with Robert Johnson's classic, Come On In My Kitchen, Phillippe uses an arrangement very similar to Johnson's own with simple accompaniment but with to my ear more of an African influenced guitar style. Very interesting. Father's Lament is a quiet acoustic ballad with a beautiful melody. Broken Cup has a nice 3/4 pace and war vocals with clear acoustic support. One of my favorites, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning, has a modern approach to a classic track. With a much more rudimentary beat and contemporary vocals it has a new appeal to contemporary listeners. Tightrope is a moody ballad with a haunting melody. Big Bill's Dream has an interesting sound with blues like strumming but with subtle hints of western music. Traditional track, Motherless Children, has an entirely different feel with a contemporary feel but with thumb bass and a country blues root. The Ballad Of Blind Willie has a sound of sorrow but with more of a European style of writing, almost like of early sailors. God Don't Never Change has the stern sound of Son House and it's solid single string bass line but with contemporary melodic vocals. In My Time Of Dying has the finger style firmly based in traditional blues again with modern interpretation. Nice job. Son House's own Death Letter gets my closest listen with crisp finger picking and stylistic vocals. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a very nice version of You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond. This is the most traditional interpretation of the blues on the release and a cool selection for the final track.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”