Little Village artist: Billy Price - Person of Interest - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Person of Interest, by Billy Price and it's got style. Opening with funky, Inside The Box, Billy Price is back with his next chapter. Notable for a leading vocal style for more than 25 years, Price is joined by Larry Fulfher on bass, Josh Sklair on guitar, Jim Pugh on keys, Tony Braunagel on drums and backing vocals by Masayn Lewis, Fred White and Will Wheaton. Of course there's a great horn section behind him including Ron Dziubla on sax, Eric Spaulding, and Mark Pender on trumpet. Great opener.  Bluesy ballad, Mercy, gives Price a chance to belt one out and warm keys by Pugh under the solid lead guitar work of Fulcher, and a sultry sax solo by Spaulding make this a solid radio contender. Title track, Person Of Interest, really has a funky pop sound in the vein of Steely Dan. Reggie McBride on bass lays in a great vibe and Pugh is killer on keys. Price's vocals are loose and free and Dziubla and Pender do a great job on horns. Having spent 3 years with Roy Buchanan, Price dedicates a track, Change My Mind, to Roy. A serious soul track and featuring Joe Bonamassa on guitar who gives Roy a few nods this is a very cool track.  Latin rhythms on A Certain Something has radio warmth and a strong melody. Pugh leads the track nicely on keys and Lenny Castro on percussion and Braunagel really spice up the bottom with Fulcher on bass and lead vocal by Price, backed by Lewis, White and Wheaton really shines. Wrapping the release is high stepping, Damage Control, with Price playing call and response with Dziubla and Pender on horns. McBride on bass holds the line with Braunagel on drums and Pugh of course on keys is stellar. Spaulding shines on tenor sax whipping out a real nice solo and Lewis, White and Wheaton blend nicely. This is a consistently cool release ... think a bluesy Steely Dan. Very nice! 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Billy Price - Dog Eat Dog - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Eat Dog, from Billy Price and it's old school R&B. Opening with Funky rocker, Working On Your Chain Gang, Price, who has one of the smoothest voices on the circuit leads the way with strong support from Alex Pettersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, John Halblieb on trumpet, Jack Sanford on sax, Kid Andersen on guitar and organ, and Walter, James and Dwayne Morgan on backing vocals. Very cool. Smooth pop jazz track, Lose My Number sounds like it's right off of a Steely Dan record with it's strong melody and supple vocals over a organ lead backing melody. Eric Spaulding adds a real nice sax solo on this one giving it a real kick. With a smooth dance groove, title track, Dog Eat Dog is really in the groove with great lead vocals by Price, tight backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Alabama Mike, cool congas by Vicki Randell, the super sax work of Spaulding and great harmonica by Rick Estrin. Dark soul track, My Love Will Never Die, is one of my favorites on the release with screaming vocals, and ripping guitar work by Kid Andersen. Excellent! Another favorite is funky, New Orleans flavored, All Night Long Café. Price really rides high on the rhythm on this track with Jon Otis on congas and percussion, and power horn work by Spaulding, Sanford and Halblieb and a funky bluesy guitar solo by Mike Zito. Really cool. Wrapping the release is radio style track, You Gotta Go with heavy tom tom driven rhythm and glistening key work by Pugh. Andersen's guitar attack is direct and essential as always and Price's vocals are as solid as when I saw him in Pittsburgh with Roy Buchanan a lot of years ago. Price's best album in years. 

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Billy Price Presents A Tribute To Roy Buchanan at The Birchmere

Renowned Soul-Blues Singer Billy Price Presents: A Tribute To Roy Buchanan Featuring Special Guests   THE BIRCHMERE - Sunday, September 22 - 7:30PM

(Alexandria, VA) - Renowned soul-blues singer Billy Price, presents a Tribute To Roy Buchanan featuring an array of special guest musicians,  at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Sunday, September 22. 7:30pm. Tickets are $25. Info: (703) 549-7500 or visit http://www.birchmere.com.    Price was the vocalist on two of the late Buchanan's albums, That's What I'm Here For and Live Stock. Among the Special Guests for the Roy Buchanan Tribute: Award-winning Blues-rock guitarist Mike Zito, also co-founder of new label Gulf Coast Records, who recently released Price's critically-lauded new album, Dog Eat Dog.           ~Billy Price: Some Background And Info. About Dog Eat Dog~   New label Gulf Coast Records releases Dog Eat Dog, the new album from longtime soul-blues vocalist, Billy Price. After the critical acclaim and Blues Music Awards nomination of his last album Reckoning, Price was excited and eager to get back into Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California with Producer, Kid Andersen. Kid and Billy's mutual love for the music and commitment to making an original contribution to the soul- blues genre is evident in this new collection of recordings.   Dog Eat Dog contains twelve songs, eight of which are original compositions. The album opens with "Working On Your Chain Gang," co-written by Price and longtime collaborator, keyboardist Jim Britton. Price and Britton also co-wrote the atmospheric "Lose My Number,"  "All Night long Cafe," and "Toxicity" (with Executive Producer, Guy Hale), while Britton wrote "Walk Back In." Price teamed with another longtime collaborator, French guitarist Fred Chapellier, to write "Remnants," a great new blues song, and the tuneful sweet soul track, "More Than I Needed."  Price worked with Bill Troiani, writer of Reckoning, on another catchy blues tune, "You Gotta Leave." The covers, in addition to "Dog Eat Dog," are Bobby Byrd's "We're In Love," Otis Rush blues classic "My Love Will Never Die," and "Same Old Heartaches," first recorded by The Impressions and written by Price's friends, the songwriting team of Melvin and Mervin Steals, best known for penning "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by The Spinners. The Otis rush song, a staple in Price's live repertoire, was added after Andersen saw a You Tube video of Price performing the song and suggested recording a new version of it.       Price and Andersen assembled a first-class group of musicians on Dog Eat Dog, featuring Price on vocals, Andersen (guitars and assorted instruments), Alex Pettersen (drums), Jerry Jemmott (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), Eric Spaulding (tenor sax), Jack Sanford (baritone sax), and John Halblieb (trumpet). Andersen added congas to most tracks, covered by Jon Otis (son of the great Johnny Otis) and Vicki Randle (Jay Leno Tonight Show Band, Mavis Staples). Randle also provided background vocals with Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Charlie Owen, and the Sons of the Soul Revivers gospel group. Dog Eat Dog also features guest appearances by Rick Estrin, Alabama Mike, and Mike Zito. Estrin plays harmonica on the title track, which he wrote and recorded on one of his albums. A big fan of Alabama Mike, Price was thrilled to share the lead vocals with Mike on "Dog Eat Dog." Gulf Coast Records co-founder Mike Zito also contributed a scorching guitar solo on "All Night Long Cafe."   2016 Blues Music Awards winner Billy Price first attracted national attention during his three-year association with guitarist, Roy Buchannan. Price is the vocalist on two of Buchannan's albums, That's What I'm Here For and Live Stock. Since then, with the Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and solo projects, Billy Price has recorded and released a total of seventeen albums, CDs, and DVDs. In April of 2016, Price was officially recognized and inducted as a Pittsburgh Rock 'N' Roll Legend at an awards ceremony. Price's album This Time For Real, with the late Chicago soul singer Otis Clay, received a 2016 Blues music Award in the "Best Soul Blues Album" category. Billy's last recording, Reckoning, released in June 2018, was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Soul Blues Album of the Year.                                                         ~Billy Price/Dog Eat Dog: What The Media Is Saying~ "Billy Price made his bones with the legendary Roy Buchanan, singing lead on two albums. Since then he has released seventeen albums, either solo or with various bands, and now lands on one of the hottest new labels – Gulf Coast – with his new album. I’ve heard some really good albums this year, in many genres and forms, but this is classic soul, played with an awesome sense of the music and way out there ahead of most. Bloody wonderful." (5 stars out of 5).                                         MUSIC-NEWS.COM "There are those who have an incredible voice. There are those who have an ear for great R&B. Then there are those who have a deep soul spirit. Billy Price has all of that and more. Much more. Few can put it all together like he can."                                      BLUES HIGHWAY US 61 "We are pleased to premiere the song “Working On Your Chain Gang” by the great soul-blues singer Billy Price...a light-hearted and humorous story of love that sure caught our attention with its funky blues groove. Billy Price does it again."                                     ROCK AND BLUES MUSE "They have carved out a niche for great soulful music, sweet harmonies, and music that can make you dance or break your heart. Dog Eat Dog is a fantastic album and one that will easily be on my Best of 2019 list at the end of the year."                             PROFESSOR JOHNNY P'S JUKE JOINT      The Billy Price Charm City Rhythm Band @ The Pearl Street Warehouse 2019   Billy Price 'Dog Eat Dog' Tour 2019 - Live Shows/Special Events Itinerary Sept. 13 (Fri.)         MOONDOGS                                    Blawnox, PA Sept. 20 (Fri.)         HIGHMARK BLUES & HERITAGE FEST     Pittsburgh, PA Sept. 21 (Sat.)        AN DIE MUSIK                                  Baltimore, MD Sept. 22 (Sun.)      TRIBUTE TO ROY BUCHANAN          Alexandria, VA Sept. 28 (Sat.)        THE MAINSTAY                                Rock Hall, MD Oct. 4 (Fri.)            SELLERSVILLE THEATER                    Sellersville, PA Oct. 11 (Fri.)          NATALIE'S LIVE MUSIC                      Columbus, OH Oct. 19 (Sat.)         KNUCKLEHEAD'S SALOON                 Kansas City, MO Oct. 26 (Sat.)         THE SOUNDRY                                  Columbia, MD Nov. 2 (Sat.)           PEARL STREET WAREHOUSE              Washington, DC Nov. 9 (Sat.)           BALTIMORE BOOK & LIGHT FEST       Baltimore, MD Nov 14/17 (Thur/Sun) LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL                Lucerne, CH Nov. 21 (Thur.)       RHYTHMS LIVE MUSIC HALL             Chapel Hill, NC Nov. 22 (Fri.)          THE ROOSTERS WIFE                         Aberdeen, NC Nov. 26 (Tues.)       ST. GEORGES COUNTRY STORE         St. Georges, DE Dec. 21 (Sat.)         118 NORTH                                      Wayne, PA Dec. 31 (Wed.)       GENETTI HOTEL                                Williamsport, PA                                          *CD Release Party                                                                 www.billyprice.com                                                                            www.facebook.com/BillyPriceBand                                             https://twitter.com/BillyPricePgh                                   www.gulfcoastrecords.net Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Cover Story/Interview

VizzTone Label Group artist: Mighty Mike Schermer - Bad Tattoo - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Tattoo, from Mighty Mike Schermer, and I really like it. Opening with She Won't Be Coming Back, a cool Latin rhythm rocker features Mighty Mike on vocal and guitar and in particular Eric Bernhardt on bari sax. Nancy Wright slaps down a really nice tenor sax solo of her own and with Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass and Austin Delone, this is an excellent opener. Slipping into a really nice R&B groove on Lover's Hall Of Fame, Schermer shows his outright style on vocal and guitar backed by D'mar on drums, Kid Andersen on bass and organ and Dennis Love on congas and vocal. Shifting gears again on How Much Longer, Schermer gets on a country track with a really nice Cajun spice. With Revelli on drums, Ehrmann on bass, Delone on piano/Farfissa and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocals this track has great radio flavor and sets up explosive guitar riffs by Schermer. Title track, Bad Tattoo has a great loping swing and a solid, funny, story. With horn warmth and slick riffs by Schermer, this is definitely one of my favorites on the release. Tex Mex track, Hey Francine, is another of my favorites with tight drum rhythms, a cool guitar riff and nice lead and backing vocals by Schermer and Andersen. Excellent! Baby Down The Well is another track of specific note with Aki Kumar on harp, a slapping drum beat and a solid vocal delivery by Schermer, not to mention his hot slide work. Very cool. Make sure you check out Suffocating Love, in Johnny Guitar Watson style. Yeah, I'm talking that funky R&B blues, with a real back beat. Schermer doesn't mimic Watson's guitar style but plays twin leads and alternating solos with Chris Cain. Very very cool! Wrapping the release is Up All Night with a bright, Clapton/Cale style. Delone takes a nice piano solo, Schermer flashes his cards a few times and harmonizes with Andersen but holds back on an explosive ending. This is a nice track keeping you wanting more. This may not be the flashiest releases you will hear all year, but it may be one of the most solid end to end. Very nice work!

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Billy Price - Reckoning - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Reckoning, from Billy Price and it's quite good. Opening with soul fused blues number, 39 Steps, Billy Price has surrounded himself with a who's who of musicians including Kid Andersen on guitar, Alex Pettersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, and Jim Pugh on keys for a solid radio style start. Dreamer is a strong track with a really nice bass line by Jemmott, nice pinched soloing by Andersen, and excellent backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Rusty Zinn. Very cool. Title track, Reckoning, has a real nice feel and an almost Al Green vibe. Price's vocals are smooth and warm keyboard work by Pugh, clean trumpet lines by Konstantins Jemeljanovs, lead bass lines by Jemmott and slick riffs by Andersen make this one of my favorite tracks on the release.  Another of my picks for the release is One and One, with its super melody, some of Price's best vocals on the release and cool sax work by Johnny Bones. Funky soul number, Never Be Fooled Again, has a tight bass line from Jemmott and warm backing vocals by Andersen and Courtney Knott. With a laid back attack, Kid Andersen lays in some mighty tasty licks on guitar. Expert Witness stays in the funky stream with power horn work by Nancy Wright. Very nice! R&B track, Love Ballad could easily have been a strong radio player in the early seventies with it's rich vocals, melody and that tale tell sitar work by Andersen. Lisa's backing vocals on this track are particularly nice. Wrapping the release is Your Love Stays With Me with a country blues feel. Warm horn work, coupled with Prices own smooth vocals over Jemmott's bass line set this track apart and Bones sax solo is really sweet. Cool closer to a cool release.

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Nola Blue/Vizztone artist: Billy Price - Alive and Strange - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Alive and Strange, from Billy Price and it's quite entertaining. I was first introduced to Price as the lead vocalist in the Roy Buchanan band and it's good to see Price still out there mixing it up. Opening with R&B track, It's Ain't A Juke Joint Without The Blues, Price takes command on lead vocals backed by Steve Delach on guitar, David Ray Dodd on drums Tom Valentine on bass and Jim Britton on keys. Delach lays down some really hot riffs and the horns of Eric DeFade (tenor sax), Joe Herndon (trumpet) and Matt Ferrero (sax) really liven up the party. Steeling down with radio track, Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown, Price hits a smooth groove with warm backing vocals by David Avery, DeWayne Chandler, Valentine and Britton.  Really nice soul track, This Time I'm Gone For Good really gives Price a chance to show just how much soul he's got and he's got it good. With a super sax solo from De Fede and a solitary bass line by Valentine, this is one of my favorites on the release. Percy Mayfield track, Nothing Stays The Same Forever, has super strong bones and the band really delivers, and a particular pat to DeFede for his hot sax work. James Brown track, Never Get Enough, has a great groove with a funky bass line, cool key work and that ever so funky rhythm guitar. Magic Sam's What Have I Done Wrong is a real high stepper giving Delach plenty of space to stretch on guitar and again Defede on sax. Very nice. With a big swing, Roy Milton's R.M. Blues is next and Dodd and Jason Hollar on bass set the stage. Joe Herndon really wails on trumpet followed by Dee Fede and Britton. Great track. Wrapping the release is Makin Plans with glistening electric piano work by Britton and George Benson like guitar tones from Delach. Herndon and Defede are joined by Bob Matchett on trombone for a strong radio ready close.




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Bonedog Records artists: Billy Price and Otis Clay - This Time For Real - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (May 19, 2015), This Time For Real, from Billy Price and Otis Clay and it's one of the best R&B flavored releases I've heard in a long time. Opening with Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind, Clay and price show just how nicely their vocals work well together, squeezing ever drop of soul out of the track with backing by Duke Robillard (guitar), Mark Teixiera (drums), Brad Hallen (bass), Bruce Bears (keys), Doug Woolverton (trumpet) and Mark Earley (sax). This track reminds me a lot of the days of Price working with Roy Buchanan and Earley's sax work is really nice! On I'm Afraid Of Losing You, Clay's strength is more prominent with backing vocals by Theresa Davis, Dianne Madison and Diana Simon creating a more spiritual feeling and an Al Green groove. Very nice! Going To The Shack has a funky rhythm with Clay and Price balancing nicely with the horns. Bears takes a key solo leading into a funky "King" like groove from Robillard. All Because Of Your Love is a really solid track with a warm vocal harmonizing on the chorus. Clay and Price trade off lead vocals with full horn backing making this a perfect radio track. Earley opens Love Don't Love Nobody with a rich sax intro over gospel like piano work from Bears. Both Clay and Price take turns on lead vocal and I particularly like Clays vocals on this track. The backing vocals on this track give it a nice "Philly" sound making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. Excellent! I'll Never Do You Wrong is a great track with strong vocal harmonies. This track brings to mind early Impressions with a really tasty guitar solo from Robillard. With a Spinners like groove, Don't Leave Me Starving For Your Love, has a solid sway and calm instrumental backing. This is my choice for my favorite track featuring the vocals of Price. Bobby Womack's Broadway Walk really picks up the tempo with rock pace and Robillard responds with a fun solo giving the track more pop. Book Of Memories is a strong southern soul track featuring the strength of Clay and Robillard's guitar adornment is spot on. Bears plays one of his classic piano solos giving the track an authentic early feel. Too Many Hands is a sturdy R&B track with Price and Clay pushing and the horns giving it up. A very nice high stepper. Robillard sets the stage on Tears Of God with light shimmery guitar chords. Price takes the first verse but joined by Clay on the chorus. Clay takes verse 2 and the band keeps everything light giving it more impact. Deep sax work by Earley and tight trumpet by Woolverton joined by Bears on keys gives this track a certain presence. Very clean! Wrapping the release is Sam and Dave's You Got me Hummin'. These guys sing like they have been together like Sam and Dave for a long time. Very nice wrap to a fun CD. BY the way I really like the cover shot!

Couldn't find a video on Clay and Price together but this track is smokin'!

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