Henry Gray & Bob Corritore - Cold Chills - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cold Chills, from Henry Gray and Bob Corritore and it's a heaping serving of Chicago blues. Opening with Cold Chills, Henry gray is upfront on lead vocal and piano and Corritore has great tone and fullness. Backed by Bob Margolin on guitar, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Chico Chism on drums and Pops McFarlane on drums, this unit is tight. Fats Domino's Don't You Lie To Me is a great track for Gray with natural piano spotlight and Corritore is mic'd forward in the mix which I really like. John Brim gats the mic on slow blues, Moonlight Blues, also taking the lead on guitar with Corritore on harmonica, Paul Thomas on bass, and Chism on drums. This track has a great feel and balance. Eddie Taylor Jr leads the way on guitar and vocal on Going Away Baby with Corritore on harmonica, Illinois Slim on on guitar, Brian Fahey on drums, and Bob Stroger on bass. Very nice. Gray is back on piano on Mother - In - Law Blues featuring Robert Jr Lockwood on guitar and Chism on drums, Rapp on guitar and Mario Moreno on bass. In the slot, solid. Tail Dragger is upfront on Hurt Your Feelings and Johnny Burgin adds tasty lead guitar. With Slim on guitar, Fahey on drums and Stroger on bass, deep Chicago blues. Jimi "Primetime" Smith is at the mic on You For Me a cool shuffle track with a nice lope. Gray and Corritore really shine on this track with Troy Sandow on bass and Marty Dodson on drums. Chief Schabuttie Gilliame does an outrageous job on lead vocal on boogie, Javelina Jamboree with Burgin smoking the guitar and great piano riffs by Gray. Backed by Moreno on bass and Chism on drums, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is slower blues, Going Down Slow with Gray back on lead vocal and piano and chilling guitar riffs by Rapp. This is an excellent closer for a really strong traditional Chicago blues release. 

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Pete Thelen - Best for Last - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Best for Last, by Pete Thelen and it's a blend of tasty music. Opening with slow blues, You Make It Easy, Bennie Hughes sets the pace with his silky smooth voice, backed by Charlie Prazma and Mark Raddatz on guitar who lay down some really nice riffs, Mike Shellans on piano, Jim Massoth and Bennie Hughes on sax, Chico Chism on drums  and Mike King on bass. Strong opener. Annie Dekom takes the mic on Some Kind of Sign, a cool boogie woogie track. A solid piano groove by Shellans and a strong bass line by Paul Sowinski make the stage and John Reuter rips it up on slide guitar. Rena Haus gets her time at the mic and her vocals are strong. With it's open club feel, this track has a great groove. Thelen's vocals on Lost And Found, played nicely against Massoth on sax and Shellans on piano gives this track a smooth relaxing feel. Move On is a cool track with droning like guitar work by Pat Macdonald under chant like vocals. Very cool. Chico Chism takes lead vocal on blues number, New Pain with tight drumming, cool harmonica and a straight up blues guitar lead by Raddatz and cigar box guitar by Macdonald. Wrapping the release is Thought Passing Through, possibly my favorite track on the release with it's folk/blues ballad format. Thelen is at his best in this format on piano with and Hans Christian on cello and nyckelharpa. Very nice closer.

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