Letizia Records artist: Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band - Beatles Blues Blast - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beatles Blues Blast, from Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band and it's a different look at the Beatles. This release covers 17 of the Fab Four's top hits with lots of twists and turns. Opening with Come Together, Gaetano Letizia on guitar and vocal, Mike D'Elia on drums and vocals and Lenny Gray on vocal and bass give the Beatles active guitar and a funky edge they never had. Beatles classic rocker Money gets a good workout with bluesy guitar riffs and even a visit to Surfaris land. Tax Man gets a shuffle beat, extended guitar lines and a fresh sound. While My Guitar Gently Weeps has a stately sound with solid guitar work, a snappier drum beat and "Vanilla Fudge" like vocal harmonies. One of my favorite remakes on the release is Latin flavored instrumental cover of And I Love Her. The band is well balanced with just the right amount of bass and drum under an expressive lead guitar melody. Very nice. Always a favorite, Blackbird as an instrumental maintains the beautiful melodic guitar work with more lively drum brushes and articulate guitar lead. Wrapping the release is A Day In The Life with a fairly straight forward cover of the original.

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Tom Letizia Records artist: Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band - Ressurection - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Resurrection, from Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Resurrection, Gaetano Letizia shows you right up front that you are in for something special. Gaetano, who plays guitar and sings, is joined by Larry Keller on bass, Steve Renko on drums, Bill Ransom on percussion, Bob Esterle on sax, Mike Fisher on trumpet, Tim Keehn on trombone and Robin Stratton on vocal. A dynamic guitar intro unfolds into a jazzy, laid back shuffle with Letizia twisting the blues on his guitar as only he can do. Very nice. Old Guitar Player has a really nice drum line compliments Renko and Keller's bass work sets the tempo. Letizia's vocals are straightforward and his guitar playing fleet and stylistic. Very nice! Latin infused, Hot and Cold Woman, really moves and with Mike Fisher popping up the top on trumpet. Letizia's vocals are crisp and his rhythm guitar tight. His soloing on this track is slick and meaty. Keller and Renko set a solid bottom on Standing By The Door and Letizia injects a jazzy funk. Sit back and watch the sparks fly as this guy runs his solo lines and breathe easy listening to how nicely paired Keller and Renko are as they get wound up. On Nothin To Me, has a smoky feel with a heavy bottom and cool riffs. Mr. Bad Luck is a hot slow blues number with really nice guitar runs and blues phrasing, backed by Esterle, Keehn and Fisher. Very nice! Another track with a dash of Latin, Sylvester Loved The Ladies, features Ransom and Keller under Letizia's vocals. Esterle and Fisher cruise along nicely adding nice warmth and Letizia's Spanish style guitar riffs are well articulated. Heaven Or Hell had a funky feel with nice lines from Keller and Letizia's lead vocals nicely backed by Stratton. His guitar work is quick and interesting. Wrapping the release is Ascension, a rockin shuffle with ripping guitar lead, broken by nice jazz chords. This release shows several diverse influences fused into one power packed release. Check it out. It's way cool.




  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”

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See See Rider - Janice Harrington & Kenn Lending Blues Band

Janice Harrington born in Cleveland, Ohio, grew up within the tradition of Black American Music. In the 60’s,at the peak of the Black Liberation Movement, her career as a Gospel, Blues and Jazz singer began. Her greatest idols, to name a few are Mahalia Jackson and Dinah Washington.In 1969, she opened her career with a tour through South East Asia, where she sang for the U.S. military during the Vietnam war. Janice was a star guest in the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel from 1975 to 1977.During that period of time she was also well known as actress in the theater and in the American TV series „Days Of Our Lives“. In the 1970’s, she was on stage with Billy Daniels, Lloyd Bridges, Frank Sinatra Jr., Sammy Davis Jr. and Lionel Hampton. Janice began her career in Europe in 1980. While she lived in Norway, she sang for Bishop Desmond Tutu, when he received the Nobel Peace Prize and was also the opening act for Joan Armatrading. In 1989, Janice and the Kenn Lending Blues Band were the opening act for BB King in Copenhagen. Janice is described by the press as warm-as sunshine. She can create a hot atmosphere in a club as well as being a sincere front singer for a Big Band. She continues her work with the United States State Department as invited guest for various American embassies around the world. .In 2007 she was appointed as a Cultural Envoy to the country of Romania and has been invited to Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine, Poland and Thailand, representing Afro American Culture during the Black History Month. "Authentic American Music Workshops“ or "The Roots of Popular Music" is a course that Ms. Harrington conducts in Schools for children of all ages. For more information on this please visit her Home page. Current projects: "A Tribute to Dinah Washington" and "From Spirituals To Swing"  

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 favorite band!

I'M BORN WITH THE BLUES - Jimmy Shirley

Jimmy Shirley was an American Jazz Guitarist. He was born in 1913 and died in 1989. He played with many famed jazz musicians, including James P. Johnson and Coleman Hawkins. A talented swing guitarist who was one of the earlier electric guitarists, Jimmy Shirley never achieved much fame (except among fellow musicians) despite his long career and obvious talents. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where he was taught guitar by his father. Shirley worked in Cincinnati with J. Frank Terry and Hal Draper (1934-36) and had his own group before moving to New York. Shirley was a part of the Clarence Profit Trio (1937-41), with whom he made his recording debut. After a period with Ella Fitzgerald (1942-43), Shirley played on and off with Herman Chittison (1944-54) and led his own bands in addition to working with Phil Moore and lesser-known names. He started doubling on electric bass in the early 1960's including with Buddy Tate (1967). Shirley, who recorded with Sidney DeParis (1944), Johnny Guarnieri (1975) and Stephane Grappelli (1978) among others, recorded a single number ("Jimmy's Blues") as a leader for Blue Note (1945) and headed just one album, a quartet set for Black & Blue in 1975. 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 favorite band!