Coffeegrinds Records artist: Blue Largo - Before The Devil Steals Your Soul - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Before The Devil Steals Your Soul, from Blue Largo and it's a blues rocker with a dose of swing. Opening with Wash Away with it's spiritual roots. With warm vocal chorus by Alicia Aragon, Eric Lieberman, Nena Anderson, Missy Anderson, Diane McCalester, Jacquelene Haynes, Nathaniel Greene Jr., Andre Buck and Nathan Jones, this is really nice. Opening into a an early sixties style rocker with Eddie Croft on sax, Lieberman on guitar, Marcus P. Boshore on bass, Tanya "T-Bird" Donath on piano and Rafeal Solomon on Hammond, it's a cool opener. Latin rhythm carries Monrovia with cool percussion by Mike Tempo, stylistic trumpet by Steve Ebner and cool solo's by Lieberman and Donath. Instrumental, Bodas De Oro, is a terrific track featuring Lieberman on baritone guitar and really nice percussion and piano. Excellent! Vocal ballad, The Long Ballad has a great melody and is a solid showcase for Aragon's lead vocals. I particularly like the clean piano work of Donath paired with Lieberman's electric guitar soloing on this track. Anthony Newley's Feeling Good is a real nice showcase for saxophonist, Croft. Another instrumental, Grinder's Groove, features the solid sax work of Jonny Viau and stylistic soloing by Lieberman. Nat Adderly's Work Song is a cool, jazzy, instrumental getting the horns and Lieberman on guitar for a solid piece. Wrapping the release features Lieberman and Nathan James on acoustic guitars playing the blues. It's a real nice closer for this interesting release.  

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Coffegrinds artist: Blue Largo - Sing Your Own Song - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Sing Your Own Song, from Blue Largo and it covers the gamut from Louisiana swamp grooves to acoustic country. Opening with Walkin' On A Tightrope, vocalist, Alicia Aragon takes the lead with solos by Eric Lieberman on guitar, Taryn Donath on keys and solid bass work from Joey Jazdzewski and drums from Marcus Bashore. A smooth sax solo by Dave Castel de Oro on Kindness Love and Understanding hits the target and provides a nice bridge to solo guitar work from Eric L. Title track, Sing Your Own Song, has that gospel revival sound reinforced by Dave on sax and Rafael Salmon on organ. On Latin infused R&B track, Tears of Joy, the familiar feel of an old Ben E King track with tight percussion work by Ron Felton. Earl Hooker's Guitar Rhumba is one of my favorites on the release with Lieberman taking the lead with authentic Cuban style piano rhythms from Donath and Johny Viau on percussion. With a break into a more swinging beat the track takes on a chameleon style but then again back to Spanish. Very cool! Prisoner of the Night has a great swing and strong sax work from Jonny and Dave. Eric slips in a fluid bluesy guitar solo of his own with 50's style men's vocal chorus. Very nice! Evening is a slinky, easy swing track with clean piano work from Donath. There is strong sax and guitar interplay on this track which gives a nice groove. Nothin' To Prove has a pop rock feel and a catchy melody, always with strong sax work. Willie Dixon's You Know My Love is one of my favorites with a dark soul sound. This is possibly Aragons best showcase for her vocals and the heavy horns really punctuate it nicely. Okie Dokie Stomp is always a favorite, featuring Eric on guitar and a big band horn pump and Bashore and Jazdzewski holding tight. Elevator To The Gallows has a super feel with dissonant guitar chords, bright piano riffs and sexy sax lines. A nice blend of sweet and sad like St James Infirmary and clean sax and guitar solos highlight the track. Magic Sam's, I Need You So Bad, has a great feel with some of Aragon's best vocal work and also including some of the more memorable guitar riffs on the release. Donath lays down some real nice piano work and Viau really hits the sax hard on this track. Very nice! Steel guitarist Herb Remington's, Remington Ride has a country (cowboy 2 step) feel and Lieberman does a real nice job pulling it off with simple piano, bass and drums accompaniment. Very cool! Wrapping the release is the classic, Sitting On Top Of The World in stripped down form, featuring Aragon on vocal and Lieberman on acoustic slide for a real nice closer.



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