JP Cadillac Records artist: The Knickerbocker All-Stars - Love Makes A Woman - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Makes A Woman, from the Knickerbocker All-Stars and it's rich. Opening with R&B track, So Soon, Darcel Wilson is upfront with powerful vocals, backed by the power horn section of Rich Lataille and Doug James on sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone, Doc Chanonhouse and Carl Gerhard on trumpet and the tight rhythm section of Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Kevin Barry on guitar and David Limina on keys. Excellent opener. Thornetta Davis really swings boogie track, Good Rockin' Daddy with excellent backing vocals and stellar piano work by Limina a sweet sax solo and tight guitar lead by Barry. Definitely one of my favorites on the release. Wilson takes Joe Seneca's Talk To Me, Talk To Me by the short hairs and really spins it. With a perfect touch of trumpet by Chanonhouse, the warm sax work of James and Lataille and fluid jazzy guitar work of Barry, this is a definite star. Go Girl! is an excellent instrumental jam with hot solos throughout by James and Lataille...wow! james Brown's Don't Cry Baby has a great groove with a nice walking bass line by Hallen, laid back guitar lead by Barry, rich sax heat and lead vocals by Davis. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a strong cover of Aretha's Since You've Been Gone by Wilson. This is a solid release with super tunes and a powerful lot of talent .. and did I mention that all proceeds go to United Theater/Knickerbocker Music Center and their joint educational program with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Very nice!



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JP Cadillac Records artists: The Knickerbocker All-Stars - Go Back Home To The Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Go Back Home To The Blues, from The Knickerbocker All-Stars and it swings! After reviewing thier previous release, Open Mic At The Nick I was excited to hear this new release and I'm not disappointed. Opening with with the ear catching, 36-22-36, Sugar Ray Norcia leads the way on vocals with really nice piano accompaniment by Al Copley. Powerful horn work from Doug James (sax), Sax Gordon Beadle (sax), Rich Lataille (sax), Doc Chanonhouse (trumpet) and Carl Querfurth (trombone) and Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Teixeira on drums this band is loaded! Willie J Laws takes the mic on You Know That You Love Me and Monster Mike Welch is super laying down terrific blues riff. Excellent! Brian Templeton takes the mic on Cadillac Baby for a real swinger. James plays a really sweet sax solo on this one and the horn section hold up the back. Very cool. Sugar Ray is back on lead vocal on Brand New Fool, with full strut. Copley's piano rhythm and strong horn backing balance the vocal nicely and a screaming sax solo as well as an extended piano solo cap the track. Willie J Laws has the lead vocal on Guitar Slim's Something To Remember You By and Monster Mike digs on Slim's riffs. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Mike really doing a nice job. Norcia really swings it on Take It Like A Man and another hot sax solo by James cooks it. Instrumental, Hokin', has a real nice feel with well blended horns and piano. If you like sax, this track is your ticket with warm sax runs end to end. Very nice! Al Basile takes the lead on Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Being Right, a jump track with punchy horn work. A cool cornet solo from Basile traded with a swinging sax solo, and tight drumming makes this another stand out track. Laws gets down in serious blues territory with He Was A Friend of Mine. Morganfield like delivery and solid horns fill the track but for me it's the strong guitar work from Welsh that makes this track tick. His phrasing is always heartfelt and clean. Solid sax soloing and piano riffs from Copley are also nicely executed. Excellent! Templeton does super lead vocals on title track, Go Back Home To The Blues. I really like Copley's piano work on this track and Welch adds some swingin riffs of his own punched up by the horn section making this one not to miss. Blockbuster Boogie is a great name for the next track with all horns coming out blazing. Trumpets take the high road and saxes and piano the middle really rocking this track. Excellent! Annie Get Your Thing On has a Latin flair and nice, excellent Albert King like guitar work from Welch. The track breaks into full "swing" and sexy sax work takes over. Breaking back to Latin rhythm, this track has great contrast. Wrapping the release is I Tried, with an Elmore James like opening and Laws on lead vocals. This track is an excellent closer with solid drive, clean horn and guitar riffs and pedal to the metal.

 

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”

 

JP Cadillac Records artists: The Knickerbocker All-Stars - Open Mic At The Knick - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Open Mic At The Knick, by the Knickerbocker All-Stars and it's excellent! Opening with the swinging You Upset Me Baby, Ricky King Russell lays down some really hot guitar riffs and Sugar Ray Norcia leads the way on vocals. Al Copley smokes the keys backed strongly by horn section, Doc Chanonhouse (trumpet), Bobby "Breeze" Holfelden (trombone), Rich Lataille (sax) and Dennis Cook (bari sax). Smokin! Up next is Turn On Your Love Light and Malford Milligan commands the stage on vocal. Vocalist Willy Laws has you in the palm of his hands from the first note of Mother-In Law Blues. Russell steps up with some really tasty guitar riffs on this track and the horn section keeps a real traditional early modern blues feel. Very nice. Milligan is back on the mic for Love Disease and an excellent sax solo from Lataille and Muscle Shoals like guitar work from Nick Adams make this song a standout. Johnny Nicholas takes the lead on the classic Jelly Jelly. Al Copley lays down classic blues riffs on this track and it's slow, easy pace makes for a cool opportunity for Russell to really step out with some nicely articulated guitar riffs. Very nice! On Reconsider Baby the band gives the track a real warm feel with a smooth horn backing and super guitar highlights. Again I find myself really groovin to Russells tasty guitar riffs. On jump track, It's Later Than You Think, Copley really has the keys rolling and the horn section is really pushing as Norcia does a great job on lead vocal. Ain't That Lovin' You features Curtis Salgado on lead vocal and his vocals are top notch. Channonhouse , Holfelden, Lataille and Cook really blow the doors on this one. Willy Laws takes the lead on Five Long Years really gripping the feel of the track. Copley  inserts some solid piano riffs but it's Russell who takes center stage instrumentally with a blistering guitar solo on this one. Excellent! J.P. Sheerar with a much heavier voice, takes the mic on Somebody's Got To Go and again Russell shows what a perfect choice he was as the guitarist for this set. The man just sits in the pocket and cherry picks his solos. Lataille plays a really rich sax solo on the track as well over the masterful key work of Copley. Brilliant. Brian Templeton is on lead vocal for Tore Down. It's nice that the vocalist from track to track are different giving a cool blend of textures with the same band. Templeton has a great voice for the swing and Russell again is right there adding just the right touch of hot guitar over the horn section. Along About Midnight features Nicholas on vocal and has a cool laid back pace. The band wraps itself around the core feel and Russell steps up with just the right amount of throttle. Very nice. Rocker, Going Down really kicks it up a notch with Russell and the horn section at full throttle. Bob Worthington on bass drives it along and featuring Dave Maxwell on keys and tight drumming from Bobby and Fran Christina on drums, is a super conclusion to a hot set!

  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”