Dave Fields - Unleashed - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unleashed, from Dave Fields and it's over the top! I've had the opportunity to review a few of Dave Fields' releases and each one gets progressively more aggressive and wild... and that's good. Opening with Anticipating You, Fields is surrounded with a great crew of musicians including Kenny Soule on drums, Erik Boyd on bass, Vladimir Barsky on keys and Doug Hinrichs on percussion. This is a super rolling jazz number and one that really showcases Boyds' bass style and Fields fluidity on outrageous riffs. Excellent opener. On Don Nix's Going Down Fields, Sam Bryant on drums and Andy Huenerberg on bass crack open Jeff Beck's mix on this track and wind it up. Throwing every guitar riff know to man at it, this track kicks ass in contemporary style. My Mama's Got The Blues has a cool swagger and cutting guitar riffs under the lead vocal and melody. Backed by Boyd on bass and JT Lauritsen on harp, Fields pulls out his slide and scorches it. The Boy Wants To Play is a cool Jeff Beck like track with encouraging lyrics and smoking hot riffs. This track is constructed specifically to allow the showcase of Fields on guitar and it definitely does that. Very nice. Jagged Line is a cool rocker with a heavy bottom. Barsky's key work feels like Jon Lord or Rick Wakeman giving the track a rocky/progressive feel. With soaring guitar work and firm bass work by Chris Tristram, this track is heavy. With fully saturated guitar tones and a SRV swagger, Fields turns up the heat on Better Be Good. Blending and bending riffs with whammy bends and hammer ons, this track is a smokin rocker.  Pocket Full Of Dust heads head on down the slow blues highway with guns blazing. Fields does most everything that anyone can do on guitar and does it in his own way. Want to hear a modern day guitar slinger do his thing...this is it! Rolling into Hendrix territory, Fields airs out Hey Joe. Retaining enough Jimi phrasing to put it in your mind but showing enough originality to make it his own, this track has new life as opposed to a rehash of the same old thing. Fields has great chops and terrific technique. Very cool. New York City Nights is a light jazz fused radio track featuring Fields on lead vocal and bright jazzy guitar riffs. this is an ideal radio track that also retains instrumental integrity. Very nice. Wrapping the release is L.E. S. Hoedown. This is a hyperwarp guitar instrumental demonstrating Fields ultimate finger picking work. Chased by Boyd and Moore the entire way and featuring Barsky on keys, this track is an excellent closer.

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Hunters Records artist: JT Lauritsen - Play By The Rules - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Play By The Rules, by JT Lauritsen. Opening with William Bell's Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday, Lauritsen lays down an extremely soulful track with essential keys by Paul Wagnberg; clean guitar soloing by Arnfinn Torrisen and Ian Fredrick Johannessen and super gospel like vocal backing from Atle Rakvag, Sven Zetterberg, Larry McCray and Kerry Clarke. Really strong. up next is original track Next Time, a New Orleans style track with jammin rhythm by Jon Grimsby on drums and Victor Wainwright on piano. Josh Roberts plays a cool guitar riff on this track and the vocal backing crew is again spot on. On Play By The Rules vocal duets between Lauritsen and Teresa James and Debbie Jamison are really nice but you also can't miss sizzling slide guitar work by Josh Roberts throughout. Nice job! On Big Walter's Need My Babe, Billy Gibson steps up on harp and pushes Lautitsen who sings lead and also plays harp into a really super Chicago style blues. Paul Wagnberg contributes a cool Hammond solo on this track and Wainwright's work on piano can never be understated. Greg Gumpel plays a swingin guitar solo as well. On Wainwright penned track, Memphis Boogie, Wainwright takes the lead and lays down a terrific piano boogie line which is added nicely to by Lauritsen on accordion and Roberts on guitar. Jon Grimsby keeps it all tight on drums joined by Leo Goff on bass. (This ones for you stilladog) Smokin! Really nice soul track I'll Never Get Over You written by band member Atle Rakvag and Knut Eide has a strong sound of Philly. Lauritsen shows his strength as a lead singer on a soul track and again the backing vocals are key. Torrisen and Johannessen on guitar and Wagnberg each take short expressive riffs and the bass player (Rakvag) wrote in smart lines for himself as well. Well done. Another Louisiana influenced track, Ever Since The World Began, has a really nice bottom by Grimsby and Rakvag drives the bass really nicely. Vocal harmony on this track as elsewhere on the release is really super. Stinging guitar work from Torrisen and Johannessen really spice up the track. Another original track, Find My little Girl has a bit of an early rock/blues beat (Big Boss Man). Super swinger Anson Funderburgh steps up for a classic guitar on this track. Eye Candy is a rock bottom driven track again written by Rakvag and Eide. This is a classic early blues rock style track and I really like it (even has cow bell!). This track is a bit different from the rest of the release but it's a mover and possibly one of my favorites on the release... and that's good. On Bo Carlsson's classic The Blues Got Me, Lauritsen opens with cool harp work and a great blues lope. This is a great closing track and although not noted great piano work. Gumpel plays some really authentic guitar riffs and Lauritsen delivers a great closer. This is a really super release with a taste of different styles cohesively blended together for a thoroughly enjoyable album.  

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”