Emma Wilson - Memphis Calling - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Calling, from Emma Wilson, and it's got that hot 60's Memphis sound. Opening with A Small World, with Emma Wilson on lead vocals and Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Steve Potts on drums. This is a solid opener. Soulful, I Still Love You, is really a nice showcase for Wilson on vocal with it's pared back instrumentation. Kicked up, Drug, has a real nice funky beat with a solid bass line by Leroy, drums by Potts, electric piano by Archie Turner, and Franklin and Smothers really sassing it up on horns. Joe Restivo gets the floor on guitar, laying down the blues on Hoochie Coochie Mama. A low slung version of Morganfield's centerpiece, Wilson really carries it nicely and Charles on organ adds just the right heat. Wrapping the release is soul classic, Since I Fell For You, with Wilson dialing it down over light guitar by Restivo, Leroy and Potts. I really like Charles organ solo on this track giving it the air it needs for a strong closer. 

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NOLA Blues Records artists: The Love Light Orchestra - Leave The Light On - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Leave The light On, from The Love Light Orchestra and it's quite good. Opening with soul track, Time Is fading Fast, front man, John Nemeth on lead vocal sounds great. With it's Memphis sound, dominated by horns by Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet, Jason Yasinsky on trombone, Art Edmaiston on tenor sax and with some outrageous alto sax by Kirk Smothers and including Joe Restivo on guitar, Gerald Stephens on piano, Tim Goodwin on bass, and Earl Lowe on drums, this is a great opener. Blues shuffle, Come On Moon has a really great feel with excellent guitar work by Restivo and warm horn backing by Franklin, Yasinsky, Edmaiston, Smothers and Paul McKinney on trumpet. On Lowell Fulson's 3 O'Clock Blues, Restivo really steps out on one of my favorite tracks on the release. His paced guitar soloing, and of course the excellent vocals of Nemeth accented by Thompson and Franklin really push this track over the edge. Excellent! Nemeth's vocals on Tricklin' Down are really super with strong horn backing and really nice guitar again by Restivo making this another of my personal favorites. Wrapping the release is swing track, Follow The Queen with power brass and shining vocals by Nemeth. Edmaiston really wails on sax and the band pulls together for a power punch... big band style. This is a real nice release with a lot of horsepower. Excellent closer for a really strong release. 

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Severn Records artist: Tad Robinson - Real Street - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Street, from Tad Robinson and it's jam packed with R&B soul music. Opening with Changes, a real nice "Al Green" flavored track, Tad Robinson shows what much of the world already knows... he's a great singer with poise and style. Backed by Charles Hodges on Hammond, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Restivo on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Mark Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a great opener. Bluesy ballad, Search Your Heart is really strong and Robinson's exceptionally smooth vocals, backed by Devin Thompson on vocals and the warm Hammond work of Hodges and with a crisp guitar solo by Restivo make this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Another really bluesy track, Love In The Neighborhood has a great R&B style but checks off the blues box nicely with soulful vocals and harmonica by Robinson and solid guitar lead by Restivo. My favorite track on the release is soulful, Wishing Well Blues with ultra soulful vocals by Robinson and just the right weave of instrumentation over Anker's funky keyboard work and JG Watson/WW Washington style guitar playing. Excellent! Wrapping the release is slinky, Long Way Home with a real nice bass line by Leroy. Robinson has an unbelievable sense for soul music and the sound that this unit puts together is lush and inviting. Highly recommended. 

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Blue Barrel Records artist:Joe Restivo - Where's Joe - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Where's Joe?, by Joe Restivo and it's really strong. Opening with late 50's jazz styling on T. Monk's Bolivar Blues, guitar player Joe Restivo has put together a really nice selection of tracks and just the right mix of musicians to pull this off. With it's bluesy style, Restivo lays out really articulate guitar soloing over the tight rhythms of Tim Goodwin on bass and Tom Lonardo on drums. art Edmaiston hammers the sax delivering a period master work making this an excellent opener. Title track, Where's Joe is a real nice shuffle led by Edmaiston, paired with Restivo on guitar. His solo break here is excellent and of course Edmaiston's sax work is really nice as well. What an opening duo! Backed down to a whisper, Starlight Motel has a really nice melody framed by Restivo and Edmaiston. Restivo's pure understanding of what this music should feel like causes his guitar runs to float on air. Beautiful. Tiny Grimes' Tiny's Tempo is really rocking. With excellent pace and perfect timing in the band, this track is powerful. First up is Edmaiston blowing a great sax solo. His tone is rich and his work fluid. Restivo steps up next and he doesn't waste a note. Wow...excellent! With a lot of swing and a great Latin chaser rhythm by Lonardo, A Few Questions weaves from soft and subtle to powerful and punchy. Edmaiston's sax work really soars on this one and Restivo sounds like an old pro with sophisticated guitar runs. Very cool! next up is a laid back rework of House of the Rising Sun. Mostly sax lead by Edmaiston with firm under pinning by Restivo, a very nice job. Wrapping the release is an exploration on the Stylistic's  People Make The World Go 'Round. This track is adventurous and well articulated. This is an excellent release. If you can check your expectations for a Joe Bonamassa or Johnny Winter like release at the door, you're set for a great ride.

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