Keith Stone with Red Gravy - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keith Stone with Red Gravy : Blues with a Taste of New Orleans, from Keith Stone and it's quite good. Opening with jazz blueser, Ain't That The Blues, Stone is up front on lead vocal and guitar spiced up by Brent Johnson on slide and backed by Tom Worell on keys, Kennan Shaw on bass, and Eddie Christmas on drums. Digging in the funk on Love Don't Put Me Down, Shaw really sets a super groove. This is one of those tracks that really makes you wanna move and Worell's keys matched with Shaw and Christmas on drums is hot. New Orleans saucy title track, Red Sauce has a super piano line and that perfect rhythm. Soloing by Worell and strong vocals by Stone give this track solid footing. Ballad, Crazy In Love With You, has a warm mix of organ and electric piano behind some of Stone's best vocals on the release, topped off by a soulful sax solo by Jimmy carpenter. Don't Count Me Out is a solid shuffle with a cool bottom courtesy Shaw. Tight drums and rich organ feel gives Stone a great platform for his guitar and vocal lead. Latin spiced, Blue Eyed Angel has really nice percussion work by Christmas, sprinkled with the bright piano work of Worell and the solid bass work of Shaw. Time To Move On has a great funky bottom that smells like New Orleans. Stone develops a real lather here on guitar and vocal just in time for Carpenter to blow out some rad sax and trade off with Stones guitar soloing. Very cool. Slower blues track, Hard To Have The Blues is one of my favorites on the release with soulful vocals and focused guitar work. Stone really steps up on this one, laying out the blues six string style, complimented by just the right amount of piano and organ. Wrapping the release is another deeply New Orleans flavored, Something In The Water, with excellent percussion/bass exchange and that familiar piano roll. Nice closer for a solid release. 

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The Prodigal Returns - Keith Stone - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, The Prodigal Returns, by Keith Stone and it's a healthy slice of New Orleans. Opening with Prelude (Just A Closer Walk With The) featuring the incomparable Dr John on piano, Tim Stambaugh on sax, Kevin Clark on trumpet, David Phy on Trombone and Cale Pellick on alto sax. This is the unmistakable sound of New Orleans. Better Things To Do is a funk infused rocker with hi steppin horns and tweaking guitars.Featuring Stone on vocal and guitar, David Hyde on bass, Nelson Blanchard on drums and organ, Lacy Blackledge on trumpet and Mike Broussard on sax. First Love digs down for a smooth blues number and Stone rips some really gripping riffs on this one. With Blackledge and Broussard on horns, Hyde's guiding bass riffs and Blanchard's drum and key contributions, this one's hot! Cindi Leigh has a cool bass rhythm and flavorful accordion work from Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes. With some of the best vocals on the release this track also features a super sax solo by Bobby Henderson. Take Me Home has solid pop R&B style with particularly nice bass runs by Hyde, bari sax work by Broussard and backing vocals by Elaine Foster and Nelson Blanchard. On ballad, New Orleans Moonlight, Stone is really featured up front on vocal with solid horn backing. A pure radio track. Time To Move On has that great New Orleans style funk with hot horn punctuation. Henderson steps up again with a killer sax part and Stone rips loose again on guitar stirring the pot. Very nice! Make Me Feel Alright is a rocker with snappy snare work by Blanchard and another hot sax solo from Henderson. Stone's country flavored guitar riffs and backing vocals by Blanchard give it a rockabilly feel. Buster's Place is driven by a great walking bass line by Hyde and perfect balance between Blackledge and Broussard's horn work and nicely stylized guitar soloing by Stone. With it's solid jazzy feel it's possibly my favorite track on the release. Excellent! Title track, The Prodigal Returns, has a cool N.O. funky feel with a bit of O'Jays and with an open floor gives Stone and Henderson great opportunities for excellent explosive solos. Very cool! Wrapping the release is a full track of Just A Closer Walk With Thee featuring Dr John on piano,Stone on guitar and vocal, Hyde on bass, Joe Krown on organ, Doug Belote on drums, Tim Stambaugh on sousaphone, Kevin Clark on trumpet, David Phy on trombone and Cale Pellick on sax and Elaine Foster with spiritual like backing vocals. With New Orleans style blues phrasing, an excellent closer!

 

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