Andy T - Nick Nixon Band "Livin' It Up"

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Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - "Livin' It Up" The blues has a history of great collaborations. Now it's time to add Andy T and James "Nick" Nixon to that venerable list thanks to the red clay covered roots of Nick's dynamic voice and Andy's bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style. Nick is one of those amazing artists that rarely surface today. This velvet voiced singer was born and raised in Nashville and was part of the thriving Jefferson Street blues scene of the '60s. Nick was a Chess Records recording artist in the '70s and is a key figure in today's reviving Nashville blues scene. "Andy T" Talamantez was born and raised in Southern California, and relocated to Nashville in 2008. His guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. After meeting James "Nick" Nixon, and watching him perform, Andy knew they they would make an unstoppable combination. And they proved that with 2013's Drink Drank Drunk. The album, produced by Texas blues legend Anson Funderburgh, has been embraced by hundreds of radio stations, reaching number two on Sirius/XM radio's million-subscriber "B.B. King's Bluesville" and climbing the Living Blues chart. Critics have praised their tasteful and authentic approach in the Nashville Tennessean, Elmore, Living Blues, Blues Bytes and a host of other mainstream and specialty publications. And - most important - the fans have fallen in love with their dynamic, rooted live performances, making Andy, Nick and their backing quintet of veteran musicians an in-demand act at festivals and clubs across the world. These include Arkansas' historic King Biscuit Festival and the Moulin Blues Festival in Oslo, Norway, and such prestigious venues as Phoenix's Rhythm Room, B.B. King's on Memphis' Beale Street, Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco and Knuckleheads in Kansas City, Missouri. After storming the international blues scene in the year since their debut album on Delta Groove, the Andy T - Nick Nixon Band wasted no time in knockin' out another spirited and rousing effort with their sophomore release Livin' It Up, which once again falls under the guidance and direction of iconic Texas blues guitarist/producer Anson Funderburgh. Blending together the regional influences of Memphis soul, Texas blues and New Orleans R&B, Andy, Nick and the band dish out ten new original compositions, along with three choice covers selected from the songbooks of T-Bone Walker, Alvin Robinson and Delbert McClinton. Rounding out this offering are a pair of accomplished Dallas-based musicians making a return appearance from the previous album including Austrian born multi-instrumentalist Christian Dozzler on piano and harmonica and saxophonist Ron Jones. Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Livin' It Up Click Here To Listen And Pre-Order

Delta Groove Music artist: Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Livin' It Up - New release Review

I just received the newest release (June 17, 2014), Livin' It Up, from Andy T - Nick Nixon Band and it really hits the spot. Opening with Baby Right Now, a cool 12 bar number highlights Nick Nixon on vocals and Andy T with some sweet guitar riffs. On Best In Town, a Jimmy Reed like tune, Christian Dozzler steps in with a cool harp solo and Larry Van Loon provides solid piano work in support of Nick and Andy. Delbert McClinton's Livin' It Down, a light Latin twist give this track just the right amount of spice. Bassist Sam Persons adds rhythm guitar on this track and Ron Jones beefs things up a bit on sax. Jim Klinger keep a tight rhythm on drums and Nixon really does a nice job on the vocals on this track. T - Bone Walker's, My Baby Is Now On My Mind, gives Andy a really nice format to play some tasty T-Bone inspired riffs. Dossler takes the piano role on this track pushing Andy just enough to get him swinging. Very nice! Good Man is a deep Texas blues and Andy is diggin in from the first note playing some of the bluest guitar riffs on the release. Nixon has great voice and complimented by Van loon on piano, this track is perfect for highlighting his style. Excellent! One Note Shuffle is a great romp featuring Dana Robbins on sax and Van loon on B3. Andy steps up laying down some really nice riffs for a really cool, easy going instrumental. Back Down South is a low slung blues number with hot vocals from Nixon and stinging guitar riffs from Andy. Ron Jones adds a roundness to the overall track as well as a cool solo with his solid sax work. Boogie rocker, Last To Leave, features Dozzler on slick piano riffs, some hot horn work from Robbins and Andy lays down some tasty guitar riffs supporting Nixon with his powerful vocals. On Let's Say It's For Good, an easy swing track, Van Loon and Andy each lay down some really nice licks. Snake In The Grass has a funky beat and Nixon gets right in the groove. Van Loon on B3 does a really nice job and Andy plays more slashing style riffs on rhythm guitar before laying out a cool funky guitar solo grabbing it up tight. Spiritually infused, Whatever You Had You Ain't Got It No More is a really cool track and not only are Nixons vocals powerful, I really like the effects created by Jones on sax. Andy stands tall with his guitar followed by a really cool sax solo from Robbins. On R&B track, Oh Baby, the band is steppin high and Andy gets right on the top with pure style. This track is particularly well suited for Nixon's vocal style. Robbins puts up a full sax solo adding to the muster on this track. Wrapping the track is Love At First Sight, a soul style ballad, featuring heartfelt vocals by Nixon, gospel style piano work from Van loon and nice sax soloing from Dana Robbins. This is a solid release which is quite soothing.