I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Songs From French Street by the Christopher Dean Band and it's a cool rock/R&B release. Opening with Can I Get It, Dean is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, backed by song writer. Johnny Rawls on vocal and guitar, Rob Fraiser on bass, Dave Hollingsworth on drums, June Thomas on organ, Carl Snyder on piano and Steve Lombardelli on horns. Cool opener. On You Walked Away, Dean rolls into a bluesy rock format and possibly the radio track on the release. With it's up beat drum rhythm and Latin/blues fused guitar lead, this track is strong. Keep On Lovin' Me is really a blues rocker with a SRV flavor but with an R&B overtone. It's ramped up drums and power horn backing make it one of the top tracks on the release. Another favorite is soulful track, Walls, with it's Curtis Mayfield like feel. Dean works this track nicely with just the right blend of vocal and lead guitar. Beautiful. Add in a bit of funk and Send Her To Me, is another real radio target. Blended vocal work and a solid bass line by Hollinsworth gives this track a great feel. Curtis Mayfield penned, My Country retains a lot of the Mayfield flavor and with punchy horn backing by Joe Mixon and S Lombardelli, another strong track. Muddy Water's Gypsy Woman maintains it's shuffle pace but with a much more modern approach, the track is solid with basic, modified Morganfield guitar riffs and even Otis Span like piano work by Chicago Carl. Wrapping the release is Memphis Minnie's Nothing In Ramblin a solid take on this old standard with solid solos by Dean and Carl.
This is a cool release with a lot of super music.
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