Pete Thelen - Best for Last - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Best for Last, by Pete Thelen and it's a blend of tasty music. Opening with slow blues, You Make It Easy, Bennie Hughes sets the pace with his silky smooth voice, backed by Charlie Prazma and Mark Raddatz on guitar who lay down some really nice riffs, Mike Shellans on piano, Jim Massoth and Bennie Hughes on sax, Chico Chism on drums  and Mike King on bass. Strong opener. Annie Dekom takes the mic on Some Kind of Sign, a cool boogie woogie track. A solid piano groove by Shellans and a strong bass line by Paul Sowinski make the stage and John Reuter rips it up on slide guitar. Rena Haus gets her time at the mic and her vocals are strong. With it's open club feel, this track has a great groove. Thelen's vocals on Lost And Found, played nicely against Massoth on sax and Shellans on piano gives this track a smooth relaxing feel. Move On is a cool track with droning like guitar work by Pat Macdonald under chant like vocals. Very cool. Chico Chism takes lead vocal on blues number, New Pain with tight drumming, cool harmonica and a straight up blues guitar lead by Raddatz and cigar box guitar by Macdonald. Wrapping the release is Thought Passing Through, possibly my favorite track on the release with it's folk/blues ballad format. Thelen is at his best in this format on piano with and Hans Christian on cello and nyckelharpa. Very nice closer.

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Rhythm Room Hosting 20th Anniversary Benefit for Paz de Cristo Outreach

BLUES FOR A GREAT CAUSE: For the twentieth consecutive year, Phoenix singer-songwriter Pete Thelen (pictured) hosts a benefit concert at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix for the Paz de Cristo Outreach Center. Thelen's Blues Dinosaurs perform along with other special guests at the Sunday, January 15 event. Fore more information log onto www.rhythmroom.com.

Iconic Rhythm Room Is Site Of 20th Anniversary Benefit For Paz de Cristo Outreach Center Hosted By Phoenix Singer-SongwriterPete Thelen

(PHOENIX) - Blues for a great cause take place on Sunday, January 15 at the iconic Rhythm Room in Phoenix, which is the site of the 20th Anniversary Benefit for the Paz de Cristo Outreach Center in Mesa. As he has done for the past twenty consecutive years, longtime Phoenix singer-songwriter Pete Thelen hosts the event and performs with his band, the Blues Dinosaurs. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road. Doors 7 p.m. Show 7:30 p.m. $10. donation requested. Info: (602) 265-4842 or www.rhythmroom.com. (Thelen and the Blues Dinosaurs also perform at Paz de Cristo on Friday, January 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.).
Past guest performers at this very special yearly event have included famed drummer Chico Chism; Lester Chambers of R&B legends, The Chambers Brothers; harpist Bob Corritore; and Delta blues guitarist, K.K. Martin, among many others.
"My friend Greg Sheldon and I formed the Blues Dinosaurs in 1992 in Tempe, AZ. One of our first paying gigs was a wedding, and the band agreed to give the money to Paz de Cristo, a food pantry that helps the working poor and homeless in Mesa," explains Thelen. "That was the start of twenty years with the Blues Dinosaurs raising money to help Paz de Cristo. For the past several years the benefit has been at the Rhythm Room, and over the years some of the finest musicians in the Phoenix area and beyond have performed."
Thelen has just released a new album, Travels To the Edge. "Something unique...has the darkness of the Delta Blues laid over the ethereal sounds of, say, King Crimson or Trey Gunn. If you're up for something totally different, you should give this a listen. It will stretch your imagination!" (BMan's Blues Report). Read a recent in-depth interview with Thelen here: http://allaccessmagazine.com/2011/12/15/pete-thelen/.

PETE THELEN INTERVIEWS/TRAVELS TO THE EDGE REVIEW CDS AVAILABLE.
www.blues-today.com

Travels To The Edge CD Review BMAN'S BLUES REPORT

Bman's Review :Spider Lake Music artist: Pete Thelen - Travels To The Edge - New Recording

I have just received the new release of "Travels To The Edge" by Pete Thelen. This is certainly not in the standard blues vein and stretches your imagination to define at all. That being said... I like it. One of the reasons that I get releases like this is because I have an open mind and don't want to hear new uncreative artists doing 100 year old songs not... changing a note or phrase. Pete Thelen has certainly put together something unique. Born in Chicago, Pete was raised in the lap of modern day blues music but went off to the army and saw the world. This had a profound influence on his perception of life.
Working many years in a suit and tie after his return, Pete got reacquainted with the music business writing and producing music. Now Pete is on another journey and has invited us along. The music that I hear has the darkness of the Delta blues laid over the ethereal sounds of say King Crimson or Trey Gunn. Included is an 8 page booklet with lyrics and pictures. If you are up for something totally different, you should give this a listen. It will stretch your imagination!

Enjoy
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