Little Village artist: Billy Price - Person of Interest - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Person of Interest, by Billy Price and it's got style. Opening with funky, Inside The Box, Billy Price is back with his next chapter. Notable for a leading vocal style for more than 25 years, Price is joined by Larry Fulfher on bass, Josh Sklair on guitar, Jim Pugh on keys, Tony Braunagel on drums and backing vocals by Masayn Lewis, Fred White and Will Wheaton. Of course there's a great horn section behind him including Ron Dziubla on sax, Eric Spaulding, and Mark Pender on trumpet. Great opener.  Bluesy ballad, Mercy, gives Price a chance to belt one out and warm keys by Pugh under the solid lead guitar work of Fulcher, and a sultry sax solo by Spaulding make this a solid radio contender. Title track, Person Of Interest, really has a funky pop sound in the vein of Steely Dan. Reggie McBride on bass lays in a great vibe and Pugh is killer on keys. Price's vocals are loose and free and Dziubla and Pender do a great job on horns. Having spent 3 years with Roy Buchanan, Price dedicates a track, Change My Mind, to Roy. A serious soul track and featuring Joe Bonamassa on guitar who gives Roy a few nods this is a very cool track.  Latin rhythms on A Certain Something has radio warmth and a strong melody. Pugh leads the track nicely on keys and Lenny Castro on percussion and Braunagel really spice up the bottom with Fulcher on bass and lead vocal by Price, backed by Lewis, White and Wheaton really shines. Wrapping the release is high stepping, Damage Control, with Price playing call and response with Dziubla and Pender on horns. McBride on bass holds the line with Braunagel on drums and Pugh of course on keys is stellar. Spaulding shines on tenor sax whipping out a real nice solo and Lewis, White and Wheaton blend nicely. This is a consistently cool release ... think a bluesy Steely Dan. Very nice! 

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Lauren Mitchell - Desire - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Desire, from Lauren Mitchell and it's a fine blend of rock, blues and soul. Opening with I Don't Need Nobody, a light R&B number, Lauren Mitchell is backed by Jim Pugh on keys, Reggie mcBride on bass, Tony braunagel on drums with Darrell Leonard on trumpet, Joe Sublett on sax and Johnny Lee Schell, Josh Sklair and Jose Ramirez on guitar. Pop track with a jazz edge, Soul Music allows Mitchell to show off her vocal skills with Maxanne Lewis, Kudisan Kai, Leslie Smith and Mellodye Perry on smooth backing vocals. Title track, Desire, has a warm country soul feel with deep rich vocals. Steve Fister is featured on slide guitar giving the track a crisp edge. McBride lays down a real nice bass line on Jump Into My Fire with a cool R&B style. Bluesy guitar riffs and sassy vocals give this track real traction. With a basic gospel structure, Good To Me As I Am To You, is an excellent track. Pugh's piano work and super horn work on top of soulful vocals by Mitchell make this the absolute best track on the release. Another track with strong R&B appeal is Feels So Good. Mitchell shows strong vocal richness and with a snappy drum riff and super backing vocals, this track floats. Hi stepper, I Ain't Been (Licked Yet) has real spunk with a tight bottom and punchy horns. Mitchell does a great call and answer with Lewis, Kai, Smith and Perry and a clean guitar solo makes this another tight track. Anti-Love Song is another stand out with a great bass riffs and great vocal style. Nicely woven instrumentals by Braunagel, Pugh and McBride make this another of my favorites on the release. Shuffle track, Bridge Of My Dreams, has a great swing. With tight backing vocals and super bluesy guitar riffs, and a slick piano solo by Pugh, Mitchell really hits the mark on this one. Wrapping the release is a plucky, R&B track, Brown Liquor with it's driving secondary rhythm. Mitchell sings this track like she knows a little about the stuff and uses it as a great closer for a real solid release.

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Blue Pearl Records artist: Deb Callahan - Sweet Soul - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Sweet Soul, from Deb Callahan and that's exactly what it is. Opening with Big Love with it's solid strut, Callahan establishes her ground vocally joined byMike Finnigan on keys, Reggie McBride on bass, Tony Braunagel on drums and Allen James. Very nice! I Keep Things Running has a solid footing in the blues with bass vamp and and nicely woven keys by Finnigan. Nice backing vocals by Teresa James, Finnigan and Leslie Smith warm the track and a slick guitar solo from James punches it up. Rocker, Shackin Up features Johnny Lee Schell on slide guitar and a cool bass line from McBride drives this track and Deb rides the wave vocally with clarity and authority. Soulful ballad, I Am Family, will have strong cross radio appeal with a taste of country and nice vocal harmonies from Teresa James and Finnigans articulate piano work. Laid back, Sweet Feeling, is a soulful pop track with strong support from Finnigan. Born To Love You screams 60's soul. Possibly my favorite track on the release, Callahan really hits it, supported by Finnigan on keys, Braunagel on drums, McBride on bass and Lydia Hilliard on backing vocals. James lays in a plucky guitar solo with attitude. Excellent! Seven States Away has a super walking bass line from McBride and real nice vocals from Callahan. Finnigan gives this track legs on keys and Braunagel is tight on drums. Tom Waits' Way Down In The Hole is one that has been done by a number of artists, being the theme song for terrific crime drama, The Wire. This track maintains it's Latin flavor and Callahan shows that she can hold down lead vocals where other super stars have been. James' lead guitar solo on this track is really nice and Jimmy Powers adds a nice harp line. Finnigan smooths in a nice keyboards solo and Teresa James, Finnigan and Schell add super backing vocals. Step Back is a southern soul track with intermittent soft and biting rhythms. A cool keyboard interlude by Finnigan sets the track apart and Callahan jumps up kicking. You Don't Know Your Mind is a high stepper and Deb's vocal phrasing is spot on. James springs on his guitar solo and shakes it nicely and Finnigan dabs on keyboard like an artist dabs on paint. Very nice! Ike Turner's Crazy Bout You Baby, calmed down just a little with a 2 step kind of feel and some chickin pickin guitar riffs from James. Callahan keeps a soulful attitude giving it an interesting texture. Slow blues ballad, Slow As Molasses, Sweet as Honey gets really gritty as Callahan digs deep for Pearl like feelings. James plays guitar response to her blues call and also sails with a smooth soulful guitar solo over clever piano work by Finnigan, making this my favorite track on the release. Doctor John's, I Been Hoodood has a strong funk feel but Callahan has such a soulful voice it gives it a fresh feeling. This is a super closer to a strong soulful release.

   

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