Spencer Mackenzie - Preach To My Soul - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Preach To My Soul, by Spencer Mackenzie, and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Baptized By Cold Water, Spencer Mackenzie on guitar and lead vocal hits the road running with a solid composition, strong vocals and cool riffs. Backed by Miles Evans on keys, Steve Pelletier on bass, Adam Cannon on drums, this is a real nice opener. Title track, Preach To My Soul, is a soulful radio oriented track with warm Hammond backing and a catchy melody by Mackenzie. Up tempo driving rocker, Test Drive, definitely has a lot of radio flash with cool vocals, prominent rhythm guitar and Evans contributing heavily on Hammond. R&B drenched, Your Turn To Cry, is one of my favorites on the release with a great melody and perfect horn support by Julian Nalli on sax and Stephan Dyte on trumpet. Ballad, Two Doves is a definite radio track showcasing Mackenzie's vocal skills and featuring Ross Hayes Citrullo on guitar. Wrapping the release is Battle from Within, another track with definite radio appeal with a great melody, harmonies and nice guitar phrasing on the closing guitar solo. This is a strong release with a lot of commercial potential. 

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Spencer MacKenzie - Cold November - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cold November, from Spencer MacKenzie and it's solid. Opening with light funk rocker, Fine Place To Start, Mackenzie shows real promise on lead vocal and guitar. Joined by Miles Evans on piano, Al Duffy on bass, Sean O'Grady on drums, Brant Parker on lead guitar, Dave Dunlop on trumpet, Peter Hysen on trombone, Jay Davidson on sax this is a polished opener. On Move On Down The Track, MacKenzie blends in a bit of country drive and Parker on slide enriches the sound even further. The title track, Cold November is a bluesy ballad with soulful vocals, a nice melody and strong guitar riffs. Very nice. One of my release favorites is Voices Echoing with a funky jazz feel and boppy keyboard by Evans reminiscent of Brian Auger. Haunt Me is a cool shuffle track with real radio appeal. Backing vocals by Rochelle Harrison and Camille Harrison add yet another dimension to this smooth jazzy approach with light and breezy solos by Mackenzie and Evans. Another of my favorites on the release is Robert Cray's, You Move Me with a great bass rumble by Duffy. Traces of Albert King are in MacKenzie's guitar riffs and Evans' piano work weaves in just right. Wrapping the release is Gary Clark Jr.'s Next Door Neighbor Blues with understated slide work throughout and resonator (sound) solo riding high on top of what is really a stripped down rocker. very nice closer to a solid release.

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Spencer Mackenzie - Infected With The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Infected With The Blues by Spencer Mackenzie. Mackenzie is a 16 year old gun slinger with an aim to make a mark on the blues scene and this is a good start. Opening with title track, Infected With The Blues, a contemporary shuffle track featuring Mackenzie onlead vocal and guitar. David "Groove Doctor" McMorrow provides solid piano solos and support with Alan Duffy on bass and Sean O'Grady on drums. A cool track with some clean guitar work by Mackenzie. Chicago style, Mess Around, has great horn support by Bill Holinaty on sax, Ryan Baker on trumpet, and Mike Polci on trombone. A high energy track gives Holinaty a great opening for a super sax solo and Mackenzie shows his cards as well. Very nice. Opening in old delta style, Devil Under Her Skin, fills out in modern style with warm bass lines and additional vocals by Sharon Riley, Rochelle Harrison, Camille Harrison and Dean Malton. Nicely blended lead vocals and with Max Hiller on harp and lead guitar work by Brant Parker gives this track a special feel. Memphis Minnie's, Kissing In The Dark has an Eric Clapton style arrangement but Mackenzies vocals have a different dimension. The maturity in the backing vocals give the track a richer feel and some of Mackenzie's nicer guitar riffs show on this track. Goodbye Lucille is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's slow tempo and soulful guitar phrasing. Hot jump track, Jumpin' from Six to Six has a lot of energy and backed by the full horn section, this track rocks. Particularly snappy drumming by O'Grady and super piano work by Groove Doctor set off by a hot sax solo by Holinaty and a short smoker by Mackenzie gives this track real legs. Lowell Fulsom's, Sinner's Prayer, is another track with a lot of Clapton feel but Mackenzie's vocals are right at the edge of maturity. His phrasing is good but a little more thickness in his chords will benefit him on future releases. His guitar does do much of his talking for him and the maturity is really coming along nicely. Wrapping the release is Dylan's All Along The Watchtower, a la Hendrix. Again I really like what O'Grady brings to the table on drums. Mackenzie's riffs are solid and his vocals spot on. Soloing efforts on this track are real nice and backup vocals add nicely. A very cool first effort.


  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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