Cleopatra Records artist: William Shatner - The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues, from William Shatner, yes that William Shatner. What's it like...you'll have to see for yourself.  Opening with blues classic, Sweet Home Chicago, Shatner teams up with Brad Paisley who throws down some cool blues and country riffs along with Jurgen Engler on guitar, bass and banjo, Chris Lentz on keys and Adam Hamilton on drums, bass, guitar and harmonica. Shatners vocals are freeform and emotional. Otis Rush's I Can't Quit You Baby, features Kirk Fletcher who runs some real nice glues riffs of his own and manages Shatner's freeform vocals nicely. Cream's Sunshine of Your Love is up next, mostly in spoken word and I gotta say that Hamilton's work on drums is exceptional and Landreth wails on slide. Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore takes BB King's, The Thrill Is Gone to the next level and Shatner's vocals are as relaxed as I've ever heard on this track. Pat Travers screams on guitar on Screamin Jay's, I Put A Spell On You and Shatner keeps his cool with almost shouted lyrics. I think that Smokestack Lightning with Steely Dan and Doobies' Jeff Skunk Baxter is my favorite track on the release with Shatner "sing" crying where he almost sounds high. Baxter doesn't let up a bit with slashing guitar riffs. With a serious nature, As The Years Go Passing By, Shatner seems to be performing a play (Like Jack Palance singing country) and featuring Arthur Adams with sweet soloing. The track that I find best suited to Shatner on the release is In Hell I'll Be In Good Company with Albert Lee. His spoken work is animated and Lee's guitar work is spry. Actually very cool. Wrapping the release is Secrets Or Sins, with a whisper like vocal and a shuffle rhythm. I really am not sure what Shatner was trying to do with this release, but it got my attention.

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DAVID BROMBERG announces "low down, dirty country blues" LP out 10/14 (Red House)

DAVID BROMBERG - “THE REASON MAN CREATED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS” (JERRY JEFF WALKER) - RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM ‘THE BLUES, THE WHOLE BLUES, AND NOTHING BUT THE BLUES’ OCTOBER 14, 2016 ON RED HOUSE RECORDS FIRST SINGLE “WALKIN’ BLUES” STREAMING NOW: http://bit.ly/2apqgz8

On October 14, David Bromberg -- a godfather of Americana, decorated multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, gifted song interpreter and lauded bandmate to the stars -- will release The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But The Blues (Red House Records). Produced by Levon Helm and Bob Dylan’s longtime collaborator and three-time Grammy winner, Larry Campbell, Bromberg’s first album since 2013 is a wonderfully curated selection of deep cuts from the blues genre, in addition to original compositions. Bromberg found his inspiration for the album when he heard Willie Nelson repeat a quote from Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble: "There's only two kinds of music - the Star-Spangled Banner and the Blues."  Hear a blustering take on Robert Johnson’s “Walkin’ Blues” here: http://bit.ly/2apqgz8 Through Bromberg’s unparalleled playing and gift for interpretation, a crack band and Campbell’s tasteful horn arrangements, the record reaches electrifying heights as well as intimate acoustic moments, breathing fresh life into the songs of Robert Johnson, Bobby Charles, George “Little Hat” Jones, Ray Charles, and Sonny Boy Williamson, among others. Ray Charles’ “A Fool For You” is one of many album stand-outs, featuring just David on a spellbinding solo acoustic guitar performance and vocals. David learned the song “Why Are People Like That?” from a Muddy Waters record, a song written by one of his favorite writers: Bobby Charles. Bromberg dug deep into recorded music, sometimes finding songs with mysterious origins such as “How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round,” or “900 Miles,” an old country song imagined as if Howlin’ Wolf were to play it. Read David’s liner notes here: http://bit.ly/2aPCp0G Bromberg is “an American music icon” (Dr. John), and counts Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, The Eagles, and so many more as collaborators, fans and friends. This is Bromberg’s 18th  album, the latest in a solo career that began in 1971 on his self-titled debut. The David Bromberg Quintet will bring their exuberant live show across the east coast this fall, including a trio of “Belated Birthday Bashes” featuring Tom Rush, Larry Campbell, and Teresa Williams. Full dates below. TRACK LIST 1.      Walkin’ Blues (Robert Johnson) 2.      How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round (Unknown) 3.      Kentucky Blues (George “Little Hat” Jones) 4.      Why Are People Like That? (Bobby Charles) 5.      A Fool For You (Ray Charles) 6.      Eyesight To The Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson) 7.      900 Miles (Traditional) 8.      Yield Not To Temptation (Deadric Malone) 9.      You’ve Been a Good Ole Wagon (John Willie Henry) 10.  Delia (Traditional) 11.  The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But the Blues (Gary Nicholson & Russell Smith) 12.  This Month (David Bromberg) 13.  You Don’t Have to Go (David Bromberg) TOUR DATES 7/21 –   The Levoy Theatre – Millville, NJ 7/22 –   Stephen Talkhouse – Amagansett, NY 7/23 –   Daryl’s House Club – Pawling, NY 8/26 –   Roy’s Hall – Blairstown, NY 8/27 –   Bearsville Theatre – Woodstock, NY 9/22 –   The Center for the Arts – Natick, MA 9/24 –   Iron Horse Music Hall – Northampton, MA 10/4 –   Count Basie Theatre – Red Bank, NJ* 10/6 –   Birchmere – Alexandria, VA^ 10/7 –  The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA* 10/14 – Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center – Westhampton Beach, NY 10/15 – Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT 10/16 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT 10/21 – Colonial Theater, Bethlehem, NH 10/22 – Portland House of Music, Portland, ME 10/23 – Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH 11/4 -    Center for Ethical Culture, NY, NY 11/12 – Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI * w/ Tom Rush, Larry Campbell, and Teresa Williams ^ w/ Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams http://www.davidbromberg.net/