Delmark Records artist: Dave Specter - Six String Soul - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Six String Soul, a double cd release by Dave Specter and it's great. Celebrating 30 years on Delmark, with remastered recordings from throughout his career and celebrating many guests. Opening with Buzz Me Specter on guitar, is joined by Barkin Bill Smith on vocal and Ronnie Earl on guitar as well as Ken Saydak on organ, Dez Desormeaux on sax, Red Groetzinger on sax, Mike McCurdy on bass and John Hiller on drums. Very cool. Specter really stretches out nicely on solo guitar on slow blues, Railroad Station. Smith, on lead vocal does a real nice job and Bob Stroger on bass anchors the track. Saydak's piano is a nice accent and sax soloing by Groetzinger is really nice. I really like instrumental, Specter's Walk, with it's deep jazz groove. Specter cruses on guitar, Desormeaux's sax solo is rich, and Saydak's organ work is strong. Tad Robinson has lead vocal on Sweet Serenity. I've always been a fan of Robsinson's vocals and Specter really gets this track swinging on guitar. Very nice. West Side Stroll is another terrific instrumental, showcasing Specter's dynamic guitar style. Backed by Mike McCurdy on bass and Mark Fornek on drums, another great track. Seventy-Four is a strong slower blues with Willie Kent on lead vocal and bass. This is the style of track that really gets Specter in the slot. His lead soloing is tops and with Fornek on drums, another highlight of the release. Lynwood Slim has the mic on Get Back Home, a strong shuffle. Mike Scharf on bass, Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and Fornek on drums hold a tight bottom and Specter nails it on guitar. Very nice. Kenny Lynn really adds depth to the release with his powerhouse vocals on Blues On My Mind and Rob Waters' organ solo is dynamite. Low slung, In Too Deep, features Sharon Lewis on lead vocal and Specter's guitar doing his talking. With Brother John Kattke on piano, Harlan Terson on Bass and Marty Binder on drums, this is a great shuffle. The Blues Ain't Nothin' features a cool pairing of Specter and Jorma Kaukonen on lead guitars with Harlan Terson on bass, Marty Binder on drums, Kattke on keys and lead vocal, Mars Williams on sax, John Janowiak on trombone and Ron haynes on trumpet. Wrapping the release is Ballad of George Floyd with Specter on guitar and vocal with Billy Branch on vocal and harmonica backed by Danny Shaffer on acoustic guitar and Brother John Kattke on organ. This is a really terrific retrospective and a great addition to your collection. 

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Rebekah Meldrum - Self Titled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Rebekah Meldrum and it's tasty. Opening with Set Your Soul Free, Rebekah Meldrum has one of those voices that just grabs you. With plenty of grit and soul, she leads the way backed by Paul Holdman on slide, David Murray on bass, Kevin Kouts on drums and tad Robinson on harmonica. Solid opener. Far Away is a super radio track with a great melody, strong vocals from Meldrum and nicely complimentary harmonica work from Patrick Long. On smooth shuffle, Gypsy, Holdman takes a real nice solo creating a nice tension with Meldrum on vocal. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I'm Here, a bluesy ballad with gospel overtone. Meldrum has a real strong voice and the warm chords of Meldrum really accentuate her gritty smoothness. PJ Yinger on trumpet and Richard Dole on trombone give this track a nice sendoff. An additional bonus on this track is the addition of Robinson on second vocal. I think he's terrific. Super closer.

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Delmark Records artist: Dave Specter - Blues From The Inside Out - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues From The Inside Out, from Dave Specter, and it's got great style. Opening with title track, Blues From The Inside Out, Dave Spector leads on guitar and vocal with Brother John Kattke on keys, Harlan Lee Terson on bass, and Marty Binder on drums. Adding in the horns on Ponchatoula Way, Specter put up a blues rocker with a splash of New Orleans. Mars Williams on sax, Jon Janowiak on trombone and Ron Haynes on trumpet give the track fullness and Spector's innovative blues riffs and the solid piano work of Kattke are really nice.  Hot Tuna leader, Jorma Kaukonen joins on Sanctifunkious, a real sweaty blues funk right out of the streets of NO. A cool instrumental with essential drums by Binder and percussion by Ruben Alverez, and nice key work by Kattke, a great groove. Latin influenced, Minor Shout has a super beat and with tight percussion, clean lead guitar and fluid organ runs, it could easily be from an early Santana release. Very nice. Boogie track, The Blues Ain't Nothin' has a terrific walking bass line, punched along by Haynes, Williams and Janowiak giving Jorma and Specter a wide open field to jam. Slick. My favorite track on the release, Opposites Attract, has a contagious, swamp rhythm, super piano work by Kattke and some of Specter's best soloing on the release. A little change up and a bit of R&B gives you Soul Drop with a straight snare beat, full organ and rich guitar lead with light chicken on the side. Wrapping the release is String Chillin' a smooth instrumental featuring Specter setting up a basic melody, jazz style but without too much sauce and Kattke on piano. As the track warms in, Specter's guitar ventures into improvisation. Think more Buchanan or Gatton than Wes Montgomery. This is a real nice track and a solid closer for a real nice release. 

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Severn Records artist: Tad Robinson - Real Street - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Street, from Tad Robinson and it's jam packed with R&B soul music. Opening with Changes, a real nice "Al Green" flavored track, Tad Robinson shows what much of the world already knows... he's a great singer with poise and style. Backed by Charles Hodges on Hammond, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Restivo on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Mark Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a great opener. Bluesy ballad, Search Your Heart is really strong and Robinson's exceptionally smooth vocals, backed by Devin Thompson on vocals and the warm Hammond work of Hodges and with a crisp guitar solo by Restivo make this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Another really bluesy track, Love In The Neighborhood has a great R&B style but checks off the blues box nicely with soulful vocals and harmonica by Robinson and solid guitar lead by Restivo. My favorite track on the release is soulful, Wishing Well Blues with ultra soulful vocals by Robinson and just the right weave of instrumentation over Anker's funky keyboard work and JG Watson/WW Washington style guitar playing. Excellent! Wrapping the release is slinky, Long Way Home with a real nice bass line by Leroy. Robinson has an unbelievable sense for soul music and the sound that this unit puts together is lush and inviting. Highly recommended. 

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Announcing the 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival

Multiple BMA Nominee, vocalist Tad Robinson, headlines 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival.    (TEMECULA, CA) - The burgeoning SoCal Inland Empire finally has it's very own Blues Festival with the advent of the 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival, Civic Center Plaza, 41000 Main St., taking place Saturday, April 21, from 12 Noon until 10 pm (rain or shine). Tickets: $38., now available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/temecula-blues-festival-tickets-37343345953. Info: (951) 676-2722. Presented by The Old Town Blues Club (formerly The Lucky Stone). All ticket sales final.                                              Highly-regarded South Bay-based vocalist Shari Puorto & Band are on the bill.   Multiple BMA nominee, vocalist Tad Robinson, headlines a strong eight-band bill that also includes San Diego-based guitar ace Stoney B. Blues Band; highly-regarded South Bay vocalist, Shari Puorto Band; blues harmonica at its best from The Honey Lickers; Chris Fast Band; Bill Magee Blues Band; Cash N Freedman; and JD Priest Band. There's also a Vendor Blues Village featuring Blue Beat Music; Ugly Hands; Blues Festival Music; and many more.  A top-end assortment of food vendors include Rene's Cowgirl Cantina (Gourmet Mexican); Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza; Laurent's Cafe' (French Pastry Sandwiches); Devilicious Cafe; Rock N' Jenny's Italian Subs; Bad To The Bone BBQ; The Bridge at 3rd Fish N Chips; The Bank (Mexican Food). No less than eight quality Inns and Hotels give the concert-goer the option of staying the night, with great live bands on Sundays at the Old Town Blues Club nearby.  "This festival will be the first of annual blues festivals to follow, so go ahead and make the decision to be a part of this inaugural event and make a weekend out of your trip to lovely Temecula," says TB Promoter, Andy Doty. "You'll enjoy yourself immensely." The Temecula Blues Festival will be held on the plaza, a beautifully-landscaped area with trees, grassy areas, park benches and a serene water fountain to create the perfect Spring day concert environment.  Temecula, which is situated within a population of twenty-million Southern California residents, is alive and kicking as a regional hot-spot, entertainment destination. Nowhere else in the country can a person wine taste at 40-plus wineries, beer taste at approximately a dozen micro-breweries, gamble and/or stay the night at California's largest casino (Pechanga) and experience a large volume of nightly, live music entertainment right in the heart of Old Town, which has a little bit of everything to offer including unique restaurants, boutique retail shops, hotels, museums, theater, art, antiques, a weekend farmer's market, and a wide variety of live entertainment every weekend. Old Town has over forty annual special events, including the famous Rod Run Car Show each Spring that attracts more than 30,000 visitors to Old Town Temecula.                                        www.temeculabluesfestival.com www.facebook.com/oldtownbluesclub

Slim Cuts artist: Slim Butler - Bad Intention - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Intention, from Slim Butler and it's terrific! Slim has great style and it's been too long since I reviewed his last release Inner Blues back in 2013.

Opening with All About You a cool R&B style blueser, a la Robert Cray, Tad Robinson shows just how sweet his voice is on soulful music and with a tight band lead by Jarmo " Slim" Puhakka on nicely stylized guitar riffs, Esko Ollila on drums, Harri Taitonen on keys and Hannu Lehtomaa on bass and punched up by the horn section (Slimcuts) of Tapio Maunuvaara on trumpet, Jukka-Pekka Peltoniemi on trumpet, Olli Tuomainen on tenor sax and Antti Napankangas on trombone. Great opener. On driving rocker, Mean Trouble, Andrew Black has the mic with a heavier feel and Slim keeps things close on guitar. On funky, Junk In The Trunk, you get a definite Tower Of Power feel with nice horn work, Black again on lead vocal and excellent drum work from Ollila and with super bottom by Marja-Kaisa Villanen on bari sax and featuring some nice guitar riffs by Slim. Very nice. R&B track, It Ain't Me has Robinson back on lead vocal with cool key work from Taitonen and nice horn backing. Slim really winds it out nicely on this track with cleanly articulated guitar runs complimenting the closing refrain. Jumpin' Santa is a real cool little instrumental with a boogie beat. Slim sets a real nice loping pace on guitar and Markku Orislanti hits on drums. Very smooth. On title track, Bad Intentions, Slim takes the mic and is joined by Harri Raudaskoski who plays an aggressive guitar solo with Slim on guitar 2. A Stone Free "styled" track, this is a cool rocker. With a snappy, swampy beat, Monkey Moon is infectious. Slim lays in slick guitar riffs under silky smooth vocals by Robinson. Cryin' Shame is another super track with a nice bass line by Lehtomaa and excellent lead vocals by Black. With really nice sax work Olli and great horn work overall by the Slimcuts, this track defies you to keep your bottom still. With a great walking bass line by Lehtomaa, smokin' riffs by Slim and great lead vocals and harp by Robinson, Lady In Blue is a super track. Wrapping the release is solid blues number, Coast To Coast featuring the soulful vocals of Black. Warm organ lines by Taitonen and bluesy riffs by Slim really cement this excellent closer.



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Severn Records artist: Tad Robinson - Day Into Night - New Release review

I just received the newest release (April 21, 2015), Day Into Night, by Tad Robinson and it's smokin! Opening with smooth groovin' Soul Lover, Robinson shows just how much soul he has with has solid vocals joined by Caleb Green and Christal Rheams and understated horn work of Kenny Rittenhouse (trumpet), Liesl Whitaker (trumpet), Antonio Orta (tenor sax) and Bill Holmes (trombone). On Call Me, Kevin Anker on keys and Benjie Porecki on organ set a nice groove and Robinson takes a smooth ride vocally. He really does have the groove and delivers like a master (think Al Green). Lonely Talking has a great feel and the masterful guitar playing of two of my favorite contemporary guitarists, Anson Funderburgh and Johnny Moeller. This isn't your typical Texas guitar shootoff but a real soulful sway with honest tasty riffs playing against the beat. Excellent! He's Moved On opens with Bill Holmes warm trombone sound and Robinson keeps his vocals attack on the down low. Now he's not Barry White, but this is is hot. Green and Rheams keep the melody line going and Robinson shows his honest feel for the groove... Marvin Gaye style. Now I don't say these names to say he's doing someone else's thing. He actually captures the feel created by the best in the business and that's saying something! Lead Me On is a great track and Robinson continues to impress with his soulful vocals. Moeller lays out a stinging guitar solo on this one and Anker isn't far behind sewing it up on keys. Mellow In Love is a solid R&B ballad with a horn chaser. Steve Gomes sets up the bottom and Robb Stupka keeps it tight on drums. Love Is A Winner has a real bright feel and a crisp beat with Anker, Rittenhouse, Whitaker and Moeller weaving a smooth tapestry of music. Blue Yesterday is a smooth soul track with a smooth approach. Moeller's subtle attack on guitar and support of Anker gives Robinson a lot of headroom to lay down the vocal groove. Robinson taps his harmonica to set the footing for high stepping While You Were Gone. The perfect groove set by Gomes and Stupka is glazed by Anker on keys and Robinson rides the wave both vocally and on harp. Nightwatch has a slower sway to it set by Whitaker and Rittenhouse. Even the percussion on this track makes you feel you're in the studio of Marvin Gaye. A supple track with warm horn backing, this track coaxes Moeller out again with some really soulful riffs hitting it on the head. Need Some Better has a nice strut with a tight reign by Robinson. His vocal phrasing is excellent and Anker seems to hit the spots just right. Wrapping the release is a fuller sounding Call Me, with horns gently caressing the tender vocals of Robinson. Smooth backing vocals by Green and Rheams and painterly addition of each instrumental sound clearly results in a superb professional production. Robinson speaking the lyrics like an original soul track from Philly in the 70's gives this track a super feel and authenticity.  This is an excellent new soul fused release. Check it out!

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Multiple Blues Music Award Nominee Tad Robinson Brings His Soul/Blues Sound from "Day Into Night" on New CD, Coming April 21 from Severn Records

Multiple Blues Music Award Nominee Tad Robinson Brings His Soul/Blues Sound from Day Into Night on New CD, Coming April 21 from Severn Records

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Severn Records announces an April 21 release date for Day Into Night, the new CD from seven-time Blues Music Award nominee Tad Robinson. This new CD is the long-anticipated follow-up to his last release, Back in Style (2010), and features the soul/blues singer backed by the Severn Records house band of Johnny Moeller – guitar, Kevin Anker – keyboards, Steve Gomes – bass and Robb Stupka – drums. Joining in the fun are special guest appearances from blues guitar heavyweights Alex Schultz and Anson Funderburgh.  

This veteran team of musicians, recorded at Severn Sound Studios in Annapolis, Maryland, shows its experience by focusing on how best to serve each song. “It’s not about excess,” notes Robinson; “rather, paring down the accompaniment to the essence of each song.”

That restraint is obvious throughout Day Into Night, enabling Tad Robinson’s soulful vocals to take front and center, resulting in the strongest soul/blues collection in his growing catalog to date.

Included in the new album’s dozen tracks are mostly-original songs crafted by Robinson, Gomes and Anker, including “Nightwatch,” which showcases the always tasteful fretwork of Robinson’s longtime collaborator, Alex Schultz. “Severn’s creative studio environment produced a spontaneous combustion, resulting in Alex’s gorgeous rhythm guitar part on ‘Nightwatch,’ which anchors the tune,” recounts Tad.

The legendary Anson Funderburgh lends his signature stabbing, punctuated guitar lines on “Lonely Talking,” the deepest soul/blues cut on the album. “Anson provided a real gut-check with a call and response to my vocal, which gives it deep passion and intensity,” says Robinson

Additional highlights include the stunning opening track, “Soul Lover,” with its elegant horn chart courtesy of arranger Kenny Rittenhouse; the infectious soul of “Mellow in Love” and “Love Is a Winner;” and the band’s re-working of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s up-tempo number, “Lead Me On.” “This goes to the heart of the record with its message of trust and humility,” declares Robinson. “In the end, that is the essence of the entire disc.”

The songs contained on the new CD are reflections of the way we connect, love and remember. They flow from soul celebrations of sturdy, tested love to the blues of relationships tangled up in doubt, old flames and new attractions, with the inevitability of Day Into Night.

Tad Robinson will celebrate Day Into Night with a series of CD release shows in and around his Indianapolis hometown, including April 10 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana; April 11 at Player’s Pub in Bloomington; May 21 at the Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis; and May 22 at the Jazz Kitchen, also in Indianapolis.

Tad Robinson Discography

2015 – Day Into Night – Severn Records

2010 – Back in Style – Severn Records

2008 – A New Point of View - Severn Records

2005 – Did You Ever Wonder? - Severn Records

1998 – Last Go Round – Delmark Records

1995 – One to Infinity Delmark Records

For more information, visit www.severnrecords.com.

    

Payback - Tad Robinson Band with Alex Schultz

Tad Robinson (born June 24, 1956) is an American soul blues singer.

Robinson was born and raised in New York City, attending school at Indiana University's school of music and graduating in 1980. He played regionally with a group called the Hesitation Blues Band, then moved to Chicago, where he became the vocalist for Dave Specter & the Bluebirds, singing on their 1994 album Blueplicity for Delmark Records. In 1994 he released his first album under his own name on the same label; three more have followed, two on the Severn imprint.[1]