I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nowhere To Go But Up, from Smiling Jack Smith & The New Panama Limited and it's an interesting blues rock set. Opening with Another Year Gone, a blues based rocker, Smiling Jack Smith leads the way on guitar and vocal, backed by David Herrington on tuba and Quique Villafane on drums. David Gwynn holds down the lead guitar role with some really nice riffs includig a few pinched harmonics and phrasing that would make Roy Buchanan proud. On easy folk blues, Been Worryin' it's the tuba backing by Herrington that really gets my attention under some of the best vocals on the release by Smith. Very nice. Uptempo rocker, Don't Pray Me No Prayers When I'm Gone, is a super to tapper with a country style flavor. Underlying tuba work by Herrington hits the mark. Randon Walk Start All Over Again is a cool, nearly spoken word track with a solid bass line (on tuba) and nicely phrased guitar lead by Gwynn. Laid back, Southbound Train, is a cool radio style track with a strong melody, western and slide style guitar work by Gwynn, the the solid bottom by Herrington on tuba, and snappy drum riffs by Villafane. wrapping the release is title track, Nowhere To Go But Up, with it's sing along style and country flavoring. An extended guitar solo by Gwynn blends nicely with the acoustic work of Smith, Herrington on tuba and Villafane on drums. Good closer.
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