Mark Hummel - True Believer - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, True Believer, from Mark Hummel and it's chocked full of smoking blues. Opening with Chicago style blues track, High Time For The Devil, Oscar Wilson on lead vocals leads the way with solid pace and force, and Mark Hummel on harmonica really shines. Bob Welsh on piano adds a perfect glisten to the track, backed by Randy Bermudes on bass, Billy Flynn on guitar, and Wes Starr on drums. Great opener. Otis Rush's slow blues, Double Trouble, is terrific with Junior Watson getting hot and heavy on guitar, and Hummel shining on lead vocal and harmonica. With Kedar Roy on bass, Brett Brandstadt on piano, Jack Sanford on sax, and Starr on drums, this is my favorite track on the release.  Peter Green's Stop Messin' Round is a great shuffle and Hummel really gets in the slot on vocal. Watson has the lead on guitar again and his phrasing is excellent, backed by Roy, Brandstadt, Sanford and Starr. Little Walter's The Toddle, is a great track and features Hummel front and center on harmonica. With Watson on guitar, Roy on bass and Brandstadt on piano, this is a nice changeup in the mix. Wrapping the release is Shufflin' Days featuring Joe Beard on lead vocal and guitar and showcasing Hummel on harmonica.  With Billy Flynn on guitar, Bob Welsh on piano, Randy Bermudes on bass and Starr on drums, this is an excellent closer. 

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Hard Swimmin' Fish - True Believer - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, True Believer, from Hard Swimmin' Fish and it's really cool. Opening with title track, True Believer, Demian Lewis is on guitar creating a real dirty sound that has a great groove. A swampy bluesy track that really hits on the spot supported by Waverly Milor on vocal and harp, Jason Walker on drums, Randy Ball on bass and John Sharrer on organ. On funky, Five Years Hard Labor, HSF produces a raw sound with a lot of grit. A rocky kind of sound...I really like it! No Shortage Of The Blues is a nice blues rocker with an almost Steppenwolf swagger and caressed by harp. Lewis plays flashy but unassuming solos and Ball's bass work it tight. Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin' has just a touch more rock than the Wolf version, complimented by a rock beat by Walker and guitar riffs by Lewis. Cool! Ooh, That Was Close has a rockabilly jazz feel with fluid but dirty guitar riffs. On Love Me Or You Don't, Lewis gets a real nice roll going on guitar with an almost Stevie Ray sound but with less flash. Interesting and effective. On country trek, Come Together, the track is a bit more freewheelin' and Lewis' slide style shows influence by Johnny Winter. Very cool. Need Your Love So Bad is a classic blues number and done in classic style, stripped down with solid bass work by Ball and soothing organ work by Sharrer under the soulful vocals of Milor. Lewis takes a real nice guitar solo on this track giving the track a nice edge. Get Gone has an interesting feel with light rim shots by Walker and Milor on harp. With a bass solo interlude this track glides along and Lewis' guitar solo is smooth. Very nice! Easy rocker, Once Upon A Time, gives Lewis the mic with almost spoken lyrics and Lewis and Milor trading riffs. Interesting. Up tempo blues, Mess Around, maintains much of it's original structure with nimble fingered guitar riffs and lively vocals. Milor's harp work is classic blues work giving this track solid blues footing. Wrapping the release is Don't Let The Devil Ride with nice acoustic bass work under a lead vocal. Rocking out, the track has a cool back beat and understated slide work giving the track a cool feel. Milor's harp work with more pronounced slide work in the solo interlude says it all. This is a cool, understated release with a lot to offer. Check it out.



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