I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (7/16/18),
Uptown Cool, from
Big Harp George, and it's tight. Opening with loping shuffle,
Down To The Rite Aid, Big Harp George has it running from the first note with his great harp sound, singing duet with Loralee Christensen backed by Chris Burns on piano, Alexander Pettersen on drums, Kid Andersen on bass, Little Charlie Baty on guitar, Michael Peloquin on sax and Mike Rinta on trombone. Very nice.
Alternative Facts has a laid back, sauntering feel with real cool harp soloing and great guitar backing by Kid Andersen. Latin fused track,
I Wanna Know has strong rhythmic Santana like influences with D'mar on percussion and nice backing vocals by Christensen and warm sax tines by Peloquin, strong bass lines by Andersen and trademark harp soloing by George. On bluesy,
Nobody's Listening, Little Charlie really lays in a articulate guitar solo and George some of his best vocals on the release.
Standing In The Weather really has a saucy rhythm, augmented by sax work by Peloquin and Andersen chicken picks his way to a really tasty solo on guitar.
Bulletproof is another track that nicely showcases the hot hand work of Andersen and George works the lead vocal and harp nicely. Another bluesy track,
Cold Snap By The Bay, is one of my favorites on the release with wailing sax by Peloquin, a super piano solo by Burns and some of my favorite guitar sounds by Andersen. Standout instrumental,
Uptown Cool, has a really jagged percussion rhythm. courtesy D'Mar with alternating solos by Baty, George and Burns. Very nice. Wrapping the release is easy swing track,
Lord Make Me Chaste with gospel like backing by Christensen and Derick Hughes. Bringing on the New Orleans horn styling by Rinta and Peloquin and a taste of falling down the step drumming by Pettersen makes this a fine closer for a cool release.
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