BRICK BY BRICK JP Soars & The Red Hots (Little Village Records) ****
These guys are playing blues that you should probably listen to. JP Soars, a first place winner at the Blues Foundation’s 2009 International Blues Challenge and the Albert King Best blues Guitarist Award, is throwing some heat on his 7th album Brick by Brick as he and the band deftly combine blues with country for a refreshingly upbeat disc.
Of course the band loves playing live, and something about that translates very well into Brcik By Brick. “I consider myself both blessed and honored to play music for people” JP says on his website. “It’s a privilege and I never take it for granted for a minute.” No doubt that extends to the other members of the band too; drummer Chris Peet and bassist Cleveland Frederick and they swing mightily behind and with him, playing tighter than a dolphin’s… well you know.
When the band is blasting away you’ll enjoy Soars’ riffs and solos but to give you a peek at what a fine guitarist he really is, check out In The Moment, nearly 6 minutes of soulful, solo acoustic bliss that speaks volumes without saying a word. Otherwise you find Brick By Brick an upbeat, danceable treat. This is a great-sounding album that feels real good.
HOT TRACKS: Jezebel, In The Moment, The Good Lord Will Provide
ONE AND ONLY Anvil (AFM) *** ½
Anvil has just come out with a ripping new album. One And Only is exactly what the fans demand from their heroes; big, fat riffs and a rhythm section with a thick, driving, propulsive sound. Anvil ARE heavy metal.
With the burgeoning interest in classic metal, bands like Anvil find themselves relevant once again. “We’re more like our old selves than we’ve been in years” says guitarist/ frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow. “We’ve dropped all our more modern aspects, particularly the 90’s aspects; no sexual topics and no thrash speed songs.” There’s a certain brutish, simplistic Neanderthal charm to One And Only– some may turn their nose up at that, but long time rock & rollers recognize the appeal of this kind of music. I’d liken it to the glorious buzz you get after a few beers. Lips is not a great singer, but with this type of rock you really don’t need to be.
Anvil formed in Toronto in 1978, released 20 studio albums including One And Only, and there’s something to be said for a band that stick around that long and remain creative. With the brutish charm of early Motorhead Anvil is doing just fine, thank you very much.
http://my.tbaytel.net/tgallo/anvil/
HOT TRACKS: Dead Man Shoes, Fight For Your Right, Truth Is Dying
SMOKY BOURBON The Pszenny Project (Hwy One Records) ****
Here is a sassy, rockin’ new album from South Carolina’s The Pszenny Project. Smoky Bourbon follows a similar path to that laid down by their 2023 self-titled debut; plenty of blues-powered rock & roll in the tradition of any given roadhouse with sawdust on the floor and chicken wire around the bandstand.
This is good old-fashioned beer swillin’ blues/rock in the tradition of bands like Skynyrd, ZZ Top and Stevie Ray. Mark Pszenny, the band’s namesake, has a guff, rough-hewn voice well suited to the material, and his guitar playing- particularly the slide stuff- is supercharged with an almost reckless abandon that makes Smoky Bourbon a spirited listen. He sure comes up with some catchy riffs here too, “This band (including Jason Corely on drums and Moses Andrews III on keys and background vocals) really takes it up a notch” Pszenny says proudly of the new record. “The writing process for the new tracks shows a sense of confidence and maturity, yet a truthfulness to my musical heritage.” And that, kids, is what it’s all about.
Smoky Bourbon enjoys a more robust mix than the band’s debut, with the guitars up front and leading the charge. I call the new album a large step forward in every regard.
HOT TRACKS: Hoochie Mama, Baby Cries, Highway Jammin’
FINE BY ME Curtis Salgado (Little Village) *****
This is one of the most soulful albums you’ll ever hear. Fine By Me is Salgado’s uniquely soulful blend of blues, gospel, R&B, jazz, funk and rock ‘n roll… if you’re having a garbage kind of a day, this will lift you out of the dumps.
“I just call it American music” Curtis says. “All I know how to do is write songs, sing them, and entertain people”, and that’s exactly what he does with these tunes. Salgado wrote or co-wrote 10 of them plus there are two cover songs, and Fine By Me crackles with spirit and verve. The title track is particularly intriguing… After reading a biography of Jackie Onasis, Curtis says “I was dreaming about having lunch with her in a New York City café, but then I woke up. I tried to get back to sleep but I couldn’t.” So he grabbed a pen and started scribbling down words, the song growing to include imaginary visits with Muhammed Ali, Iggy Pop and Malcolm X. Jeez… I really like the way this guy’s mind works!
Fine By Me is smartly produced and the grooves, fast or slow, are irresistible. Great voice, smart and entertaining lyrics and superb playing; yeah… I’ll have me some of that.
HOT TRACKS: Better Things To Lie About, Fine By Me, The Big Chagrin
=1 Deep Purple (Edel/ EarOne Music) *****
This is Purple’s 23rd studio album, first with new guitarist Simon McBride, and =1 stands with the band’s best work. With the possible misstep of 2021’s mildly entertaining covers album Turning To Crime the band has been on a tear since signing a new record deal and hooking up with producer Bob Ezrin. Purple has no right to be this good, this ‘on’ well into their sixth decade, yet here we are.
McBride joined the band when guitarist Steve Morse left and, as when Richie Faulkner replaced KK Downing in Judas Priest in 2011, DP is enjoying a musically creative renaissance. =1 embraces Deep Purple’s history as they swagger into the future. As www.utlimateclassicrock.com says in their review, “this is Deep Purple sounding more like Deep Purple than they did on the records they released in the 80’s and 90’s.” I love the Steve Morse-era stuff and of course the Blackmore records, but McBride’s muscular playing style places the band in between the two, combining the best of both worlds.
Roger Glover and Ian Paice are one of rock’s most potent rhythm sections and keyboardist Don Airey conjures the spirit of Jon Lord in his playing. Ian Gillan can’t hit the high notes like he did before but hey, he’s 78… I’m sure there are things you and I could do 50 years ago that are now beyond our reach. That said, his voice has aged quite well.
The albums DP has released since hooking up with Bob Ezrin in 2013 hover somewhere between ‘good’ and ‘excellent’; =1 is definitely excellent, and exciting too. Well past when most groups would be plotting their farewell, Deep Purple proves there’s still plenty of gas in the tank.
HOT TRACKS: Portable Door, Show Me, Lazy Sod
JUBU Jubu Smith with Charlie Hunter (Little Village) *****+
It’s not often an album grabs me by the collar in the first few notes, but this one sure as hell did. Jubu is an instrumental guitar record all about groove and feeling, texturally rich and smooth without being saccharine. Jubu just feels real, real good.
Though I’d never heard of Jubu Smith, reading about his career in the supplied press info had me wondering why that would be. At 19 he started a decade long tenure with Tony Toni Tone, did a world tour as Whitney Houston’s guitarist and has recorded with Luther Vandross, Boys II Men, Mary J. Blige, George Duke and George Benson. Frankly I can see why that is… his guitar playing here is smooth, crisp and precise, recalling some of my favorite George Benson stuff.
Where instrumental records by guitar shredders tend to be exhausting if not monotonous, Jubu is the exact opposite; relaxed, engaging and friendly- almost effortless to listen to. This is exactly what the aforementioned press info claims it to be; “an authoritative groove guitar album”. Joining Jubu in the studio are drummer Calvin Napper and three-time Grammy nominated guitarist/ producer Charlie Hunter, a name I’ve not heard in many years, since reviewing an album by The Charlie Hunter Trio in 1993 that the record company sent me on cassette, and he’s put out lots of stuff between here and there.
I’m listening to Jubu right now and trying to think of a word to describe how it makes me feel, and what comes to mind is “entranced”. Funky jazz grooves and meticulous guitar playing; that’s Jubu.
www.littlevillagefoundation.com
HOT TRACKS: Hamster Wheel, Organizations’ Sake, McLeansville Blu
