Page 47 - BiTS_08_AUGUST_2022

Medals from the Global Music Awards in the categories of Lyrics/Songwriter and Protest
Music) the impressive laid back mixture of sticky, tight and sweaty urban keyboards and
guitar is woven in with some splendid seventies mellow horn work. Another great duet is
found on ‘Daddy Why’, (co-written and sung with Tiffany Pollack) this gently strolling, mellow
piano led second-line strut, tells the familiar tale of the age old problem of a cheating lover.
The quietly striding, funky and rocky ‘Shake Me Discover Me’, is Leslie’s musical tale of her
own youthful ambitions, her sultry, almost whispering vocals inexorably draw you in. The
starker, darker melancholic, underplayed solo acoustic ‘Moving On’, concerns the many
displaced people, who are treated as unwanted refugees in their own country. A darkly
mystifying rumba-infused baritone saxophone pleasingly envelopes you, on ‘The Poison’, an
enticing, gently thumping percussion and slow burning B3 draw you in further. ‘Cocktail
Hour’, is exactly what you think, a sultry, laid back smooth Jazz club atmosphere involving
languid bass, lazy brushwork, mellow tripping keyboards and come hither vocals, splendid!
‘Trail Of Tears’, is a tale of suicidal misery, matched with jolly foot-tapping percussion,
enjoyable swampy blues guitar and burning slide.

Elegantly pleasing!

Brian Harman.

Michael Rubin—I’ll Worry If I Wanna—Many Hats
Records MANY HATS 001

Michael was born in New Jersey in 1969, the family then
moved to Pittsburgh, PA and finally settled in Marin County,
CA. He began playing the harmonica at the age of 15 and
while attending college in the Bay Area he became aware of
such music clubs as; Cotati Cabaret and Slim’s in San
Francisco, which allowed him access to the influences of many
passing players in the area, one such player was Rick Estrin
with Little Charlie and the Nightcats, who became Michael’s
mentor.

After graduating, he moved to New Orleans and became an original member of Irene and the
Mikes and at this point Andy J. Forest and Anders Osborne became his new mentors. Prior to
settling in Austin, Texas in 1993 he spent 6 months busking across Europe. Once he’d settled
in Austin he met Gary Primich who furthered his education in the harmonica and music. Whilst
working as a sideman, he became involved in the Houston launched musical ‘The Civil War’.
When it transferred to Broadway, New York in 1999, he spent a year there as the featured
harmonica player. Since then, he has become a much sought out session musician appearing
on many albums and stages.

All of the 9 numbers are Michael originals; he also co-produced the album with Josh Fulero.
Michael takes lead vocals and harmonica along with Mike Keller; guitar, Michael Archer; bass
and Mark Hays on drums, Emily Gimble; keyboards and Dr. Sick; fiddle. The music here is a
splendid mixture of a laid back humour and very fine musicianship, reminiscent of the
Fabulous Thunderbirds. Michael’s voice is a sort of, faltering, folksy and talky but, his delivery
is dryly spot-on. His harmonica playing seems to be, a delightful mixture of Lazy Lester and
Kim Wilson. The opener, ‘Little Rabbit’ concerns the nocturnal habits and desires of a very
amorous bunny. All the puns and innuendos slip nicely in-between a lazily wheezing