Page 58 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2024

Although taking classical guitar lessons in Greenwich Village, he was asked to leave the course
when he began playing the electric guitar. He learned to perform in front of live audiences, in
studios and simply by playing and teaching. In 1970, his band Steel, from White Lake, New York
performed for 8 hours at the 1st Anniversary Woodstock Reunion Concert at Yasgur’s Farm in
Bethel, New York, and soon after, he moved to the town of Woodstock, New York, where he quickly
gained recognition of his musical capabilities.

His 1st published book was Slide Guitar, at the age of 21, he pursued a career combining teaching
and playing and has 8 best-selling books to his credit also, he has created 1000 online lessons
and blogs for Gibson Guitars. He has worked with artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan,
John Prine, Phoebe Snow, Levon Helm, Ry Cooder, John Sebastian, Janis Ian, Eric Andersen and
The Bee Gees, to name but a few.

The album was recorded at Raw Recording studios in Patterson, New York, and ASP in
neighbouring Brewster. In the studio with Arlen, on guitars and Jerry, on bass are; Chris Parker;
drums and percussion, Alex Salzman; keyboards, Tom Gage; rhythm guitar, Bruce Katz; organ
and piano, the horn section is The Uptown Horns, Crispin Cioe; alto and baritone saxophones,
Arno Hecht; tenor saxophone, Bob Funk; trombone with Larry Etkin and Tony Gorruso; trumpets.

Guest artists are; African soul giant Mukamuri and Joe Louis Walker on vocals and six-string,
Lexie Roth and Ronee Martin provide backing vocals.

The first of the thirteen numbers here is Jerry Lawson and the Persuasions’ ‘I’m Just a Mortal
Man’, Mukamuris’ sensitive and vulnerable vocals only add to this mixture of richly alluring slide
and gently enticing gospel infused backing vocals. The instrumental take on Aretha Franklins’
‘(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone’, allows the band to flex their muscles creating a
lively and joyous feeling with the horns and guitar gently soaring your soul. A continuation of
this instrumentally, emotionally feel good factor is demonstrated with a seriously upbeat horn
led and slide rich, toe tapping version of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Dancing in the Street’, splendid! A slower
and more reflective vocal is delivered from Joe Louis Walker on B.B. King’s ‘The Thrill Is Gone’;
the subtle, subdued emotive guitar is sublime.

Delightfully energetic echoes of Northern Soul are evident on Jackie Wilson’s ‘(Your Love Keeps
Lifting Me) Higher and Higher’; Mukamuris’ sensitive vocals are spot on. A grooving, reflective
mood is displayed on the instrumental version of Aretha Franklins’ classic ‘Chain of Fools’. The
splendid combination of enticing backing vocals, purring horns and JLW’s fluid vocals make Sam
Cooke’s ‘Shake’, another toe tapper.

The refreshing, easygoing, laid back nature of Doby Gray’s ‘Drift Away’, is fluidly maintained, with
Mukamuri again on vocals. Arlen is on vocals for the slinky and drawling ‘Down Home Girl’, the
slide wonderfully crawls along. The Bands’ ‘The Weight’, is a crisp instrumental, that has an
enjoyable, enticing piano and richly soaring slide! Danny O’Keefe’s ‘Good Time Charlie’s Got the
Blues’, is a relaxing country blues with Mukamuri’s laidback vocals floating over a hypnotically

alluring slide.

‘Memphis Soul Stew’, written by King Curtis and Jerry is a simmering, almost nine minute
absorbing grooving funker that smoothly builds, allowing the band to admirably, flex their
collective musical muscles, Jerry and Ronee provide the vocal introductions. ‘America the
Beautiful’, is a restrained and respectful tribute to Ray Charles and everyone who ever served in
the armed services.

Recommended!

Brian Harman