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and Brown, although there are no long extended solos here, listen to their playing interlocking on
the funky 'Do The Romp'.
Although I'm not personally a big fan of trance blues I have to admit this album does capture the
essence of the genre, on the surface it may sound basic and simple but it isn't easy to recreate that
hypnotic, soporific groove. However, by restricting the material to mainly songs by R. L. Burnside
and Jr. Kimbrough I think that they are just adding to the lack of variety that their limited
instrumentation also brings.
Graham Harrison
Maria Muldaur & Tuba Skinny—Let's Get Happy Together—
Stony Plain—ASIN : B08VYLNX28
Although I'm not particularly a jazz fan over the years I've whiled
away many a happy hour watching Youtube videos of jazz band
Tuba Skinny playing on the streets of New Orleans, their
performances of authentic 1920s Dixieland jazz I find strangely
hypnotic. The band is led by cornet player Shaye Cohn
(granddaughter of jazz great Al Cohn) and has a loose
membership of musicians none of which actually come from the
Crescent City. Now I find that Maria Muldaur is also a fan and
sought them out to perform with her and then they agreed to
record this album together.
We kick off with 'I Like You Best Of All' originally recorded by the Goofus Five (?) a catchy little
obscure number picked by Maria and this is followed by the title track written & recorded by Lil
Hardin Armstrong. 'Delta Bound' was recorded by the Duke Ellington Orchestra with Ivy Anderson
on vocals and Maria has long wanted to record this song, she also recently discovered 'Swing You
Sinners' recorded by Valaida Snow - know as 'Little Louis' for her trumpet playing. 'He Ain’t Got
Rhythm' with clever lyrics by Irving Berlin is based on the version by Billie Holliday, more clever
lyrics on the perky 'I Go for That' which was originally sung by movie star Dorothy Lamour! 'Some
Sweet Day' is a melodic blues by Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon and the album closes with a down-home
blues 'Road of Stone' originally recorded in the 1920s by Sweet Pease Spivey, sister of the 'classic'
blues singer Victoria Spivey - who was Maria's inspiration and mentor.
This was obviously a labour of love for Maria who got to sing some of her classic jazz and blues
favourites with some very appropriate backing. Maria's voice is slightly diminished by age but that
only seems to add to the overall authenticity and the partnership with Tuba Skinny is a marriage
made in heaven (although I can't help feeling sorry for their usual female vocalist Erika Lewis who
has to sit out here).
Graham Harrison
Tomislav Goluban—Express Connection—Blue Heart—ASIN :
B08VRKK3QK
Croatian singer/harmonica player Tomislav “Little Pigeon”
Goluban returned to Memphis to record this album after
recording his previous album 'Memphis Light' there. He uses the
same musicians - Jeff Jensen (guitarist/producer), Rick Steff
(keyboards), Bill Ruffino (bass), drummer David Green and slide
guitarist Mark Johnson - and adds Kirk Smothers (sax) and Marc
Franklin (trumpet) as well as Kelly Zirbes, who sings lead vocals
on two tracks and backup vocals on another four. We begin with