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Tedeschi Trucks Band—I Am The Moon: III. The Fall —
Fantasy Records ASIN: B09XVBS95L

This is the third album in the four-part series 'I Am the Moon'
titled 'The Fall' and like the first album in the series this is a
more 'democratic' production in that it doesn't only feature
the two leaders - Derek and Susan. Keyboard player Gabe
Dixon has writing credits on three of the six tunes and Mike
Mattison also has three writing credits, including one that he
penned alone, plus they both share vocals with Susan as well
as each being the lone vocalist on two others and Susan also
teams up with the two other vocalists, Alicia Chakour and
Mark Rivers. I think that this gives a pleasing variety to
proceedings as for me sometimes in the past the band's sound can be a bit one dimensional -
we also get the brass sitting out on some tracks which again adds variety to the sound - in fact
this is my favourite of the three 'I Am the Moon' titles that we have had so far.

Dixon's 'Somehow' a soulful stomper has Susan on vocals and Derek playing wonderful slide -

check out his solo on the run out - 'None Above' is a Tedeschi/Mattison ballad featuring a vocal
trio of Susan, Mike and Alicia Chakour. Tedeschi's 'Yes We Will' features her singing the blues,
a great BB King-style song with stinging lead guitar, Hammond organ and stabbing brass (with
wah-wah guitar on the run out) -worth the price of admission on its own! 'Gravity' was written
by Dixon and friend of the band Oliver Wood, with Dixon on lead vocals and some screaming
slide guitar from Derek and similarly Mattison's 'Emmaline' features Mike on vocals on this
piano-led tender ballad with strings and without the brass or any guitar solos! They bow out
with 'Take Me As I Am' a gospel torch song with Susan and Mark Rivers handling the vocals
and Derek delivering a sublime lyrical slide solo - wow! As I said I think that this is easily the
best of the three 'I Am the Moon' titles that we have had so far, it’s certainly the most bluesy
and also has the most variety and for me the best songs - let’s hope that 'Farewell' the final
part to be released in late August carries on in a similar vein.

Graham Harrison

Kevin and the Blues Groovers—Something Old Something

New Something Borrowed Blues—Basin Street Records
ASIN: ‎B09ZF7GQ6C

23-year old Kevin Gullage is a former American Idol singer
and piano player from New Orleans and his band the Blues
Groovers are Crescent City musicians including Carlton Ross

(guitar), Brandon Adams (organ), Tony Gullage (bass),
Roderick Jackson (sax) and Mac Carter (drums). We blast off
with the old Temptations song 'Shakey Ground' given a
Norleans twist, while 'Movin’ On' is a slow blues with Ronnie
Baker Brooks adding his lead guitar and Ronnie stays for a
version of 'Sweet Home Chicago' dedicated to Kevin's mother who was from there. 'So Called
Friends of Mine' and 'My Baby Gave Me The Blues' are both Kevin's own songs, the former is a
nice mellow ballad and the latter is a slow blues (with guitar from Norman Sylvester) where
Kevin says he wanted to be a soul singer until his girl gave him the blues!