Page 31 - BiTS_05_MAY_2020

In A Roomful Of Blues Roomful Of Blues Alligator ASIN:

B0833WZ1L2

It's nine years since the band's last release, they started in the 60s
and have continued with a changing line up that has included over
the years guitarists Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl; singers Lou
Ann Barton, Curtis Salgado and Sugar Ray Norcia; and drummer

Fran Christina. The current band is led by guitarist Chris Vachon
who wrote or co-wrote eight of the songs here, with 'He's Too
Much" from keyboard player Rusty Scott and "I Can't Wait’ from
saxophonist Alek Razdan. The rest of the band is Carl Gerhard
(trumpet), original member Rich Lataille (alto sax), Chris Anzalone (drums), John Turner (bass) and

Phil Pemberton on vocals. We begin with a rocking cover of Bobby Ace's "What Can I Do" which
establishes the album's sound - tight riffing brass, super smooth vocals, rock solid rhythm section
with Vachon and Scott adding the seasoning and solos. "You Move Me" is an uptempo blues with nice
guitar, while "She Quit Me Again" is a lovely slow blues and on "Have You Heard" Dick Reed adds
his accordion for a cool zydeco groove. "Too Much Boogie" is a classic jump blues by Doc Pomus and
"Phone Zombies" may sound like vintage blues but it is an up-to-date critique of current youth's
dependance on mobile phones. This is a good sounding record with great playing but for me the only

downside was that there isn’t enough variety in the sound, I would have liked a few tracks without
the brass just for a change but I guess that is the band's signature sound.
Graham Harrison

Rebel Moon Blues Sass Jordan Stony Plain ASIN: B083XTDB2L

Apparently Canadian rock singer Sass Jordan had to be persuaded
by her record company and her husband (Derek Sharp, who also
co-produced) to make this blues album, despite always being a
blues fan and always having a really bluesy voice. I must admit
that her raw blues bellow of a voice doesn't really go with her good
looks but she handles all these blues classics with aplomb. She's

backed by her band the Champagne Hookers, comprising guitarists
Chris Caddell and Jimmy Reid, Derrick Brady on bass and drummer
Cassius Pereira and they are augmented by the excellent Steve
Marriner on harp and Jesse O'Brien on keyboards, the album was recorded in Toronto.

We get off to a great start with Sleepy John Estes' ‘Leaving Trunk’ based firmly on the version by Taj
Mahal with Mr. Marriner's harp to the fore - ditto Little Walter's’ ‘My Babe’ which really swings
along (some versions of the this oft covered classic really drag - not this one). Keb' Mo's ‘Am I Wrong’
also motors along with its nice slide guitar and we also get covers of Elmore James' ‘One Way Out’

and Freddie King's ‘Palace of the King’. I wasn't keen on the only original song here ‘The Key’ which
seems an odd choice to include on this record of blues classics. However, we finish off with two more
good old blues songs - a lowdown and dirty take on J.B. Hutto's ‘Too Much Alcohol’ (based on the
Rory Gallagher version) with more nice slide guitar and finally a powerful version of Gary Moore's
'Still Got the Blues' with both howling vocals and guitar.

Graham Harrison