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I have to say this is one of my favourite albums I have reviewed so far this year and with this
album being labeled Vol. 1 am hoping there is going to be a Vol. 2 coming along very soon indeed.
Ged Wilson

Roomful Of Blues—Steppin’ Out!—Alligator Records

New England’s acclaimed Roomful Of Blues have been deliver-
ing horn-driven blues, swing, R&B, Soul and Rock & Roll for
over fifty years. They’ve cut 23 albums (six on Alligator), earned
five Grammy nominations and seven Blues Music Awards. DD
Bastos makes her debut here as the band’s first female singer.

The album opens with the dramatic big band sound of ‘Satisfied’
followed by the steady blues of Z Z Hill’s ‘You Were Wrong’.
‘Steppin’ Up In Class’ the Jimmy McCracklin song has a swampy

tremolo drenched feel to it. Things slow down a little with
‘Please Don’t Leave’ before ‘Tell Me Who’ gets your foot tapping
once again.

DD Bastos tips her hat to Big Mama Thornton on ‘You Don’t Move Me No More’ and there’s a
nice sax break on the Etta James tune ‘Good Rockin’ Daddy’. Things slow right down with some
nice muted trumpet on ‘Tend To Your Business’. The band swing on Tiny Bradshaw’s ‘Well Oh
Well’ and there’s some nice piano based barrelhouse blues on the Miles Lewis tune ‘Dirty
People’. The album closes with some Boogie Woogie on ‘Boogie’s The Thing’.

Roomful of Blues are well known for their big band sound and the boys in the brass section
certainly deliver and that is where the strengths of this band lie. DD Bastos has a great voice
and you can see her influences coming through on the Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thornton
covers.

However, I find this album has nothing new to offer and sounds a bit dated, almost a cabaret
feel to it. I also think that Chris Vachon’s guitar solos come across a tad predictable and lack
lustre although he displays competent guitar playing. Maybe after fifty years Roomful Of Blues
may well have finally run their course.
Ged Wilson

Robert Jon And The Wreck—Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes
— Journeyman Records

Robert Jon & the Wreck are an American five-piece blues rock /
Southern rock band. Formed in Orange County, California, Unit-
ed States, in 2011, they are on the rise having released several
albums and toured extensively.

The album opens with ‘Sittin’ Pretty’ a powerful upbeat guitar
rock infused tune with hints of Bonamassa in the guitar work.
‘Ashes In The Snow’ has a nice country southern rock feel to it.
‘Highway’ is another driving rock number with maybe a nod to
a Steely Dan influence in the guitar solos followed by ‘Old Man’
another rock tune. Great opening riffs lead into ‘Dark Angel’ a great foot tapper with shades of
the Eagles here.