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Mike Bourne Band—Kansas City O' Clock—Overton
Music OMX1004
Kansas City man Mike, has been extolling Jump, Blues
and Roots for over twenty years, in that time playing
with such legends as Otis Rush, Barrelhouse Chuck, and
Sam Lay. Here he collaborates with twenty other
musicians creating fourteen irresistible numbers.
With the joyous influences of Louis Jordan, and the rich,
deeply expressive, sophisticated blues of T-Bone Walker,
Mike delivers a deeply felt selection of music ranging from the saxophone-led
bustling romper ‘Can’t Be Anybody But Myself ‘and ‘Beer in the Morning’ combined
with goodtime rolling piano and jumping percussion.
A tramping percussion and building, rising trumpet deliciously drives ‘Too Old to Be
Young’, while a stirring guitar holds your attention. A relaxed rolling New Orleans
piano and trumpet gently delivers the addictive ‘Caffeine Blues’.
The bouncing, bopping ‘Kansas City O’clock’, rocks you away, while a sweet lazy
rumba, introduces the instrumental ‘Kick’n a Deuce’, a gentle, rich almost fuzz guitar
floats you away.
The gentle piano led shuffle ‘Yolo’, suggests you seize the now, not wait. On ‘Three
Blind Mice’, a mellow saxophone and piano underpin three ‘tales’ of cheating,
infidelity and deceit.
An enticing and slow grooving percussion drives ‘Really Nice Girl’, while a captivating
guitar shines. John Hahn’s foot-tapping ‘Dive Bar Romance’, is a splendidly restrained
guitar, piano and trumpet shuffler.
Jay McShann’s ‘Fore Day Ride’, possesses a wonderfully sleazy trumpet combining
with mellow saxophone and piano.
On ‘Truth Dressed Up Like a Lie’, rolling piano and swaying saxophone, enticingly
draws you into its slowly, rolling groove.
A sleazy trumpet introduces ‘Rather Be Happy Than Normal’, while the lazy bass
drum and saxophone tramp along. A melancholy trumpet and drawling guitar drives
‘People Not Politics’, and finishes with slow rolling piano.
Recommended!
Brian Harman

