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warning his loved one, to depart before they are the departed. A mellow sorrowful lingering guitar
is matched by the melancholy keyboard work underpinning Jeff’s warmly warning words.
Most impressive!
Brian Harman.
The Porkroll Project—Papa Didn’t Raise Me Right—Roadhouse
Redemption Records
Vocalist, song writer and guitarist Neil Taylor is a well known
performer in the Delaware Valley area. His wide and varied
connections within the Greater Philadelphia blues scene has
enabled him to assemble a like minded group of musicians who
he has previously worked with over the years, to form a band to
bring to life his brainchild ‘The Porkroll Project’. Neil and his
musical friends assembled at The Noisy Little Critter Studios, just
outside Philadelphia to record this album. The ensemble includes
Neil Taylor lead vocals, guitars, banjo and percussion, Walter Runge, organ and piano, Anthony
Pieruccini,bass, John “JT” Thomas and Jesse Taylor, drums, David Renz, saxophone and horn
arrangements, Chris Neal, trumpet, Andrew Whisler, trombone and Buddy Cleveland on
harmonica.
The eleven original numbers are played in a relaxed and jovial atmosphere. The album opens with
a rolling ‘Papa Didn’t Me Right’. A low burning organ is joined by a raw buzzing guitar which begins
to wail as the smoking, surging organ rises over the top Neil’s unaffected vocal which tells the tale.
Guest vocalist Paul Matecki leads us into a splendidly laid back ‘Down In Mexico’, a tale from south
of the border first released in 1957 by the Coasters. Here, the pleasantly rambling, rolling drums,
fuzzy guitar and saxophone are joined by a fine tinkling piano.
The slow paced blues of ‘Crescent Moon’ features a splendidly mellow saxophone in-play with a
burning and aching guitar, as the sonorous B3 adds to the dirge-like feel. ‘Mama Put The Gun
Down’, is a rather amusing tale of how to dispose someone! The infectious, jazz inflected walking
blues is as enticing as the storyline.
The swinging and uplifting gospel-inflected ‘Dancing With The Angels’, is splendid. The rolling
piano and swinging guitars urging you joyfully along. ‘Sentenced To The Blues’, is the satisfying
slow paced showstopper, complete with lethargic, building, burning harmonica, slowly scorching
B3, gently rolling piano and ever rising horns.
Most impressive!
Brian Harman.
