CD Reviews-November 2002

Bernard Allison: Storms of Life-Tone-Cool Records

Bernard Allison's third album for Tone Cool Records (seventh overall) starts off with a short and sweet slide instrumental entitled 'Slip Slidin' and sets the tone for the rest of the album. As the son of the late great Luther Allison, Bernard has been looked at as one of the younger blues generations most promising artists for a number of years now, and in my opinion, Bernard really shines as a live performer (in the Northwest we've had few chances to witness this fact) and when showcasing his slide guitar playing. In an interview on guitar.com Bernard talks about how he learned a number of tricks while touring as on Koko Taylor's guitar player's and hanging out with Johnny Winter in between shows on a tour the two acts did together in the mid 1980's.

The slide lessons Bernard learned can be heard on three other tracks on the album as well. In the past Bernard has featured his slide playing on a track or two, so this is something I found very pleasing. 'Speed Slide' a Bo Diddley beat inspired tune that features some very Johnny Winter influenced licks that move a very fast pace. This tune, like the first tune of the album, is an instrumental. The other two slide tunes, 'I Wanna Drive You Home' is a cover of a ZZ Top tune, and 'Fist Full of Dirt' a Kennie Taylor features Bernard's vocals and the author's witty lyrics. These tunes are great showcases for Bernard's slide playing and really provide a great introduction to Bernard's sound for new listeners to his music.

The album features a number of other cover tunes showcasing a wide range of blues and roots oriented musical stylings. 'Help Me Through The Days' is a slow blues penned by Leon Russell and features some tasty lead guitar and sparse organ, bass, and drum accompaniment. 'I Think I Love You Too Much' is a Mark Knopfler tune that received a great bit of airplay for Jeff Healey, Bernard's take on it is pretty straight forward. Allison also attempts a Johnny Winter tune, 'Mean Town Blues' which features a very torrid pace and really moves and segues very nicely into the earlier mentioned 'Speed Slide'.

In addition to two of the slide tunes there is one other original on the album. The first, 'Down South' is a straight ahead blues rocker that features Bernard's 'Papa' Allison influenced vocals. 'Reaching Out' is a tune that nods to soul and light funk sounds of the past and features a very nice horn solo by David Eiland. This song also gives a nod to Luther Allison, Luther wrote and recorded this one in the mid 80's for Blind Pig Records. The album closes out with an up tempo jump blues with a horn section and nice piano accompaniment entitled 'Goodbye Little Girl.

As Bernard starts to refine his sound each of his recordings becomes more of his own. On 'Storms of Life' Bernard has taken a large step in combining contemporary and classic influences into his own unique sound. Blues fans, new and old, as well as music fans looking for a blues diversion rooted in rock and roll, soul, and funk would find a worthy purchase in this recording. Now if we could only get Bernard out here for a live performance.-Chris Morda

 

Deborah Coleman:Soft Place to Fall-Blind Pig Records

Blues with a rock edge best describes Deborah Coleman's CD Soft Place to Fall. On this album, the listener will hear her rip into a guitar solo with flair. When she does solo, she's been known to fly all over the fretboard, not staying in one
position for very long. Back when she was playing in garage bands, she'd play different styles of music; from rock and Top 40, even to Heavy Metal, until one day she went to a Blues
Festival and heard John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. At that point she decided to find out more about the Blues. Since then, her musical journey has led her to the W.C. Handy Awards in 1999 and B.B. King's Club in Memphis. Her talent is evident on this CD and Soft Place to Fall is packed full of Blues.-Lisa Kay Deeter

Chris Thomas King: Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues
21st Century Blues Records

Chris Thomas King has become well known through his contributions to the 'O Brother Where Art Thou' and 'Down From the Mountain' films and soundtracks, in which he performed acoustic blues tunes. However in his 16 year career King has done modern electric blues, rock-funk-blues, hip-hop, acoustic blues, you name it he's done it. So, while it may be a surprise to recent fans, on King's ninth studio album, King brings together all these diverse musical styles that he has explored in his past. Listeners familiar with his previous work will be happy to find that King brings all his previous releases into a very congenial whole on 'Dirty South Hip Hop Blues'.

The album starts off with a short number entitle 'Cloning Overture', a very atmospheric cut that features synthesizer and some sparse slide guitar riffs. 'Welcome to Da Jungle' sets the tone that King tries to get across musically throughout the album, very real and modern blues. King believes that hip-hop is the blues of the present and really tries to capture blues sentiment in a more contemporary context on this cut, as well as a number of others. 'Ghetto Child, You're Not Alone' reminds me a little of a the Everlast recording of a few years ago and features King in a somber tone, taking on some very intense social commentary. Heavy beats and themes are featured on other cuts such as 'Mississippi KKKrossroads' and 'N Word Rap' and find King holding no blows, lyrically, in dealing with problems in modern urban environments.

Any blues album will feature a number of tunes dealing with relationships and King likes to write about this topic as much as anyone. 'Yo Kiss' addresses this issue from a more boastful, youth oriented perspective, while 'Feel Me' comes from a much mellower and "soulful" (musically) perspective. This track also features some very nice guitar accompaniment. This theme is done on a very modern version of 'The Thrill is Gone', which features King's father, New Orleans bluesman, Tabby Thomas. There are also three tunes with "Southern Chicks" in their title ('Dirty Southern Chicks', 'Southern Chicks Blues', 'Southern Chicks') that feature harmonica and vocals, acoustic guitar and vocals, and, dobro, bass, drum, and keyboard programming. These three tunes really showcase King's diverse musical expression.

More traditional blues fans will rejoice in 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues' an acoustic blues number, and may be appalled 'Revelations' which features samples from Son House's 'John The Revelator', drum machines, synth bass lines, etc. This tune also features slide guitar and King singing lines from "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day' as well as others. For fans of what King is trying to accomplish this tune really best exemplifies the blues/hip-hop fusion better then any other tune on this recording. There are also a number of spoken word pieces throughout the cd which feature King with and without instrument accompaniment.

While this recording might not be for the "Johnny Come Lately" Chris Thomas King fans those familiar with his work, as well as those interested in a very contemporary blues artist, will find this recording very interesting. No one can accuse King of being non talented, he plays piano, (acoustic and Fender Rhodes) guitar, bass, harmonica, does all the programming, etc on the album and does a great job at everything he tries. I always look forward to another Chris Thomas King recording and will still look forward to his next one.-Chris Morda

 

Wilson Pickett: It's Harder Now-Bullseye Blues & Jazz

Wilson Pickett's legendary voice practically oozes with soul and grit on It's Harder Now. With a very hip arrangement of driving rhythm guitars, a pulsating horn section, and a rock-solid beat, this CD keeps the listener more that satisfied. One can't help but want to dance to the grinding groove of these tunes. "Soul Survivor" pays tribute to fellow musicians such as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, and Bobby Womack to name just a few. For a good time, check out this CD.-Lisa Kay Deeter