The Knickerbocker All-Stars Go Back Home To The Blues

A most pleasant surprise is a new release by The Knickerbocker All-Stars, "Go Back Home To The Blues" (JP Cadillac Records). The release is a follow-up to last year's "Open Mic At The Knick" and like the earlier album celebrates the Westerly, Rhode Island venue, the Knickerbocker Cafe. This is where, in the 1960s, musicians like Greg Piccolo, Johnny Nicholas, Fran Christina and others played in various groups which led to the emergence of Roomful of Blues by Duke Robillard and Al Basile and other bands. Producer Jack Gauthier and Musical Director Copley have put together a superb band of Mark Teixeira, drums; Brad Hallen, standup/electric bass; Al Copley, piano; Monster Mike Welch, guitar; Doug James, baritone/tenor sax; Sax Gordon Beadle, tenor sax; Rich Lataille,alto/tenor sax; Doc Chanonhouse,trumpet; and Carl Querfurth, trombone. Vocals are shared by Sugar Ray Norcia, Brian Templeton and Willie J Laws with Al Basile playing cornet and singing on one selection.

The musical focus is on the urban blues of the fifties and sixties with renditions of songs associated with Bobby Bland, Roy Brown, Guitar Slim, Chuck Willis and Larry Davis with Basile contributing several idiomatic originals as well. What can one say as the All-Stars are terrific, with Welch again showing that he has become one of today's top string benders. He channels Freddie King in backing Laws' soaring vocal on " You Know That You Love Me." Norcia opens the album with Bobby Bland's classic "36-22-36," with his terrific vocal perhaps more akin to Junior Parker than Bland. There is superb playing, including a booting tenor sax solo, backing Templeton on a jumping cover of Roy Brown's "Cadillac Boogie." Copley pounds on the piano on the Basile original "Brand New Fool," behind a fervent Norcia vocal, while Welch channels Guitar Slim as Laws' fervently sings Slim's  "Something to Remember You By." Norcia again evokes Junior Parker on a ripping cover of Chuck Willis' "Take It Like A Man."

The rest of this album is of an equally high level. There is a late night instrumental feature for the horns "Hokin'," while Basile plays cornet and delivers an appealing vocal of his witty original, "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Being Right?" Templeton sounds vigorous on the Basile-penned title track that has strong tenor sax and guitar solos. Copley lays down some serious boogie woogie piano and Doug James get down in the alley on baritone sax on "Blockbuster Boogie." Laws preaches the blues on a driving rendition of Larry Davis' "I Tried," with more of Welch's blistering guitar. This entire recording is a joy for fans of jump and urban blues to listen to. It is another upper deck home run from the Knickerbocker All-Stars.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of the Kickerbocker All Stars featuring Brian Templeton on the vocals.

Dave Gross Took The Gamble

I had heard strong things about Dave Gross, a young guitarist-singer who is only in his twenties. Duke Robillard has taken him under his wing and produced Gross’ CD Take the Gamble, (SwingNation Records), and even plays on three tracks. Listening to this one can understand why as Gross is enamored in the swing and jump blues that Robillard has mined so well.

Opening with a nice take of Gatemouth Brown’s She Walks Right In, he also covers Hot Lips Page, T-Bone Walker and the old standard After You’ve Gone, as well writes songs that reflect his inspirations. I’m So Hungry Blues, is a tribute to T-Bone Walker with some fine playing and the instrumental Swingin’ on All Six with some strong harp from Dennis Gruenling is really nicely delivered.

Doug James adds some sax on a number of selections including Hot Lips Page’s Walkin’ in a Daze, which also sports a nice cornet solo by Al Basile. Gross is a very accomplished player and eschews the hard rock approach of many ‘contemporary’ blues artists. He also varies things with the rockabilly romp, Once Had a Girl. Unfortunately his vocals do not come across as well. His phrasing sounds awkward and forced at times (like on the T-Bone styled I’m So Hungry Blues as well as his Moving On Down the Line).

Hopefully he will become a more natural and convincing singer as he continues to perform. He writes interesting songs and is a wonderful player with this disc showing more than simply potential, but his vocals prevent this from receiving a high recommendation.

This review appeared originally in the March 2008 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 302), although I have made minor edits. I likely received a review copy from the label or a publicist. I posted a review of Gross’ Crawlin The Walls on January 11 2012. Here is a video of Dave doing "She Walks Right In."