Big James and the Playboys Bring Funk and Soul to the Blues

I previously noted that Big James Montgomery had signed to Blind Pig Records. http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2008/08/blind-pig-signs-big-james-montgomery.html

Here is my review that originally appeared June 2009 Jazz & Blues Report (issue 317 page 15) that can be downloaded from www.jazz-blues.com.

Big James Montgomery has been part of the Chicago Playboys when the aggregation was led by the late vocalist Johnny Christian. After Christian’s untimely death in 1993, the band kept together with the stocky trombonist assuming the leadership and putting this blues/ R&B/ funk aggregation unique by being fronted by a trombone playing singer. The band that also includes Charlie Kimble on saxophone, Kenny Anderson on trumpet, Joe Blocker on keyboards, Mike Wheeler on guitar, Larry Williams on bass and Cleo Cole on drums has become a tight, hard driving ensemble that has been building a solid following in performances at clubs and festivals. This writer recalls his first exposure to them at the Pocono Blues Festival a few years back and was knocked out by their tough sound and Big James passionate singing on mostly original material as they celebrated the blues and Chicago. They got their soulful groove on and the audience was floored with many purchasing one of their self-produced CDs.

Blind Pig has just issued Big James’ latest CD, “Right Here Right Now” (and first they did not self-produce and release) and its another solid effort in the fashion of their prior recordings, plenty of hard hitting rhythms, punchy brass and Big James heartfelt singing. Most of this originals although they pay a nod to the O’Jays, Bobby Bland and George Clinton on their covers. Big James is street smart and savvy, and his lyrics, like his singing, is direct and a matter of fact and not very metaphorical.

The title song opens this set and is a message song cataloging some of the problems in everyday life and choices we have to make to make things better or we have no one else to blame. “A Mama Like Mine” is a love song for his mother with a punchy brassy opening as he recalls never hearing her ever complain about anything, that she was not very tall but she gave so much of herself and I love her so, and James wishes everyone had a mama like his. No flowery language but a simple and moving expression of love punctuated by his trombone solo. “I Love ‘Em,” is a rocking shuffle celebrating the blues noting that the blues “ain’t prejudiced it don’t care who we choose,” and how he’s paid these dues with a sharp guitar break from Wheeler, before James sing about playing the blues until he can’t play before anymore, then taking the tune out on his trombone.

While James is not gifted a singer as Bobby Bland, his rendition of Bland’s recording, “Love to See You Smile,” benefits from his straight-forward, honest delivery. The emptiness of not having a relationship is conveyed in “Help (Somebody Please),” while the blues is front and center on the closing “Worry,” an original which is inspired by a song from the B.B. King and Buddy Guy songbook, and which closes this disc on a strong note.

Those who have any of Big James and the Chicago Playboys will not be surprised by the music here while others will get to discover the unique, funky soul and blues sound that they put down.

For purposes of FTC regulations, the review copy was provided by Blind Pig Records.

Blind Pig Signs Big James Montgomery, appearing in Baltimore area August 31

Big James Montgomery IMG_1210.JPG
Originally uploaded by NoVARon

One of the real pleasant surprises of the 2006 Pocono Blues Festival was the performance by Big James and the Chicago Playboys. James Montgomery is a big man and he has a presence as a singer and when playing his trombone as well as is backed by his fine band which adds a heafty dose of soul and funk to his blues stew. At the festival I purchased Now You Know, which was his third CD (self-released and included nice recordings of some of the songs he performed including the title track, "Chicago Is Da' Home 4 Da' Blues", "Hustler's Paradise," and Albert King's "Angel of Mercy." What a nice soulful vocal delivery he has, and his trombone along with the guitarist and other bandmembers play some interesting and funky stuff. More recently he issued Thank God I Got the Blues, that is a similarly fine effort, celebrating the blues with plenty of heart of soul.

Yesterday (August 25), I got an email from Blind Pig announcing they signed Big James. "Blind Pig Records has announced the signing of Big James & the Chicago Playboys, a brass band that combines blues, soul, R&B and funk into a rollicking, horn-drenched stage party.

The bandleader and trombone player, Big James Montgomery, who also serves as singer, songwriter, and producer for the group, sports a voice as big as his girth. This year he received his second Blues Music Award nomination as “Horn Instrumentalist” and the title track from his last solo effort, Thank God I Got The Blues, will be featured in the upcoming movie Cleaner, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendes."

The press release also notes that Big James Montgomery is a three time winner of Living Blues magazine’s Critic’s Choice Award for “Most Outstanding Horn Player and that he will start working ona new album in November.

While I would not use the term brass band to describe his sound, I agree his horn-led band mixes blues, soul and funk for a rollicking, horn-drenched stage party that is unique in the blues today. For those in the Baltimore-Washington area he is appearing at the Baltimore Blues Society's Alonzo Memorial Picnic on Sunday August 31 at the Rosedale MD American Legion Hall. For information on that event visit the BBS website. His CDs, Thank God I Got The Blues and Thank God I Got The Blues are available at cdbaby.com.