Clint Morgan - Troublemaker

Clint Morgan
Troublemaker
Lost Cause Records

"Troublemaker" is an intriguing recording of roots music as pianist-singer Clint Morgan who mixes country, blues, folk, and gospel. Besides singing, he plays piano on this album. Others on this album include Kevin McKendree (who co-produced this with Morgan) on keyboards, David Santos on bass, Kevin Blevins on drums, Jim Hoke on saxophone, and Bob Corritore on harmonica. Additionally, there are appearances by Bob Margolin, John Del Toro Richardson, Kinky Friedman, Watermelon Slim, and the McCrary Sisters.

This is a well-produced recording with excellent backing. Morgan's singing might suggest Johnny Cash and even does a pretty solid rendition of Cash's "Big River." His vocal style is often more talking than singing with a narrow range and occasionally stilted approach. There are several tracks of note, including "Hungry Man Blues," a fascinating reworking of Robert Johnson's "Kind Hearted Woman," although Morgan's woman just can't cook a decent meal. Then there is the rock and roll of "She Take My Money," about a woman who thinks Clint is a cash machine. The backing evokes classic Chuck Berry with a seriously booting sax solo from Hoke and rollicking Johnny Johnson-styled piano.

Whatever vocal limitations Morgan has, he has a knack for crafting and delivering lyrics such as "Too Rich To Sing the Blues," singing that he can sing like Robert and Elmore but is too busy picking stocks for his retirement plan. Jonn Del Toro Richardson joins him on slide guitar and vocal for "Hurricane Harvey," about the devastation caused by the hurricane that took homes away but still, the sun will come out tomorrow, which is a whole new day. Kinky Friedman joins Morgan for the honky-tonk "Someone Put a Walmart on the Farm." Watermelon Slim and Bob Margolin add their talents to Morgan's "The Cover of the Living Blues," a reworking of the hit "The Cover of Rolling Stone."

There are a couple of gospel numbers included. One is a rendition of the old spiritual "Go Down Moses" with the McCrary Sisters, with Morgan's softly sung baritone quite effective. With just his piano accompaniment, he sings about Jesus as a troublemaker. The simplicity of his performance adds to its effectiveness. Despite his limitations as a singer, Clint Morgan's songs are intriguing, and his performances have a definite appeal.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a a track from the album with Bob Corritore on harmonica.

Brothers Brown Dusty Road

Brothers Brown
Dusty Road
Funky Joint Records

A new roots rock band, Brothers Brown brings together a variety of blues, country, soul, jazz and other musical elements for a musical experience that might suggest The Band (although they are not on The Band's level). The Brothers Brown are fronted by two musicians named Paul Brown, one is a double Grammy winning producer, guitarist, singer and songwriter from Los Angeles and the other is a Grammy nominated producer, keyboardist and songwriter based in Nashville. The band is completed by a virtuosic rhythm section that also calls Nashville home: bassist David Santos and drummer Peter Young. They have just issued "Dusty Road" on Funky Joint Records that is distributed by Larry Carlton's 335 Records.

There is plenty to like about this recording. Guitarist-singer Brown has an appealing voice with a bit of grain, with his relaxed delivery combining with the nicely paced backing. His bluesy guitar is complemented by the keyboardist Brown whose greasy playing contrasts with the effective, sparse guitar leads and a terrific rhythm duo. A particular favorite track is the low-key "Love Sake" as Brown asks his women to tell him the truth and be real, and don't show him love just for love's sake, and one of these days things will come back to her, with a terrific organ solo and a brief jazz-inflected break.

When guitarist Brown gets to showcase his playing as on "When All Is Said And Done," where his prickly tone, use of space and his construction of his solo stands out while the organ adds some greasy accents. "Can't Outrun The Blues" also benefits from guitarist Brown's restrained vocals and guitar and even if the organist Brown plays with a bit more heat and adding swells of sound to the performance, there is a delightful relaxed qualities to these performances. Bassist Santos takes the vocal on the country-tinged "The River," a song about a journey through aging, love, solace and the quest for joy.

Its a refreshing to listen to such a nicely constructed release with solid original songs that are sung with warmth, feeling and restraint, and marvelously played with thoughtful soloing and solid ensemble playing. Brothers Brown's "Dusty Road" is a real good, delightful roots stew of blues, country, and more.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the March-April 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 365). Here is a video for this album.