Tomislav Goluban - Express Connection

Tomislav Goluban - Express Connection - Blue Heart Records

A new album by the Croatian blues singer and harmonica player Tomislav Goluban has him playing outside the blues in a recording that is as much Americana as blues. Goluban wrote the nine originals, and there is a cover of a Lou Reed song. He is backed by guitarist Jeff Jensen (who co-produced this recording with Goluban, David Green on drums, Rick Staff on keyboards, and Bill Ruffino on bass. Also heard on this album are vocalist Kelly Zirbes, slide guitarist Mark Johnson, saxophonist Kirk Smothers, trumpeter Marc Franklin, and Joseph Franher, who contributes backing vocals to one selection. 

Goluban is an accomplished harmonica player with a swinging style, a big tone, and a marvelous sense of tonal dynamics. His gravelly vocals have a limited range, and his phrasing sometimes sounds stilted. Still, there is an honest quality about them. All ten songs are well played, starting with the title track, a high-energy instrumental taken at a blistering tempo that showcases his formidable harp technique. With horns added, "Used to Be Someone" might evoke Paul Butterfield's horn band, and Goluban does exhibit a bit more emotion in his singing. Kelly Zirbes' strong backing vocals boost this performance. Mark Johnson's slide guitar provides atmosphere on the Lou Reed cover, "Pale Blue Eyes."

Zirbes takes a strong vocal on the driving country-rocker, "Shoestring Blues," a song that sounds like a 21st take on the classic country truck driving songs. It is followed by a swinging instrumental, "Extra Boom." This shuffle is a tribute to Goluban's harmonica hero, Little Walter, with Staff taking a greasy organ solo. Jensen displays his considerable technique and taste here as well. Things head to New Orleans with Staff laying down some Professor Longhair-styled piano. It is an amusing duet between Goluban and Zirbes followed by a swampy blues-pop "Bite Me Like a Snake" with Johnson's keen slide guitar. 

With the horns riffing, the album closes with another harmonica instrumental, "Beast Walk." Taken at a relaxed pace, Steff's organ and Jensen's tasteful wah-wah guitar each get a chorus before Goluban displays a more acoustic side to his harmonica playing, and the horn players trade fours. Tomislav Goluban may be a limited vocalist, but his straightforward singing, exceptional harmonica playing, and top-notch backing provide a definite appeal for blues and roots listeners.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is the official video for this album.

The Lucky Losers In Any Town

The Lucky Losers
In Any Town
Dirty Cat Records

It was a little over a year that this writer praised the debut release by The Lucky Losers, "A Winning Hand." This band led by vocalists Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz (who also plays harmonica), also includes Marvin Greene on guitar; Chris Burns on keyboards, Tim Wagar on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Recorded at Kid Andersen's Greaseland Studio, Andersen also adds guitar, keyboards and percussion as well as co-produced this with Berkowitz and Lemons. Others contributing to this include Terry Hanck, Frank Goldwasser, Jeff Jensen, D'Mar and Michael Peloquin. Berkowitz and Danny Caron contributed four originals, Lemons five and there are a couple of renditions of songs not often covered among blues-roots bands.

Listening to the duo again, I remained especially impressed by Lemons natural and soulful delivery while Berkowitz's own unforced singing complements her so well. This is evident on the opening Berkowitz-Caron original "So High," a strong performance that might evoke Delaney & Bonnie. There is an unexpected, and very playful cover of the June and Johnny Cash duet, "Jackson," that shows the rapport between the two. Lemons' original "Don't Let 'Em SeeYa Cry," is a powerful slow blues set against a backing that recalls some of the Johnnie Taylor blues for Stax in the late 60s and early 70s (for example "Hello Sundown" and "Little Bluebird"). Greene suggests Little Milton with his solo on this which is followed by a nice harp solo from Berkowitz on a potent performance. Berkowitz sings "Blind Man In The Dark," for a nice blue-eyed soul performance. Franck Goldwasser plays slide on the rocking blues duet "I Can't Change Ya," while there is a reflective quality by Lemons on her title track.

A cover of Bobby Charles' "Small Town Talk," closes another fine recording by Lemons and Berkowitz. The quality and variety of material and the crisp, uncluttered and unhurried backing contribute to another superior recording from The Lucky Losers.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared originally in the July-August 2016  Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367).