The Lucky Losers Play A Winning Hand

The Lucky Losers
A Winning Hand
West Tone Records

The Lucky Losers are singer Cathy Lemons and singer-harmonica player Phil Berkowitz backed by a strong band on a program of blues, rhythm and blues classics and blues-rooted rock, "A Winning Hand" (West Tone Records). The backing band includes Marvin Greene and Kid Andersen (with Steve Freund on one track); Steve Evans, Steve Hazelwood or Joe Kyle on bass; Robi Bean or Jay Hansen on drums; and Chris Burns or Kevin Zuffi on keyboards with horns added to a couple of selections. Lemons and Berkowitz each contribute three originals (Berkowitz's were co-written by Danny Caron and there are six covers.

About her 2014 VizzTone album "Black Crow" I observed that "Bay area singer Cathy Lemons brings a rich plate of musical gems including blues and blues-infused rock in a fashion that might suggest Bonnie Raitt." I was impressed by the the "natural, relaxed and soulful quality" of her vocals and am further impressed on that account here as well as how well she and Berkowitz complement each other. While the originals, including the opening Berkowitz-Caron number "Change in the Weather" display this with its soulful flavor, the renditions of the Sam and Dave classic "I Take What I Want" and the Brooks Benton-Dinah Washington golden oldie "Baby, You Got What It Takes," maybe best showcase this as they bring warmth and plenty of humor as well to the later number (which also benefits from Berkowitz's horn-like harp playing. It is interesting to hear a male and female handle the Sam and Dave number, providing a different tenor to the lyrics.

The duo also do a marvelous rendition of a lesser know Allen Toussaint number "What is Success," while Lemons rendition of her original "Suicide By Law" has a bit of whimsy in the jazz-tinged sophisticated vocal. In contrast, her "Detroit City Man," is a driving styled boogie rocker musically evocative of a seventies John Lee Hooker recording with some choice harp backing from Berkowitz while Andersen adds stinging guitar fills as Lemons sings about a wrong doing man. Lemons wrote title track, a number that has to these ears the feel of a Crosby, Nash and Young number.

While the spotlight is on Lemons and Berkowitz, the splendid backing is noteworthy with the light, unhurried feel that contributes to the pleasures in listening to this. There is not a bad moment on this recording. While Lemons and Berkowitz may call themselves The Lucky Losers, they have provided listeners a royal flush with "A Winning Hand."


I received my review copy from a publicist. This review was written in 2015 for Jazz & Blues Report but it did not run. Here The Lucky Losers perform an Allen Toussaint tribute.

Received from Frank Roszak

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).