Mike Zito Resurrection

Mike Zito
Resurrection
Gulf Coast Records

About his new album "Resurrection," Mike Zito states that it "is an album of feelings, emotions, and is very personal. The title track is how I once almost lost my love, but it came back stronger than ever. I have had this song in me for years, but it only makes sense now to share it with the world. After the year we have had on planet Earth, I believe we all need a rebirth. This rebirth has given me an opportunity to be who I want to be musically and artistically." Joining Zito on this album are some musicians who've played with him for the last several years, including Matthew Johnson – drums; Doug Byrkit - bass guitar; Lewis Stephens – piano, organ; Zach Zito - acoustic guitar; and Lisa Andersen - backing vocals. Eric Demmer is on saxophone, and Fernando Castillo on trumpet where heard.

While often described as a blues-rocker, there is more rock than blues on this album to these ears. This comment is simply descriptive. Zito sings with vitality and can shred with the best of him. More importantly, he does write good songs and performs with heart and heat. There is a Tom Petty flavor on the opening cover of J.J. Cale's "I'll Make Love To You." In addition to his saw-toned slide guitar, Demmer rips off an intense bit of hot honking tenor sax. There is much more rock energy elsewhere on this recording, such as "Don't Bring Me Down."

Other tracks include a hard rock cover of Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord." Zito may not be Stevie Winwood, but he acquits himself well with his vocal while adding searing guitar. "When It Rains" is a bluesy number with a relentless rhythm and atmospheric horns. I am not fond of the head rock arrangement of Howlin' Wolf's "Evil." Zito's vocal strikes this listener as overwrought here, although Stephens' organ is noteworthy. Not everything is hard rock or blues-rock. "In My Blood" has a low-key, restrained backing to complement Zito's understated singing.

About the title track, Zito says, "The title track is how I once almost lost my love, but it came back stronger than ever." It is a powerful track with solid lyrics and passionate singing. It closes an album that will have considerable appeal to those who like their music rocking.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is the title track.

Kevin Burt - Stone Crazy

Kevin Burt - Stone Crazy - Gulf Coast Records

About Kevin Burt's prior album "Heartland & Soul" (Little Village Foundation), I observed, "Listening to Kevin Burt, one is reminded of Ted Hawkins, a similar acoustic singer-songwriter who had deep rhythm and blues roots. Whereas Hawkins displayed a strong Sam Cooke influence, Burt evokes Bill Withers with perhaps a dash of Al Jarreau. Withers is one of Burt's cited vocal influences along with Aaron Neville, Bobby Bland, Luther Vandross, and Marvin Gaye." "Stone Crazy," Burt's new release, is on Mike Zito's Gold Coast Records, and this observation still holds true.

While the press release for this recording lists ten songs, my download included eleven. Burt wrote all but the cover of Bill Withers' "Better Off Dead." Backing Burts, vocals, harmonica, and guitar are producer Mike Zito on guitars, Doug Byrkit on bass guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keyboards, and Jimmy Carpenter on saxophone. 

There is a nice mix of tunes and themes ranging from the down-home harmonica and funky groove of the opening "I Ain't No Problem With It" to the easy shuffle blues, "You Get What You See," with Carpenter adding his sax to some nice guitar. "Purdy Little Thang" has an insistent, simple groove, while the title song is an island breeze soulful love song. "Same Old Thing" is a choice blues about her loving someone else, while another soul ballad, "Something Special About You," has him singing about he wants to make someone his lover. There is also a solid rendition of Bill Withers' powerful "Better Off Dead," about a person whose addictions lead to his marriage breaking up and the line "she's better off without me, and I am better off dead now that she is gone." 

"Stone Crazy" seems certain to expand Kevin Burt's fan base. A mix of strong material, first-rate playing, and exceptional soulful singing make this another choice release from him.

I received a download to review from a publicist. This review has appeared in the May-June 2021 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 396). Here Kevin Burt performs "Stone Crazy."

Jimmy Carpenter Plays the Blues

Jimmy Carpenter
Plays the Blues
VizzTone

Veteran saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter is currently part of blues rocker Mike Zito's band, though he previously has lengthy stints with Jimmy Thackery and Walter 'Wolfman' Washington. Zito produced this and adds his guitar and vocals to Carpenter's tenor saxophone, bassist Bob Bridges, Matthew Johnson's drums, and Marc Adams keyboards with a variety of guests including guitarists Tony Diteodoro, Tinsley Ellis, Anders Osborne and Jonn Del Toro Richardson and keyboardists Lewis Stephens and Dave Keyes.

The ten songs heard include two originals and eight covers starting with Magic Sam's "You Belong to Me," and ending with a rousing Junior Walker's "Shotgun." Carpenter plays plenty of rousing, raspy saxophone in a Junior Walker-King Curtis--Boots Randolph vein throughout and, if not a great singer, is like-able with an unforced delivery as on the hot Little Walter shuffle "Too Late." The longest selection is "Jimmy Plays the Blues," a nice blues instrumental with plenty of space for his roadhouse saxophone. The other original is a piece of old-fashioned rock and roll, "Kid in My Head," with rollicking piano from Stephens in support of the leader's yakety-yak sax playing.

Jonn Del Toro Richardson adds some nice guitar support on the cover of "Blues With a Feeling," which has a booting sax solo as well, while Tinsley Ellis joins in for a musical dialogue with with Carpenter on a rendition of Freddie King's "Surf Monkey," and Anders Osborne contributes to an instrumental interpretation of Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come," which arguably has Carpenter's finest playing with a more attack employing a broader tonal range. Up next is a rousing rendition of King Curtis' "Preach," and then Otis Rush's "All Your Love (I Miss Lovin').' with fine guitar from Zito and another booting sax solo.

A straight cover of "Shotgun" closes this straight-forward, well played recording that entertains even if it breaks no new ground.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. This review originally appeared in the November-December 2017  Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 375). Here is Jimmy Carpenter playing "Shot Gun."