Jimmy Carpenter Soul Doctor

Jimmy Carpenter
Soul Doctor
Gulf Coast Records

About Jimmy Carpenter's last album, "Plays the Blues" (VizzTone), I wrote that "Carpenter plays plenty of rousing, raspy saxophone in a Junior Walker-King Curtis--Boots Randolph vein throughout and, if not a great singer, is likable with an unforced delivery… ." Carpenter has a lengthy career in the blues and roots-rock scene, including stints with Jimmy Thackery, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, and most recently with Mike Zito. Presently residing in Las Vegas, Carpenter leads his own band and plays with numerous others. He also is the Musical Director for the Big Blues Bender and leader of the Bender Brass, The Bender's house band. This new release is on Golf Coast records, a label Zito co-founded.

On this recording, Jimmy has assembled a first-class studio group. In addition to Carpenter on saxophone and vocals, there is Cameron Tyler (drums/percussion/background vocals), Jason Langley (bass), Trevor Johnson (guitar), Chris Tofield (guitar/background vocals), Red Young (keys), Carrie Stowers (background vocals), and Queen Aries (background vocals). Guesting on this album are guitarist Nick Schnebelen, The Bender Brass (Doug Woolverton (trumpet), Mark Earley (baritone sax)), Al Ek (harmonica), and Mike Zito (guitar).

Based on the seven originals, Carpenter has become quite a songwriter. The album opens with the title track with a striking lyric, "Who says the book of love was written in one night/ Who filled it up with empty pages said what's wrong and right/ So many have wagered on the lottery of life/ They opened up their hearts just to be cut down like a knife." Carpenter impresses with his singing here and elsewhere on this album. On this song, he takes a couple of tough rackety yak sax solos. Nick Schnebelen's guests on this track, although these ears founded his playing a tad busy. That is one of two songs that Carpenter wrote with Guy Hale, the other co-founder of Gulf Coast Records. The other song, "Wrong Turn," has Jimmy on guitar with Trevor Johnson playing some blues-rock slide guitar and Al Ek adding some sax-sounding harmonica. Carpenter's vocal sounds distorted and maybe his least appealing singing here. Much better is the relaxed rock and roll shuffle blues "Wild Streak." In addition to some persuasive singing, catch lyrics, Red Young contributes some rollicking honky-tonk piano while Mike Zito adds a searing slide guitar solo.

The autobiographical lyrics of "Love It So Much" is set to a second-line groove as Carpenter celebrates the musician's life on the road, while the Bender Horns add their punch. The finest blues performance is his cover of Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad," with Carpenter's passionate singing and his band's outstanding support. It also may have his best tenor sax solo on the album. An instrumental rendition of The Clovers' "One Mint Julep" also spotlights his tenor sax, although more in a King Curtis-Junior Walker vein. Red Young adds some greasy organ here. Another instrumental is "LoFi Roulette," with Chris Tofield adding searing guitar to Carpenter's gutbucket sax.

A soulful rendition of Eddie Hinton's "Yeah Man" closes this album. Jimmy Carpenter has matured into an expressive, passionate singer and songwriter, and he has produced a very satisfying blues and roots recording.

I received my review download from a publicist. Here Jimmy performs the title track.

Marcia Ball Shine Bright

Marcia Ball

Shine Bright
Alligator Records

It's been a 50 year run for Marcia Ball performing her mix of Gulf Coast blues and rhythm music and this is her seventh album for Alligator to go along 8 similar albums for Capitol, Antone's and Rounder. With her mix of a rollicking piano in the vein of Professor Longhair and Fats Domino and soulful singing influenced by the great Irma Thomas, she has been thrilling blues and roots audiences as a touring performer for nearly forty years. This latest recording was produced by Steve Berlin who adds baritone sax to many tracks with others heard here including guitarist Mike Schermer, organist Red Young, bassist Lee Allen Zeno and guitarist and accordionist Roddie Romero. Of course, Ball herself is at the center with her soul-laced singing and New Orleans-rooted boogie piano, as well as contributed nine originals to go with three interpretations of songs from other sources.

As to be expected there are plenty of hot grooves, rocking piano and searing guitar starting off with the title track and her fervent message of hope in these times and then followed by the second line funk of Ernie K-Doe's "I Got to Find Somebody" to love her right. Her piano captures on this the spirit of Allen Toussaint (who this album is dedicated to along with Fats Domino and Buckwheat Zydeco) and Eric Bernhardt's tenor sax solo is firming in the classic New Orleans tradition. There is more Crescent City fun on an original she wrote with Shelly King and Tim Cook, "When the Mardi Gras Is Over."

Gary Nicholson co-wrote, "They Don't Make 'Em Like That," with its complaint that the music of today doesn't hold up or is as lasting as the blues and country of yesteryear. Bernhardt shining. Mike Schermer co-wrote "Life of the Party," with its calypso groove along with Enrique Chi's fiery trumpet, followed by her heartfelt blues singing on Ray Charles' "What Would I Do." "Once in a Lifetime" is a soulful original where she advises the guys if it is really true love, make sure you treat her fine. Schermer takes a tightly constructed short solo. Then there is her heartfelt hope that we all come together on "World Full of Love," with just her piano, Young's organ and Schermer's acoustic guitar providing the effective, austere backing.

A boisterous zydeco-inspired rendition of Jesse Winchester's "Take a Little Louisiana," with Romero channeling Buckwheat Zydeco on accordion, is the finale of this Ball recording. This superb recording is full of first-rate material and splendidly sung and played music, that one has come to expect from Marcia Ball.

I received my review copy from Alligator Records. Here is a live studio session to promote "Shine Bright."