Blues Meets Girl

Blues Meets Girl
Bad Inglish Records

Blues Meets Girl is a duo comprised of British born bluesman Stephen Inglish, aka Mr. Downchild and Texas Born singer Kasimira Vogel. I am familiar with Mr. Downchild and believe I reviewed his album, "They Call Me Mr. Downchild" in 1994. He was mentored and praised by Robert Lockwood Jr., who appeared on "They Call Me Mr.Downchild" along with Sam Carr. He has recorded and released several albums since which received critical acclaim. He first met Kasimira at a festival in 2012, and a couple years later, they formed Blues Meets Girl.

On this eponymously titled recording, they are accompanied by guitarist Sean Carney, Scott Flowers on drums, and Ray Deforest on bass with Mr. Downchild on harmonica, guitar, CBG, and stompbox besides his vocals. With one exception, Mr. Downchild and Kasimira wrote all the songs. The music is mostly straight-forward Chicago styled blues starting with the opening "Nightgown." With a guitar riff evoking "Twine Time," Mr. Downchild sings vigorously about his new relationship joined in by Kasimira. Carney has a solid guitar solo, followed by Mr. Downchild's powerful harmonica. Downchild's singing also impresses or the driving rock'n'roll flavored, "Didn't See It Coming." I am not overwhelmed by Kasimira as a blues singer, although one can't fault her pitch or phrasing. I suspect she would be better suited to singing jazz or sophisticated adult pop. Still, the solid shuffle backing on "Listen Here Boys" provides a definite appeal to her singing. Her singing shows more personality on "Oh Baby," and thankfully, she never comes across as a screamer or shrill. Your ears might disagree, but I suggest her vocal on "Special Man," with jazzy backing from Carney, suggest how good she would be singing jazz.

I believe Mr. Downchild is playing the 12-string guitar on a couple numbers, including "Backstabber," where his playing suggests Leadbelly. He also adds hearty-sounding rack harmonica on this. "Snapshot," with a Howlin' Wolf evoking backing, is an intriguing performance with a whispered, almost talking, blues from Kasimira. "Home To My Baby" has an excellent vocal from Mr. Downchild set against a swamp-blues, rumba groove. Carney's solo displays his concern for tone and his restraint. Another rendition of this song is taken as a Chicago blues shuffle with Downchild blowing amplified harp. It is a bonus track for the CD. Sean Carney composed the swinging instrumental "Swinging With Hank," a scintillating feature for his imaginative, jazz-tinged playing.

Despite 'my' reservations of Kasimira's vocals, overall, there was plenty to like about "Blues Meets Girl." Mr. Downchild continues to show why Robert Lockwood, Jr. once said, "Son, I knew you was good but … I didn't know you was "That Good!" Sean Carney is superb, and the rhythm section excellent. This is a marvelous Chicago styled blues recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the November-December 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 387). Here is "Nightgown," from this recording.

Long Tall Deb Says Raise Your Hands

Its always a pleasure to hear a previously unfamiliar talent and to my delight, I discovered Long Tall Deb with her release Raise Your Hands (VizzTone). A Texas native, but currently based in Ohio, Deb Landolt, is a marvelous singer that can range from a whisper to a scream (to paraphrase an Allen Toussaint song title) and backed by some marvelous musicians including John Popovich on keyboards, Sean Carney and Dave Clo on guitars, Melvin Powe on bass and Jan Roll on drums. To this core band are appearances on various tracks by (amongst others) Damon Fowler, JP Soars, and Jimmy Thackery on guitars, Victor Wainwright and Reese Wynans on organ, Phil Pemberton, Shaun Booker, Big Llou, Nikki Scott, Michelle Swift on vocals and background vocals, and the Roomful of Blues Horns. 

This album has its origins in a series of impromptu writing sessions, affectionately referred that began in the fall of 2011. Landolt, John Popovich and bassist Melvin Powe would gather with new song ideas and jam on themes and variations. Often in between his international tour dates, Columbus stalwart Sean Carney joined the fun. These songs would be developed by their collaboration and Nashville producer dave Clo further refined these originals along with two covers, Tom Waits’ New Coat of Paint and Ian Moore’s Muddy Jesus, that comprise Raise Your Hands. 

The music here is quite striking. Its wonderfully produced but Deb Landolt is clearly the star who possesses a rich, expressive voice and sings in a natural fashion exhibiting nuance as well as power. The songs are first-rate as well starting with the opening What Would A Good Woman Do, in which Deb sings her complaints about an overbearing husband that wants her to do her bidding and ends in a spirited verbal repartee with Phil Pemberton. A theme of unworthy men also marks Hush Your Mouth, where she basically is telling the fool the best time is when he just shuts up, and Finally Forgot Your Name. These are wonderfully soulful performances but contrast with Let’s Get Lost where she tells her man that they need to get away and just get down to it. 

Train To Tucson is a lively celebration of taking the west-bound train to Tucson with some nice slide guitar from Colin John with the band providing a rockabilly feel. The title track is a gospel-tinged song about lifting herself (and listeners) from down times and the efforts of naysayers to cut oneself down. Damon Fowler’s blues-rock guitar and Victor Wainwright’s organ add punch to Ian Moore’s Muddy Jesus which transfers the Christian story from the Middle East to the Rio Grande who gets shot down crossing the river. Colin John’s slide guitar opens To Find His Home with Nikki Scott sharing the lead vocal on a gospel-based plea for tolerance and love of one’s fellow man no matter what their race, nationality or religion (“I see so-called Christian people killing their brothers in your name.”). 

This recording closes with Deb, backed just by Popovich’s piano, providing a lovely rendition of Tom Wait’s New Coat of Paint. It is an intimate sounding performance which provides a nice contrast to the varied band performances. Long Tall Deb shows poise and maturity throughout Raise Your Hands. There is plenty of heart and soul exhibited by her and band on this excellent album.

I received my copy from the record label. Here is Long Tall Deb and Muddy Jesus.

Sean Carney's Life of Ease

Winner of the 2007 International Blues Challenge, The Sean Carney Band is no Johnny come lately. Carney has been an important part of the Columbus, Ohio blues scene for many years and participated in the IBC several years ago backing up finalist Teeny Tucker. Carney has recorded several times and his CD, Life of Ease (Nite Owlz Records), demonstrates the appeal of his music that led to his winning in Memphis.

Carney is a terrific guitarist with a crisp, swinging attack, a solid songwriter and his band is a terrific band that can cover a lot of territory from uptown jump blues and swing to a more downhome groove as on Pennies & Teardrops. As a vocalist Carney evokes Jimmy Witherspoon on the title track and at other times suggests Duke Robillard, like on the atmospheric I’ve Got a Gypsy Woman. Solid remakes of T-Bone Walker’s I Know Your Wig Is Gone and Pee Wee Crayton’s When It Rains It Pours, shows that Duke Robillard isn’t the only one who can channel Walker’s pioneering and still influential style.

The guest spots include the late Joe Weaver’s marvelous updating of Casey Bill Weldon’s Outskirts of Town (credited to Louis Jordan), Willie Pooch’s fine treatment of Lowell Fulson’s Tramp and Teeny Tucker, daughter of Tommy Tucker, filling up the room with the fine I Live Alone. Special note should be made of the fine playing of saxophonist Gene Walker, a King Curtis protege on three selections.

Thirteen track are studio recordings, and three are live recordings, including two renditions of two songs among the studio recordings and this is an excellent disc that is available from www.cdbaby.com.

This review originally appeared in the March/April 2007 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 291). I believe I may have purchased the CD. Sean continues to be active and among the most interesting persons involved in the Columbus Ohio blues scene and this CD and others by him are available at cdbaby.com and other stores and as downloads. Below is a video of Sean at the 2007 International Blues Challenge.