Sean Costello In the Magic Shop

 

Its been a bit over 6 years since Sean Costello passed away from an accidental overdose at the age of 29. His musical legacy cut short by his premature passing, we should be thankful that VizzTone for making available "In the Magic Shop," a Fall 2005 session recorded at The Magic Shop in New York by Steve Rosenthal. With Costello was Paul Linden on keyboards and vibes; Melvin Zachary on bass and Ray Hangen on drums, with appearances from Matt Wauchope on Hammond B3; Brian Jackson on keyboards and various backing vocalists.

From the opening moments of a rendition of B.B. King’s “It’s My Own Fault” one is struck by Costello's performances. He establishes his presence with some fiery guitar and gritty singing with an appealing touch of gravel. Similarly impressive is his cover of Fenton Robinson’s “You Don’t Love What Love Is,” displaying a bit more of Otis Rush than the cleaner toned Robinson, but satisfying in its own way. He does a nice cover of Bobby Womack’s “Check It Out,” and tosses in a solid original R&B tinged blues “I Went Wrong.” His “Hard Luck Woman” is a a down home swamp blues boogie with a touch of Tony Joe White whereas he ably does a Rod Stewart cover on “You Wear It Well.” Impressive is his spare touch to open “Told Me a Lie” before the disc closes with a cover of Johnny Fuller’s “Fool’s Paradise,” a remarkable, restrained performance.

VizzTone is to be thanked for making “In the Magic Shop” available. Sean Costello may have been taken from us way too soon, but his legacy lives on. 100% of the profits from this release will benefit the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research (seancostellofund.org), so not only is one getting a great recording, but helping a wonderful cause.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. I have made minor changes from the review that appeared in the January-February 2015 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 358). Here is Sean performing “It’s My Own Fault.”

Nappy Brown returns

Its been a decade since Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp, better known as Nappy Brown, last had a new recording out. Thanks to producer Scott Cable, Brown has a terrific new recording available on Blind Pig, Long Time Coming. Helping on this new recording is a terrific band that includes guitarists Bob Margolin, Junior Watson and Sean Costello, keyboardist Jim Pugh, bassist Mookie Brill, saxophonist and harpist John Nemeth, and drummer Big Joe Maher. There is a mix of new versions of some of the songs most associated with Nappy Brown (Don’t Be Angry and The Right Time (which Ray Charles made famous as Night Time is the Right Time) along with a nice selection of material that range from hot jump blues like the opening Keep On Pleasin’ You to the more downhome feel of Walter 'Lightning Bug' Rhodes Aw Shucks Baby, You Were a Long Time Coming and the Little Walter classic Who. Aw Shucks Baby is the one track not from this session as it was from a performance at the Phoenix, Arizona club, The Rhythm Room. Brown's voice sounds like he has lost little over the years, comparing his renditions of Aw Shucks Baby and The Right Time with renditions on a 1991 Ichiban album by him. The new versions benefit from a much crisper band that adds more punch to the proceedings. I know Margolin has performed with Nappy over the years, but special mention must be made of Big Joe Maher’s drumming. Maher anchored the band that backed Nappy Brown in 1991 DC Blues Festival, and besides his own swing based jump blues, has been a sought after drummer for touring acts as diverse as Earl King, Johnny Adams, James ‘Thunderbird’ Davis, and Jimmy ‘T-99’ Nelson. Maher’s playing playing is consistently in the pocket. The foundation of Maher's drums and the electric bass of Mookie Brill is one reason the music here sounds so crisp and vigorous. There is plenty of terrific guitar throughout and Nappy is in real good voice, whether employing a stuttering shouting vocal on Don’t Be Angry, handling a ballad, Give Me Your Love, or singing with faith on the closing, Take Care of Me. One would be hard pressed to find any recording by Nappy as good as this one since his classic Savoy recordings. Highly recommended. For those in the Washington DC area, Nappy Brown appears at the State Theatre in Falls Church, November 2.