Tomislav Goluban Chicago Rambler

Tomislav Goluban
Chicago Rambler
Spona

I recently reviewed a fascinating recording by the Croatian harmonica player Tomislav Goluban with the keyboards of Toni Starešinić which resulted in some fascinating sonic explorations. The present CD is more in the vein of Chicago styled blues and was produced in a Chicago studio with a band consisting of Eric Noden on guitar; E.G. McDaniel on bass; and Kenny 'Beedy Eyes' Smith on drums with Joe Filisko adding harmonica on two songs. Goluban wrote eleven of the twelve songs. The other song is a traditional Croatian song.

Goluban’s nickname is ‘Little Pigeon’ and the album kicks off with a hard-rocking instrumental that displays his by full-bodied harmonica style, “Pigeon Swing.” It is followed by “Locked Heart,” a charming performance in the manner of Slim Harpo with a low-key vocal and harp and suggests Slim Harpo’s “Raining in My Heart.” Goluban may not be the most expressive singer, but his soft-spoken vocals do display a genuineness. This makes his original “Jerry Ricks on My Mind,” a moving remembrance set to a rhumba groove as he sings “Hey Mister Jerry would you play a song for me …,” with Noden playing atmospheric slide guitar. This is also performed acoustically with the guitarist evoking Ricks finger-style approach.

Besides his appealing singing, the backing adds to the charm of these performances whether the driving shuffle of “Bag Full of Troubles,” with some spectacular harmonica from Filisko or the moody slow blues “Can’t Find Myself,” with a marvelous harp solo that adds to the song’s feel. Then there is “One Way Ticket” which opens as an unaccompanied harmonica train solo before morphing into small group train blues. “Do the Right Thing,” is an original using the Bo Diddley beat, followed by the autobiographical “Little Pigeon” with Filisko on harp set against a classic Muddy Waters styled backing.

An easy rocking rendition of a traditional Croatian song “Išem budem v kleticu (I’ll Go to My Cottage),” closes a surprisingly engaging recording that delights with each listening.

I received a review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the March-April 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 383). Here is a video of "Locked Heart."

Tomislav Goluban feat. Toni Starešinić Velvet Space Love

Tomislav Goluban feat. Toni Starešinić
Velvet Space Love
Spona

An intriguing recording by these two Croatian musicians who perform eight originals, three remixes and once cover. Harmonica player Goluban who comes from a blues background is collaborating here with Starešinić who plays a variety of keyboards here is mostly involved in jazz combined with electronic, rock, funk, soul and hip-hop. The publicity for this recording states, "They all combine a classic piano sound, keyboards and a harmonica. In this 'space dance' Goluban and Starešinić combine blues, jazz and electronic, yet flerting (sic) with other styles." Various musicians join on various selections to help sustain the mood of various selections.

The performances here are sound scapes more so than songs starting with the opening "Zero Gravity," where Goluban's harmonica lines are set against the electronic sounds of his partner with time seemingly suspended. Vlado Simcich Vana adds guitar tones adding to sound textures of "Space Drive" as Goluban's horn-like harmonica lines are set against Starešinić's synthesized textures. Goluban adds jewharp and a shaker to his harmonica on the haunting "My Jupiter Mistress," with a jazzy electronic keyboard solo.

On "Hypersleep Dream," there is nice bluesy harmonica played against a synthesized organ backing with Josipar Loncar adding a wordless vocal moan. Electric and acoustic guitar, and drums are added to another spacey track, "10 9 3." while "The Busiest Woman I Ever Loved," is a blues instrumental with Goluban's impressive harmonica playing along with a taut electric piano solo and punchy horns.  "Till the End of Time and Space," is a fascinating duet between harmonica and electronic instruments."Zero Gravity Remix" sounds like the harp is taken out of the mix and replaced by various electronic sounds.

The album closes with echoey, moody harmonica set against the electronic on a cover of Ennio Morricone's "Man With a Harmonica," providing a fresh approach to music that may have been composed for a 'Spaghetti' Western. While one can hear the blues roots in Goluban's accomplished harmonica playing, little of the fascinating music here can be described as blues. The performances here will appeal most to those interested in electronic music, though others hopefully will sample the fascinating sounds here.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "The Busiest Woman I Ever Loved."