Mikey Junior Traveling South

Having established himself over the past decade among blues enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic, Mikey Junior has a new recording (his 8th CD) Traveling South Swingnation/VizzTone), that displays a maturation in his artistry. A triple threat as a singer, songwriter and harmonica player, “Traveling South” has 12 fresh performances that is marvelously produced by Dave Gross (who plays guitar); the backing back also includes Dean Shot on guitar; Jeremy Baum on keyboards; Matt Raymond on bass; and Michael Bram on drums.

From the opening title track, Mikey Junior’s vocals and harmonica display a presence and authority that Gross’ production enhances. Listening to several of the selections, one hears echoes of a Billy Boy Arnold Vee-Jay recording with the grooves and tremolo in the backing of Morning On My Way, while elsewhere some of the guitar riffs and solos echo Ike Turner’s work on Federal. Gross did the recording and handled the mix on the twelve performances here and like Mikey Junior on harmonica, has a concern for detail and tone that is striking throughout.

Harp fans certainly will dig Mikey Junior’s fat tone (including some strong chromatic playing). Then there is his strong delivery of the lyrics of  excellent originals, mostly about cheating lovers and heart-break. All is captured in the marvelous engineering of these nuanced performances. While well-grounded in the blues tradition, Mikey Junior brings his own voice for a terrific Traveling South.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. It is scheduled to be released tomorrow. Here is a Fall 2013 video of Mikey Junior performing Traveling South.

Gina Sicilia Discovers It Wasn't Real

Gina Sicilia has developed into a striking vocalist and a very fine songwriter. This becomes clear listening to her new CD, It Wasn’t Real (Swingnation Records/VizzTone), is her first that was not produced by Dave Gross. Glenn Barratt produced this recording, that was recorded at Morningstar Studios in Philadelphia, and Gina explains it helped her move out of her comfort zone. Sicilia wrote nine of the ten songs here, the exception being a cover of a less-known Etta James recording, Don’t Cry Baby.

Opening with the terrific title track, Sicilia displays a powerful voice as she belts out this original evocative of classic 50s and 60s R&B. Jay Davidson’s baritone sax helps establish the mood before he takes a booting tenor sax solo while guitarists Kevin Hanson and Jef Lee Johnson add fills. Gina invests much feeling into the cover Don’t Cry Baby as Joel Bryant’s piano accompaniment stands out and Davidson rips off more tough tenor sax. Wake Up Next To You, has an infectious reggae groove, as Gina wants to take her baby home with her. Dennis Gruenling contributes marvelous chromatic harmonica on the jazzy Walkin’ Along the Avenue, that has her lyric on how love can happen when least expected. 

The country-laced Don’t Wanna Be No Mother is a moving song about a marriage where the romance has long gone and the husband Carl looks at pretty young girls and never makes love to her with the haunting line “The stale air of the airplane, smells like my life …” Jef Lee Johnson plays some acoustic slide as well as electric single note runs on this standout emotionally charged performance. It is the highlight of a consistently strong recording.

It Wasn’t Real is a superb album of blues, country and other roots music. It brings together exceptional original songs, strong session playing and marvelous, nuanced vocals that display the marvelous talent Gina Sicilia has become. Highly recommended.

I received my review copy from VizzTone.  Here is a video for Don’t Wanna Be No Mother.

Dave Gross Took The Gamble

I had heard strong things about Dave Gross, a young guitarist-singer who is only in his twenties. Duke Robillard has taken him under his wing and produced Gross’ CD Take the Gamble, (SwingNation Records), and even plays on three tracks. Listening to this one can understand why as Gross is enamored in the swing and jump blues that Robillard has mined so well.

Opening with a nice take of Gatemouth Brown’s She Walks Right In, he also covers Hot Lips Page, T-Bone Walker and the old standard After You’ve Gone, as well writes songs that reflect his inspirations. I’m So Hungry Blues, is a tribute to T-Bone Walker with some fine playing and the instrumental Swingin’ on All Six with some strong harp from Dennis Gruenling is really nicely delivered.

Doug James adds some sax on a number of selections including Hot Lips Page’s Walkin’ in a Daze, which also sports a nice cornet solo by Al Basile. Gross is a very accomplished player and eschews the hard rock approach of many ‘contemporary’ blues artists. He also varies things with the rockabilly romp, Once Had a Girl. Unfortunately his vocals do not come across as well. His phrasing sounds awkward and forced at times (like on the T-Bone styled I’m So Hungry Blues as well as his Moving On Down the Line).

Hopefully he will become a more natural and convincing singer as he continues to perform. He writes interesting songs and is a wonderful player with this disc showing more than simply potential, but his vocals prevent this from receiving a high recommendation.

This review appeared originally in the March 2008 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 302), although I have made minor edits. I likely received a review copy from the label or a publicist. I posted a review of Gross’ Crawlin The Walls on January 11 2012. Here is a video of Dave doing "She Walks Right In."