Tim Gartland Satisfied

Tim Gartland
Satisfied
Taste Good Music.

This is the 4th album by the Nashville based singer-harmonica player-songwriter. I found his prior album "If You Want A Good Woman," to be a "rollicking set of blues and rockers." Like that recording, this was recorded by Kevin McKendree (and his son Yates) at McKendree's The Rock House studio. While Tom West plays keyboards on most of this, McKendree also adds keyboards to several selections. Robert Frahm handles most of the guitar here with Tom Britt playing slide on a couple of selections. Steve Mackey on bass and Tom Bruno round out this fine studio band with Wendy Moten on backup vocals.

"Drinking For Two" is the first song with a driving, second-line groove and Gartland's world-weary vocals and full-bodied harmonica, McKendree's piano and Britt's slide guitar. Gartland is a limited, straight-forward singer although with a modest vocal range. His harmonica playing has a fat-tone and he plays with plenty of drive and swing. His backing is first-rate with a solid rhythm section. Robert Frahm, who I saw when he lived in the Washington DC area, displays his chops with a crisp solo on "Don't Make No Trouble." This song also displays his ability to craft songs with memorable hooks. There is also plenty of variety in the songs including the country-soul flavor of "Blues For Free," the rollicking of "Can't Paint a Prettier Picture," with its Chuck Berry feel, with Tom West channeling Johnnie Johnson and Frahm channeling Berry while trading fours with the leader's harmonica.

The title track is a lovely lament with a slight Tex-Mex accent and atmospheric chromatic harmonica. Frahm's tremolo-laced guitar and West's organ lend a swampy tone to "Walk On" with co-writer Ray Desilvis contributing an effective backing vocal. The variety here is also displayed by the reggae groove employed for "Why Does The Room Begin to Sway?" One can suggest that the use of a reggae groove certainly would be welcome in more blues performances and recordings, but it remains rare.

While Gartland may have limitations as a singer, he remains a capable vocalist. He writes intriguing songs, is a distinct harmonica player and is accompanied by a splendid studio band on a most enjoyable release.

I received my review copy a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 384) although I have made minor changes. Here is a brief clip of Tim Gartland performing.

Tim Gartland If You Want A Good Woman

Tim Gartland
If You Want A Good Woman
VizzTone

Resident in Nashville, Tim Gartland first honed his blues skills in Chicago, then in Boston before moving to Nashville. "If You Want A Good Woman" is apparently his third recording and his slightly grizzled singing and sure sounding harp playing is featured here along with his songwriting on this recording of originals (some penned by his keyboard player Tom West). Others on this include Wendy Moten on supporting vocals; Tom Britt on guitar; Lynn Williams drums; and Steve Mackey on bass. Former Delbert McClinton band member Kevin McKendree recorded this, co-produced this with Gartland, and added organ and piano to a few selections.

Gartland certainly is ingratiating as a singer and harmonica player with his band providing able support, although much of this I would classify as blues-based roadhouse rock in the vein of Delbert McClinton. This is a descriptive observation, and does not relate to the quality of the music. Gartland has written some exceptional original songs (he has a way with words), and he and the band deliver very strong performances. His vocal on the opening "What The Blues Look Like," reminded me of Paul Butterfield, with some tasty harp and slide guitar. This is a terrific song that one can see many folks covering. "Hours Worth" is a rocker where he sings about having a hours worth of whiskey, and of rent that is a month past due. Wendy Moten provides backing vocals and there is a rollicky piano break.

His vocal on "I Had It" has some of the qualities of the recent world weary sounding singing from Charlie Musselwhite as Gartland expresses regrets about having had it all wrong. The title track is built around a reggae riff as he sings about a good woman that stay home if the man is doing her wrong, and after all a good woman simply wants a good man. Gartland does not overwhelm with his harmonica playing, but rather it ably complements his singing. The instrumental "Eight Ball" allows him to display his thoughtful, vocalized sound on harmonica

There is also a fair amount of humor to be heard here. On "Too Many Groceries," where tells this lady that she is as subtle as a train wreck, and she has too many groceries for her bag. Another wonderful song is a homage to Willie Dixon, "Willie That's Who." The lyric here laced with subtle references to some of the late blues giant's songs and lyrics. A driving instrumental "Go West," provides a lively coda to Gartland's rollicking set of blues and rockers that is wonderfully recorded.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. Here is Tim Gartland in performance.