Toronzo Cannon
The Preacher, The Politician and The Pimp
Alligator Records

This is the Toronzo Cannon's fifth album, second for Alligator, and brings more of searing guitar, intense vocals and intriguing original songs. His lyrics arise from today's headlines, his experiences as a veteran bus driver in Chicago as well as the wisdom of his grandparents, who raised him and often have stories that make for compelling listening. On this release he is supported by Roosevelt Purifoy on keyboards, Marvin Little on bass and Melvin 'Pooky Styx" Carlisle on drums. There are also appearances by Norma Jean on vocals, Billy Branch on harmonica, Joanna Connor on slide guitar, Lynne Jordan, Cedric Chaney and Maria Luz Carball on vocals, and horns arranged by trumpeter Joe Clark.

He writes lyrics that lay bare the similarities between "The Preacher, The Politician and The Pimp," or the humor-filled stories of male braggadocio on "Stop Me When I'm Lying." The former number is taken at a nice relaxed pace while the latter is an exuberant performance with a New Orleans groove and punchy horns. "The Chicago Way," mixes a ZZ Top rocking boogie groove with stop-time and hot single note runs as Cannon sings about breaking the rules, paying his dues and that he will play his blues without an apology, the Chicago Way. He blasts off on this song with a closing guitar solo. There is also a rollicking duet with Nora Jean "That's What I Love About 'Cha." After each noting the other's shortcomings, they also know that the other is "mine all mine."

Then there is the black humor of "Insurance" with lyrics about dealing with doctors and insurance that many will be able to relate to. Alligator's chief honcho, Bruce Iglauer, makes a brief cameo as a doctor while Billy Branch adds his harmonica on this performance. "She Loved Me (Again)" is an original about domestic abuse. In it, Toronzo couldn't take a man beating his woman anymore, and he shot the man. When the cops burst in, she had Toronzo's gun in her hand and said she was the one that shot that man. Cannon's intense singing, and blistering, scorching guitar playing result in perhaps the CD's most compelling performance.

"She Loved Me (Again)" is followed by "The Silence of Friends." This is another message song in which Toronzo observes that too often when wrong things are said or done, 'friends' are silent and not supportive. The closing number, "I'm Not Scared," is sung by Lynne Jordan, Cedric Chaney, and Maria Luz Carball, who sing about no longer being victims, whether from taking abuse from a lover or taking abuse for being gay. Joanna Connor adds slide guitar while Cannon's uses wah-wah and other her effects. After a searing guitar solo, this song, and album ends with Purifoy's reflective piano solo.

Toronzo Cannon follows his inspiration and does things his own way, the Chicago Way. He continues to mature as a songwriter as well as a performer. The result is a compelling, superlative blues recording.

I received my review copy from Alligator. This will be available on September 20.  This review appeared in the September-October 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 386).  Here is Toronzo performing at the 2019 Chicago Blues Festival.