Know My Name
Phat Blues Records
A new album by the Kelly Bell Band is a cause of celebration, particularly for music fans in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (the DMV). This new release of 'Phat Blues," With his band comprising of Dane Paul Russell (Harmonica), Frankie Hernandez (Bass/Vocals), John Robert Buell (Drums/Vocals), Rahsaan “Wordslave” Eldridge (Vocals/Percussion), Ryan Fowler (Guitars/Vocals) and Eric Robinson (Guitars/Vocals) he has his latest musical genre-bending effort. Others appearing include Dave Tieff, Julie Cymek, and Justin Schlegel on vocals; Ira Mayfield Jr. (acoustic guitars); Kirk Myers (on) keyboards; Russell McCray (alto sax); Bryan Ewald (guitar); The Phat Blues Horn Section of Zach Smith (trumpet and arranger), Davidson Smith (trumpet), Leigh Pilzer (tenor/baritone sax) and Todd Baldwin (Trombone), and strings played by Amy Shook (cello, viola, violin).
Plat Blues is not a traditional blues fans idea of blues. Instead, it is a genre-busting mix of blues, soul, funk, jazz, psychedelic rock, and hip hop. The opening "Long Train" is a hard blues-rock performance with a heavy, driving groove which shifts into a swinging jump blues "Last $4" with a riffing horn section (along with Russell's robust harp solo), and a jazzy guitar solo as Bell wants to fill up the dance floor. It displays much better than the opening selection, Kelly Bell's appealing, soulful singing. Sweetened a little by Amy Shook's strings, "First Moments" is a lovely classic soul ballad about only wanting to be with one.
Other songs include the irresistible groove of "Good Thing" with a rockabilly undercurrent, riffing horns, a scorching harmonica solo, and a spirited vocal duet with a woman (Julie Cymek?). There is also a funky celebration of what a woman does to Bell "You Don't Know" with a hip hop interlude echoing the song's chorus, and the atmospheric title track about a fight between his parents, his father leaving telling him to take care of mama and be strong. It has Bell's moving vocal supported by the backing vocalists set against an emphatic backing. "Every Time" is another stellar, slow soulful performance about this a lady that Bell is obsessed with, singing he never whats to be without her and can't live without her.
"In the Late Hours," is when Bell needs his woman as he hugs his pillow missing her with a saxophone adding commentary to his vocal with Shook's strings adding to the mood of Bell's urgent, pleading vocal. It closes this thoroughly entertaining and varied collection of performances. Wonderfully produced and recorded "Know My Name" should have everyone knowing who Kelly Bell is. His website is https://www.kellybellband.com.
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video for "Long Train."
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