Small Blues and Grooves
VizzTone
The 11th Hour Band was an early 1980s band comprised of Paul Lenart on guitar, Bill 'Coach' Mather on bass, Chuck Purro on drums and Richard Rosenblatt on harmonica. In 1985 they released an album on the fledging Tone-Cool label, and then went on various pursuits, although still playing off and on together. In 2008 they got in the studio to record some instrumentals which now are issued for the first time.
There is nothing fancy or overly flashy relating to these tight, straight-forward blues instrumentals recorded without any pretense. There are lively grooves and allusions to some famous blues numbers such as "Road Trippin,'" which evokes "Hideaway," and the country-tinged "Jackrabbit," that hints at "Steel Guitar Rag." Both Rosenblatt's atmospheric harmonica playing and Lenart's mix of chords and sizzling single-note runs are provided solid functional support by Mather and Purro. There is the moody "Sleepless" with Rosenblatt's harp taking the lead which contrasts with the hard-rocking "East Cambridge Cannonball" where Rosenblatt takes the first solo with Lenart's biting guitar prominent towards the end.
With plenty of trebly guitar, Lenart's guitar lead is supported by Rosenblatt's vocalized harp playing on the appropriately named "Down and Dirty." "Hey Daddyo" sounds like a tribute to Bo Diddley with Lenart evoking the late legend's sound. "Midnight Streetcar," is a moody instrumental that showcases Rosenblatt's fine harmonica playing. With echoes of Slim Harpo's "Tip On In," the swamp-blues flavored "Swamp Ride" closes a very entertaining recording. I won't make any claim that this is a timeless, classic blues recording. Still, the 11 Guys Quartet has produced an all-instrumental blues album that is well-played and thoroughly engaging.
I received my review copy from VizzTone.
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