This new album by singer-songwriter-guitarist Dexter Allen is a mix of straight-ahead urban blues and southern soul. Years of playing lead guitar with Bobby Rush can be heard in the funk-tinged performances here, if not quite as bawdy as Rush. Through overdubbing, Allen plays keyboards and bass in addition to guitar. Others on this date include drummers Christopher Minter and Joey Robinson and the keyboards of Joey Robinson.
A comparison for Allen might be Theodis Ealey (thinking especially of Ealey's Ichiban albums and songs like "Bluesman Lover"), in his mix of songs that are traditionally rooted along with a touch of straight soul. Allen has an appealing baritone voice, and he plays straight-forward, idiomatic guitar. He more capably handles a straight shuffle like "Pack Up My Bags," where he sings about moving far away from his woman who treated him like a dog. The title track deals with people coping with everyday struggles, but one should keep their hopes up. "F.A.B.U.L.I.S.T. Woman" is a down-in-the-alley blues about this woman that won't do right.
Allen's soulful side is perhaps best shown on "I Just Love That Woman," with appealing deep from the gut singing, along with "Can't Live Without You." The music of the latter number evokes the Toussaint McCall classic, "Nothing Takes The Place of You," Allen takes us to church with his singing here as he tells his girl she's the best thing for him, and he doesn't want to lose her love. Then there is a funky appreciation of a lady's shaking her body on the dance floor, "I Like The Way."
Overall, this album is a solidly produced blues and soul recording. Dexter Allen stands front and center with the first-rate music present on "Keep Moving On."
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of Dexter Allen performing.
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