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.
It has been 5 years since Alligator Records produced its last label retrospective/sampler, so now it has issued the two-disc "Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection," that allows Bruce Iglauer to mix some of the recordings from the label's history with tracks from more recent recordings. So a typical driving rocker from a 2008 Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials release is followed by some searing Son Seals from his 1973 debut recording.
Rather than go through every artist and track, let me say that there is plenty of fine music here, even if some of the performances are not to my taste. Listening to Shemekia Copeland's rendition of her father's "Devil's Hand," one is impressed by the freshness of her rendition, and roots artist JJ Grey and Mofro is one of the more compelling artists Alligator has promoted over the past decade or so. It certainly is a teat to hear fresh new (not necessarily young) voices such as Toronzo Cannon, Jarekus Singleton and Selwyn Birchwood, along with the bluesy roots of Moreland & Arbuckle. Then one has vintage Koko Taylor doing "Voodoo Woman" from her first Alligator album along with Jimmy Johnson's "Your Turn to Cry" from the "Living Chicago Blues" series.
The rockabilly of Lee Rocker is mixed in with the roadhouse blues-country of Delbert McClinton and the rollicking Gulf Coast boogie of Marcia Ball. And it certainly is a treat to listen to A.C. Reed with Bonnie Raitt guesting, along with some sizzling live Luther Allison and the gospel of Mavis Staples and the Holmes Brothers. Both Guitar Shorty and Joe Louis Walker have been prominent relatively recent additions to Alligator's catalog although I would suggest that these are not the best recordings of their career. Of course, lets not forget selections by Billy Boy Arnold, Lazy Lester and Charlie Musselwhite.
Bruce Iglauer provides both an overview on the label and all the performances included. With about two and half hours of music among the 37 performances on these two-discs, it is priced as if it was a single disc so it represents good value along with the good music.
I reeeived my review copy from Alligator. This review appeared in the July-August 2016 issue of Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 367).
Ronnie Baker Brooks is one of this year's headliners
September 16, 17 & 18, 2016, blues returns to the Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Blues Festival. Among the acts on the two stages at this year's Festival will be Ronnie Baker Brooks with special guest Eddie Clearwater, Zac Harmon, Ronnie Earl, Toronzo Cannon, The Delmark Chicago Blues Revue and Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz.
It was August 1 and 2 of 1992 when the Big Boulder Ski Resort hosted the very first Pocono Blues Festival with a lineup that consisted of Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Kenny Neal, Big Jack Johnson & the Oilers, Willie Kent & the Gents with Bonnie Lee, Johnny “Clye” Copeland, Bobby Radcliffe, The Bob Margolin Blues Band, George “Mojo” Buford, The Clarence Spady Band, Queen Bee and the Blue Hornets, and the The Dukes of Destiny. I first attended the Pocono Blues Festival in 1994 for the third festival whose lineup included Johnny Clyde Copeland, Denise LaSalle, Carol Fran & Clarence Holliman, Larry McCray, Sugar Blue, Billy Boy Arnold with Bob Margolin, Long John Hunter, Honeyboy Edwards, Fruteland Jackson, Fenton Robinson and others.
For 19 years Big Boulder hosted what became known as the Blues Lover's Blues Festival. Most every significant blues act (many no longer with us) with the exception of B.B. King performed at the Festival including Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Guitar Shorty, Lowell Fulson, Little Milton, Otis Rush, koko Taylor, Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, Shemekia Copeland, Ruth Brown, Smokey Wilson, Mavis Staples, Jerry McCain, Eddie Clearwater, Trudy Lynn, Robert Lockwood Jr, Phillip Walker, Bobby bland, Artie 'Blues Boy' White, Texas Johnnie Brown, Long John Hunter, Otis Clay, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright and many more.
After 19 Festivals, the owners of Big Boulder decided for a change in the off-season activities and the Festival, rechristened the Pennsylvania Blues Festival moved to Blue Mountain Ski Area for 4 years and presented such performers as Otis Clay, Shemekia Copeland, Lil' Ed&The Blues Imperials, Magic Slim &The Teardrops, Kenny Neal, Bettye LaVette, Brooks Family Dynasty, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues with Lurrie Bell, Demetria Taylor & Carlos Johnson, Joe Louis Walker, Teeny Tucker, Otis Taylor, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Corey Harris, Bobby Rush, Ruthie Foster, Sista Monica, John Primer, Alexis P Suter, Guy Davis, Eddie & Vaan Shaw, James Cotton, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Barbara Carr, Jarekus Singleton and many more. Then in 2015 the Festival moved to Split Rock with a line-up that included Shemekia Copeland, Lil' Ed &The Blues Imperials, Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters, John Nemeth, Victor Wainwright & the Wild Roots, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, Selwyn Birchwood, Vaneese Thomas, and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.
Mikey Junior Revue helps the Festival Get Underway. Here he is seen from 2015 Festival
This is an impressive history of performers that will be celebrated by this year's event. Friday night's line-up in the Split Rock Galleria Governor's Ballroom features the Mikey Junior Revue starring the marvelous harmonica player and his band and a number of blues performers from the Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware region. It should be quite an enjoyable early evening event for blues enthusiasts.
On Saturday the Festival gets into full swing. At 11;00 AM in the Galleria Governor's Ballroom, Ronnie Earl will offer a guitar master class (separate charge will apply). At 1;00PM, Slam Allen opens the Main Stage with his highly entertaining set. The guitarist and vocalist fronted James Cotton's band for a number of years and on his own puts on a superb live show. Reviewing his album "Feel These Blues" I wrote "There is nothing fancy about Slam Allen with his rocking, B.B. King influenced guitar and his strong vocals. His vocals strike me as his greatest strength although he is no slouch as a guitarist." Up next on the main stage is Zac Harmon. Harmon, a former winner of the International Blues Challenge, certainly has established himself on the blues circuit, becoming a favorite attraction, especially on the Festival circuit, with his hot guitar, varied repertoire and gospel-soul rooted vocals.
Zac Harmon always puts on a great show
Pianist Anthony Geraci may be best known for being with Sugar Ray & the BluetOnes, but last year he put together a wonderful album with the Boston Blues All Stars and they follow Zac Harmon on the main stage. Reviewing his Delta Groove release "50 Shades of Blue" I wrote "Anthony Geraci is a first-rate blues songwriter and a terrific keyboard player." I expect his live revue will certainly be as entertaining as that terrific recording. Geraci is followed by Kenny Neal who will bring us his his own very personal style, rooted in the swamp blues of his father Raful and the likes of Slim Harpo. A threat on guitar, lap steel and vocals, Kenny Neal always delivers strong deep blues.
Closing the Main Stage on Saturday will be the high energy blues of Ronnie Bake Brooks who will have a full horn section and also special guest, Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Eddie 'The Chief' Clearwater. Son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie helps keep the family blues tradition alive and replaces the originally scheduled Buckwheat Zydeco who has health issues.
Guy Davis will be a highlight in Saturday's tent stage performers
In the Tent Stage will be performances by the marvelous singer-guitarist Guy Davis along with Canada's Blackburn Brothers who will be joined for one set by Harrison Kennedy. Slam Allen will also perform a set in the Text Stage. After the main festival acts conclude, there will be performances by Beareather Reddy and Zac Harmon in a special showcase at the Resort.
Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz perform at the Blues Brunch
Sunday, September 18 opens with a blues brunch that features music from Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz. Gaye, a founding member of Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, founded this vocal quartet (with occasional guitar and percussion accompaniment) that is focused on their marvelous vocals and harmonies. There debut VizzTone album "Is It Still Good to Ya?" only hints at how wonderful this group is.
After the brunch folks can head to the Main Stage for the spectacular sacred steel of The Campbell Brothers who present the opening Sunday afternoon gospel blues set. They are followed by the Andy T Nick Nixon Band bring the solid guitar playing of Andy T and the strong vocals of Nick Nixon. About this Nashville based band, and their debut recording on Delta Groove, "Drink Drank Drunk," I wrote "Andy T impresses with his fluidity, tone and taste while Nixon brings pretty of heart and soul to his nuanced vocals." I am looking forward to finally hearing this band.
Alligator artist Toronzo Cannon plays today's Chicago Blues
Chicago takes over the main stage next with Toronzo Cannon whose Alligator album, "The Chicago Way" is getting much well-deserved praise. Cannon, who is a bus driver in Chicago, brings together his life experiences and what he observes to his powerful songs. After two terrific albums on Delmark, he signed with Alligator and about "The Chicago Way" I wrote, "As a songwriter, as well as a singer-guitarist, Toronzo Cannon brings grit and passion. His playing is varied ranging from blues-rock to jazzy flavored while his singing is robust resulting in the mostly compelling performances here. "The Chicago Way" is one of most striking recent new blues releases."
Following Cannon will be the Delmark Chicago Revue featuring The Mike Wheeler Band with Jimmy Burns & Peaches Staten. Wheeler is a wonderful singer-guitarist who brings in a deep dish of soul and funk to his blues. A veteran of Big James Montgomery and the Chicago Playboys, his 2013 Delmark debut "Self Made Man" was quite impressive and indicated a very distinctive talent. Appearing with Wheeler is the marvelous singer-guitarist Jimmy Burns who also mixes rhythm and blues with his Chicago (and delta) blues roots. Vocalist Staten is a tough vocalist with influences from Koko Taylor, Mavis Staples and Etta James amongst others. She had a wonderful album on the short-lived Swississippi Records label that Mike Wheeler played on.
Ronnie Earl closes Sunday's Main Festival Stage
The Main Stage closes with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.Earl's career included stints in Sugar Ray & the Blue Notes, then replacing Duke Robillard in Roomful of Blues before his own solo career leading the Broadcasters. Among the most accomplished guitarists, Earl is not simply known as a virtuoso, but a player of impeccable taste, tone, nuance and imagination. Recently listening to some of the legendary Earl Hooker's club recordings, Earl was one of the few contemporary guitarists who evokes Hooker's style without copying or imitating. His most recent recording was a tribute to Otis Rush and Magic Sam, and his sterling playing on it similarly calls to mine their originals while coming out as all Ronnie Earl.
The Tent stage opens with Harrison Kennedy for the first of his two sets. Kennedy a former member of The chairman of the Board is a compelling singer and astute songwriter. Also performing with be singer saxophonist Vanessa Collier who this writer has heard great things about along with additional sets from The Campbell Brothers and the Andy T Nick Nixon Band.
Michael Cloeren, who puts together the Festival, has certainly does it again with this sterling line-up. For more information on the Pennsylvania Blues Festival including videos of the performers, ticket and lodging information, visit http://www.pennsylvaniabluesfestival.com.
It should be noted that six weeks after the Pennsylvania Blues Festival, Split Rock will host the first Pennsylvania Music Festival. Also produced by Michael Cloeren, this festival brings a variety of performers from assorted musical genres including blues, roots rock, bluegrass and the like. Notable performers of interest to blues fans includes the zydeco of CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, the riveting singing of Alexis Suter, and the blues-rock of Devon Allman and the Royal Southern Brotherhood. Other performers include the country roots rock of Girls, Gun and Glory, and roots-rock songwriter Paul Thorn. For more information on the Pennsylvania Music Festival visit http://www.pamusicfestival.com.
This preview of the Festival appeared originally in the July-August 2016 Jazz & Blues Report. There are more videos of the performers and a more detailed preview of the Festival on the Festival's website which is linked above. One month from the date of this post, the Festival will be in full swing.
After his two superior albums on Delmark, many were pleased to learn about Alligator Records signing Toronzo Cannon and now we have his label debut "The Chicago Way." Those who enjoyed his prior releases will not be disappointed with this and it is likely to raise his profile, not simply in the blues world. Cannon wrote all eleven songs on "The Chicago Way" and is backed by his band The Cannonball Express. The band consists of Brother John Kattke, Hammond B-3 Organ, Piano, Keyboards; Pete Galanis, Electric and Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Larry Williams, Bass and Melvin "Pookie Stix" Carlisle, Drums. Kattke also arranged the three piece horn section on a few selections.
This is hard-hitting music that might superficially be compared to Son Seals. Certainly Cannon's searing buzz-kill guitar bears a similar intensity to what the late Seals brought to his music. And like Seals, Cannon is all business. His music though is a bit more urban and soul-rooted than Son. Like Son Seals' music, Cannon's music reflects his own life and experiences from growing up in the shadows of the Chicago projects, to working as a bus driver and listening and observing the city life around him.
The tightly performed and hard-hitting playing on "The Chicago Way" provides a frame for his telling social commentary like the opening "The Pain Around Me." Starting off in a funky manner, it has a lyric about six kids on the corner, six broken homes, and Toronzo not wanting his kids to go outside because of the thugs hanging around. Furthermore, he doesn't want to sing this but this is what he, in fact, sees. There is plenty of fire in his playing and vocal with his band tightly backing him.
In contrast to the serious opening track, one hears plenty of humor in his lyric about a marriage gone bad on a funky shuffle "Bad Contract." This bad contract is the one where you sign on the line and only gets half back when its over. The driving shuffle "Fine Seasoned Women," has Toronzo fending off a flirting lady who is trying so hard to catch his eye. Cannon, however, prefers a lady with a touch of gray or wrinkles, who wants a man, not a fool. There is nice use of horns on this along along with his crisply played guitar. The humorous "Midlife Crisis" is another number that speaks to those of us who have put more than a few years (and it has a great line about hair on the chest turning grey). Perhaps this writer's favorite track is a wonderful slow blues, "When Will You Tell Him About Me?," with Toronzo complaining about being tired of the secrecy with which he and his woman must keep their affair.
As a songwriter, as well as a singer-guitarist, Toronzo Cannon brings grit and passion. His playing is varied ranging from blues-rock to jazzy flavored while his singing is robust resulting in the mostly compelling performances here. "The Chicago Way" is one of most striking recent new blues releases.
I received my review copy from Alligator. To give you a sample, here is a recent performance by Toronzo of "The Pain Around Me."
On his initial Delmark release "Born and Raised," singer Omar Coleman impresses with soul-infused vocals, and harp playing that perhaps evokes both the folk-funk of Bobby Rush, and the soul-blues fusion of the late Junior Wells (both who he admits are influences). He is backed by a solid band of Pete Galanis on guitar; Neal O'Hara on keyboards; Ari Seder on bass and Marty Binder on drums and percussion with guitarists Toronzo Cannon, Mike Wheeler and David Herrero each guesting on two selections. Coleman wrote (or co-wrote) 12 of the 14 songs here.
There is a varied mix of material from the opening rocker "Tryin' to Do Right," where he sings about trying to do right by his lady even though he wants to do wrong, through the closing "Raspberry Wine" with its jazzy accents. His songs and performances convey a man who is both sensitive and strong as he sings that you don't need a man like him, you need a "Man Like Me," (with Cannon adding some guitar fire). Coleman is a forceful, yet nuanced, singer and is convincing whether delivering the soulful "Man Like Me"; the funky "Sit Down Baby" and topical title track; the wistful ballad, "I Was a Fool"; the driving "Slow Down Baby"; the shuffle "You Got a Hold On Me," and the afore-mentioned "Raspberry Wine." In fact, "Raspberry Wine" suggests that Coleman would be terrific as a standup blues shouter.
Besides Coleman's persuasive vocals, his straight-forward harp playing appeals with its fluidity and voice-like character. Coleman has written fresh new blues songs that are crisply played resulting in these marvelous performances. "Born and Raised" is one of the most striking recent blues recordings of 2015.
I received my review copy from Delmark. Here he performs "Trying to Do Right."
On his initial Delmark release Born and Raised, Omar Coleman impresses with soul-infused vocals, and harp playing that perhaps evokes both the folk-funk of Bobby Rush, and the soul-blues fusion of the late Junior Wells (both who he admits are influences). He is backed by a solid band of Pete Galanis on guitar; Neal O'Hara on keyboards; Ari Seder on bass and Marty Binder on drums and percussion with guitarists Toronzo Cannon, Mike Wheeler and David Herrero each guesting on two selections. Coleman wrote (or co-wrote) 12 of the 14 songs here.
Its a varied mix of material starting with the opening rocker Tryin' to Do Right where he sings about trying to do right by his lady even though he wants to do wrong through the closing Raspberry Wine with its jazzy accents. His songs and his performances convey a man who is sensitive and strong. He sings you don't need a man like him, you need a Man Like Me, (with Cannon adding some guitar fire). Coleman is a strong, yet nuanced, singer convincing whether delivered with soulful blues of Man Like Me; the funk of Sit Down Baby and the topical title track; the wistful ballad, I Was a Fool; the driving rocker Slow Down Baby; the shuffle You Got a Hold On Me, as well as the afore-mentioned Raspberry Wine," which suggests that he could do a solid job as a blues shouter.
Besides Coleman's persuasive vocals, his straight-forward harp playing has much appeal with its fluidity and voice-like character. He also has written some fresh new songs that is crisply played resulting in some marvelous performances making Omar Coleman's Born and Raised one of the most striking blues albums of 2015 so far.
I received my review copy from Delmark. Here he is performing the title track live at Rosa's Lounge.
On his Facebook page Toronzo Cannon describes himself as the “Keeper of the Flame at Electric Ladyland” and that he “Studied Jim Hendrix studies at Electric Ladyland.” His admiration of the genre transcending genius can also be found in interviews with him including the liner notes to his new Delmark album, John the Conquer Root. Hendrix’s influence is more to be felt than heard in Cannon’s music, especially to the title track which opens this recording and the short revisiting of the theme to close it. But unlike the countless Hendrix wannabes, Cannon doesn’t emulate Hendrix’s guitar style in his own ferocious playing. It is more the attitude he projects and the hard rock feel of this number.
However, Hendrix is only one of the influences or inspirations that can be heard here as the next track, I’ve Been Doing Fine, a hard Chicago shuffle with searing guitar as he shouts to his woman to reconsider baby. Its a type of performance that Son Seals used to deliver and Cannon sings and plays with a similar authority, although Cannon has more of a soul-laced vocal attack. This soulfulness also is heard on the next track, Cold World, a funky soul-blues with a bit of Tyrone Davis and Otis Clay. It sports a terrific tenor sax solo from Dudley Owens.
In Gentle Reminder, Cannon reminds us he is a bluesman through and through, but don’t expect him to play the blues as the blues has to move on, this ain’t 1952 as he sings and plays fervently. If Your Woman Enough To Leave Me has a funky groove that also suggests some of the late Son Seals recordings. It is followed by Shame, with a nice Latin groove and a terrific lyric about ministers stealing from the poor, an employer who hires a nephew over more qualified, and dirty politicians who get caught in their lies. There are solos from Omar Coleman on harmonica, Roosevelt Purifoy on piano and Cannon himself that standout on this as well.
Cannon does a wonderful folk duet with Joanna Connor on Let It Shine Always, that further illustrates the range of the material on John the Conquer Root. Few other blues performers today can handle such a variety of material and play it so authoritatively. Of course one needs to acknowledge his band that includes the afore-mentioned Purifoy, rhythm guitarist Larry Gladney, Larry Williams on bass and Brian ‘BJ’ Jones on drums with appearances from Omar Coleman, Joanna Connor and a horn section led by Kenny Anderson.
A few selections find Cannon rocking out perhaps a bit too much for ‘my taste,’ including the title track and Sweet, Sweet, Sweet, a slide-guitar feature that is played at a frenzied warp-speed tempo. That does not change my appreciation of Toronzo Cannon and John The Conquer Root. Toronzo Cannon still drives a bus in Chicago and gets to observe many things. From this and his own life experiences, he writes wonderful, thoughtful songs; and plays and sings from the heart which result in performances are full of personality. A listener cannot expect more from a musician than one hears on this striking recording.
I received my review copy from Delmark. Here is a clip of Toronzo Cannon in performance at the famous Chicago club, Rosa's.
A Chicago native, singer-guitarist Toronzo Cannon has been playing professionally since 1997 since playing with vocalist Tommy McCracken at the Taste of Chicago. Since that time he has developed musically and developed a driving, searing style that strike me as suggestive as Son Seals. His influences range from Muddy, Elmore to Tyrone Davis and Johnnie Taylor, with his ears open to Bob Marley, John Mellancamp and Jimi Hendrix.
Delmark has just issued a new CD Leaving Mood that follows up 2007 a self-produced CD. He is backed by rhythm guitarist Lawrence Gladney, keyboardist Roosevelt Purifoy, bassist Larry Williams, and drummer Marty Binder with guest appearances by guitarist Carl Weathersby and harmonica player Matthew Skoller. Its a tight band with a rocking style. Nearly all of the songs are originals from Cannon and/or Gladney and there are a varied bunch.
She Loved Me has echoes of Hound Dog Taylor’s She’s Gone with Gladney’s slashing rhythm guitar figure as Cannon sings about his woman who committed murder in first degree before Cannon takes a searing solo. With Skoller adding harp, Cannon’s shuffle Chico’s Gone (For Chico Banks) is an affectionate tribute to the late Chicago bluesman where he issues his regrets of not saying goodbye to his friend. cannon sings about not being to get over an old lover on Gladney’s soulful Come On, while the two collaborated on the funky I Believe where his woman knows about what is going on while playing games that mess with Toronzo’s head.
Hard Luck is an original slow, topical blues about losing his job and it being hard on man when one tries to get by as the bills pile up and savings won’t go far with Carl Weathersby taking then first scorch the earth solo with the two both taking solos after the final verses. Open Letter (To Whom It May Concern), has his vocal distorted (sounding as if he was singing through a harmonica mike) as he sings about the backbiting, dog-eat-dog stuff that goes only some in the blues scene with Skoller adding nice harp embellishments on this before Cannon’ solo which makes use of the lower strings and guitar effects as Gladney and rhythm lay down in an understated manner an insistent groove. One of the few songs not written by Cannon is his sensual rendition of Nina Simone’s smokey Do I Move You, which provides a nice change in feel.”
Whether talking about the woman who will drink away Toronzo’s gig money on I Can’t Take Her Nowhere, or waiting for his woman who can make him feel so small so that he is in a Leaving Mood, Cannon and Gladney have provided us with some fresh songs and a distinctive approach that has led Alligator’s Bruce Iglauer to provide his endorsement for this “contemporary blues statement” on the back cover noting it has “a slew of striking, original songs with performances full of swaggering power and confidence.” The music at times may be a bit too upfront for my ‘taste,’ but that is a matter of preference. Cannon is a strong singer and the band here is terrific. The result is this album that certainly will make those listening to the blues taking notice.
I received my review copy from Delmark.
On "The Real Blues Forum" on Facebook, Stefan Wirz provided a youtube link. I am providing a different link since this is one the songs in the CD.
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