(2CD)
BIOGRAPHY
There are bands that can play the blues and there are "blues bands." This
upstart group from Southern California is the real deal. The 145th Street
Deluxe Blues Band is a powerhouse quintet, not only in musicianship, but
also as fine writers.
Their debut album includes a generous portion of original material
blended with four covers of vintage stuff. Their reading of Ray
Charles' 1956 gem, "Mary Ann," is both exciting and original with some
tasty rhythm changes and good bass work by Rollin Rodgers. The band
covers Muddy Waters' "Walking Through The Park" in fiery style with a
strong vocal and harp by Steve Bulger.
145th Street continues to impress with one of the finest versions of
"Reconsider Baby" in this writer's memory. Everyone from Elvis to Eric
Clapton to Roach Thompson covered the Lowell Fulson hit from 1954 but this
band's treatment is really meaningful.
The Fulson tune is a winner but the meat of this CD is in the wonderful
new pieces penned by the band members. Bassist, Rollin Rodgers, put his
pen to paper and created "You Is So Mean." Rodgers captures the essence
and evolution of the blues in a single piece of writing. Blues should tell
a story with feeling and this song does exactly that.
Guitarist, Marc Marrewa, penned "Roll The Dice" and the burning "It'll
Come To You." The latter is another favorite and features some fine guitar
by the author and a cookin' solos from organist Mark "Doc" Holladay and
harp-man Steve Bulger. D.J. Jackson offers crisp, intelligent drumming
throughout the disc.
It's no surprise to this reviewer that the 145th Street Deluxe Blues Band
has been chosen to open for B.B.King in San Diego on November
10th. They'll steal the show if they hit the audience with their tasty
originals. Knock 'em dead guys!