What's On @ PS Blues 05232005Monday, May 23, 2005
What’s On at Pacific Street Blues?
Volume # 4
Artist: Precious Bryant
Title: The Truth
Rating: Very Good
This is not the sort of album I would normally ‘do for.’ It’s very basic and stripped down. Usually these sorts of albums are by post-modern blues interpreters who’s interest in more about preserving the artform than taking it forward. While that’s an honorable albeit somewhat fiscally challenging effort, those kinds of records usually fall short in a mass of clichés and endless ‘honking.’ Not so with Precious Bryant. This is a beautiful full on blues in the “purist” sense that we could possible expect in the 21st century. No pretenses. No stupid nicknames. No hype. Just pure blues based on simple songs that occasionally breakaway from the redundancy of the 12 bar blues. If you’re a “purists” or someone that just wants a fresh but honest blues sound – this is a brilliant album that just like a ripen orange is bursting with juicy flavor.
Artist: Bobby Patterson
Title: Soul of the Man
Rating: Niche
I love good soul. I especially dig Otis Redding and the other giants on the Stax, Muscle Shoals, Hi recordings. While I don’t think anyone could ever touch Otis, I do enjoy well-performed music in this genre. This compilation by Bobby Patterson is an excellent compliment to someone who’s collection is already well stocked with the masters (Aretha Franklin !) With a super funky beat, pumpin’ horns, and a series of slow melting grooves, this album is a sugary concoction of beautiful, authentic, soul music. So why wear your old records out? Try something new that I promise will rekindle your ancient urge to wear polyester leisure suits and pop-in cake cutter combs. Sweet!
Artist: Chris Beard
Title: Live Wire
Rating: Very Good
Until I heard this record it never dawned on me that the late, great Luther Allison has spawned a sub-genre of Midwest electric blues guitar players. As a 4th generation player Chris Beard has continued to grow the genre and balance the fine line between rote blues and high powered rock n’ roll. Beard’s band includes his smokin’ guitar and a very funky horn section that can R-O-C-K! This is a very high-powered live album with excellent songs, superb performances, and terrific presentation & pacing. I really like this album. Often live albums, especially within the blues genre, are pipe-line fillers that bands use to sell to intoxicated fans off the stage. If this record is an indication of Chris Beard’s live shows then fans intoxicated with the blues must be the norm. As within any “rock” genre the difference between a “good” band and a “great” band is always the drummer: Buddy Honeycutt is the drummer on this album and he propels the band through songs like a Navy Ice Cutter. Significantly Beard manages to pull off a strong album without having to resort to use of tired overplayed covers. There’ll be no ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ on this piece… thank gawd.
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