| CD REVIEW |
| FALLING LEAVES - BLUES ORBITERS (2005) |
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| Blues Orbiters is a very good name for this group of musicians. They don�t play the blues so much as they orbit around them. The distinction lies in the delivery, of course. Rather than the slow, drawn-out notes and vocal moans that typify the misery identified with this genre, these guys shake off the blues with a joyful sensibility, despite any troubles at hand. There are exceptions to that, of course, particularly on the classic �Help Me�, but for the most part this is an upbeat recording project that occasionally strays from a steady mid-tempo pace.
Along with a couple of originals, there is a tasteful selection of covers from the likes of Ike Turner (�Just One More Time�), Johnny Watson (�She Moves Me�), Sleepy John Estes (�Going to Brownsville�), Kenny Burrell (�Chittlins Con Carne�), James Brown (�Pass the Peas�) and Jimmy Vaughan (�Let Me In�) along with the respective collaborators on these tunes. Many of these same songs appear on their Live in Issaquaah 2004 recording, and some listeners might prefer the excitement that was captured in that live setting. Without any personal bias, though, my favourites on the CD are, in fact, the originals, beginning with the first track, �Open Road�. Composed by Blues Orbiter lead guitarist and vocalist Brian Lee, it�s instantly likeable in its West Coast swing and yearning for travel and escape is not unlike anything you might hear by our Canadian Powder Blues Band. Plus, any song that mentions Jack Kerouac scores an extra point with me! It is followed complementarily by James Moore�s rumba composition, �I�ve Got Love If You Want It�. Brian�s second original, �Falling Leaves�, follows in succession and this breezy shuffle is infused with his subtly sweet slide guitar, with cheerful saxophone undertones by Ron Baker, whose work is appreciably prevalent throughout the disc, particularly on the jazzy �Chittlins Con Carne�, which seems to be derived from another blues song, although I can�t think of its title at this time. Brian Lee and second guitarist Dan Taylor take turns alternating on lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica and lead vocals, which lends additional diversity to the project. Drummer Conrad Ormsby (who is a direct contrast in height to that of �Long Tall� Dan Taylor) and bassist Roger Smith are a rhythm section that any band would covet, such are their highly tuned ears for dynamics. As the recording was produced by the Blues Orbiters themselves, that speaks highly to their collective skills as professional players. Even though I personally prefer the darker side of the blues, I�d recommend Falling Leaves to anyone who needs or wants some lighthearted, �feel good� music for a change. Give it a good crank in volume for maximum effect! |
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