| CD REVIEW |
| LIVE AT SUNBANKS BLUES FESTIVAL - PAUL GREEN & STRAIGHT SHOT CD Review by Diane Wells (March/03) (continued from previous page) |
| Along with my favourite Canadian blues-harp players - David Rotundo, Carlos Del Junco, Michael Pickett and Raoul Bhaneja - Paul Green (who also performs on Mark Riley's Confessions of a Madman) is one of my favourite American counterparts, along with John Mayall (transplanted from the U.K.), Tim "Too Slim" Langford and Steve Bailey. Halfway through the CD, Mr. Green comments that "Alright, we're getting a bit warmed up for you now", which could only mean you'd better hold onto your hats, as these cats were already going full-tilt boogie! It's all here, too - honking barrelhouse boogie (Rice "Sonny Boy Williamson II" Miller's "Don't Start Me Talking"), down-and-dirty slow-blues ("Cold Feeling"), jazzy r&b ("Mellow Down Easy"), a kick-ass funky original ("Body and Fender Man"), a blistering blues-rock rendition of (Howlin' Wolf's "Commit a Crime", or the final, outstanding manic swing-shuffle of Sonny Boy's "Stop Right Now", after which track they regrettably did (on the CD), although I'd be very surprised if their live audience let them get away without one or two encores! Paul Green, when not backed by Straight Shot, also has a successful long-running duo act with James "Curley" Cooke (Steve Miller Band - yeah!). They have already released two CDs - 2000's House Party and 1996's Bad Albert's Live, which features bassist Keith Lowe (Fiona Apple and Zony Mash), drummer extraordinaire Chris "Zippy" Leighton and boss guitarist Rod Cook, who also recorded a CD with Curley Cooke wittily entitled Double Cookin'. For more info, visit www.cookengreen.com, Just as an extra commentary, another track on Live at Sunbanks Blues Festival, a traditional rat-a-tat rumba called "Leaving Trunk", led me, in my non-stop education of the blues, to a rockin' bluesabilly band by that same name, hailing from Kentucky. After listening to a few of their sound clips, especially "Black Lung Blues", I strongly recommend you check them out, too! |
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