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| Canadian blues musicians have traditionally flocked to Toronto, Ontario, in order to gain the requisite promotional assistance to advance their careers. Despite the advent of satellite radio, the Internet, and blues-friendly campus/community radio stations, that particular city still wields the most power, as far as national recognition is concerned.
Eschewing the potential glamour and opportunities for exposure when performing in the Toronto area, The Odyssey Blues Band seems to have carved out an equally successful niche for itself at the other end of the Golden Horseshoe (i.e. St. Catharines/ Niagara Falls, etc.) and stretching over the border into New York State. This fun-loving troupe� vocalist/guitarist Suzanne Hyatt, lead guitarist Ed Pryla (The Ugly Ducklings), bassist Dave Mullen (Dutch Mason) and drummer Rick Scriver (currently replaced by Grant Marchand) � amply demonstrates its veteran chops on this well-rounded 2001 debut. Five years later, the band retains a popular following, which is highlighted by an upcoming September 2006 gig at Niagara Falls� �Blues in the Park� Festival. The 12 selections on 2001's Something Borrowed, Something Blues are comprised of popular tunes such as �Shakey Ground�, recorded by The Temptations and Junior Wells (whose �Little by Little� is also covered here), Sam Cooke�s �Bring It on Home to Me� and Willie Dixon�s �Hoochie Coochie Man� (politically corrected here as �Hoochie Coochie Gal�). The latter modification didn�t really work for me. Make no mistake about it, though � Suzanne Hyatt has the vocal range and power of an operatic diva in technical control of whatever is coming out of her mouth. She does a fine job on T-Bone Walker�s classic �Stormy Monday� (featuring excellent guitar back-up), Marilyn Lang Scott�s �Lollipop Daddy� and Nina Simone�s �Do I Move You� (more recently recorded by Janiva Magness), but my favourite rendition of that song remains the extended version vocalized by Merl Saunders, who recorded it with Dinosaurs on their live Friends of Extinction release. She also does a damn good impression of Bonnie Raitt on Chris Smither�s �Love Me Like a Man�, but her Vegas-worthy vocals on �Hurt So Bad� were a bit over the top for me. Bassist Dave Mullen and drummer Rick Scriver provided an exciting rhythm section that stood out solidly on this band production, with mixing assistance by Eddie Baltimore, which was mastered to perfection by Andy Krehm of Silverbirch Productions. There are a number of guest artists appearing on the disc, including guitarists Eddie Baltimore Hutchison (sadly deceased as of 2005, who also sings back-up), Steve Grisbrook (Midnite Walk) and John Bride (Cameo Blues Band), as well as organist/pianist Meyer Steinberg (Run with the Kittens) and session/solo artist Jerome Godboo performing his trademark harmonica work (and equally powerful duet vocals on �Bring It On Home�). It might have been nice to have the individual contributions mentioned in the liner notes, particularly by these spectacular guitarists, including Ed Pryla, but listeners more familiar with these guitarists� styles would probably be able to distinguish who is playing which licks. It�s a complementary group effort throughout, but the standouts are the steel pedal work by Baltimore on �Lollipop Daddy� and the guitar extravaganza on Jeff Beck�s �Jeff�s Boogie�, the ear-popping closer that is worth the price of the CD alone. |
| SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUES THE ODYSSEY BLUES BAND, FEAT. SUZANNE HYATT |
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