2017 – JMVelozs
By Phillip Smith;
June 17,
2017
It’s a rare treat when a bass
player’s talent takes top billing, as Joseph
Veloz does. This Detroit area musician who has played
with many greats over the years, such as Lucky
Peterson, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Mississippi Heat, James Armstrong and Joanne
Shaw Taylor, joins forces on his new album, Offerings, with guitarist Shawn
Kellerman, keyboardist Jim Alfredson
, and drummer Andrew “Blaze” Thomas. As if that’s not enough, he is also accompanied
by very special musical guests Lucky
Peterson, Biscuit Miller, Greg Nagy, and Jennifer Westwood & Dylan
Dunbar (Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils).
The funk rolls in on a blast
of cosmic keys and thumping bass, straddling a bombardment of badass guitar
from Kellerman for the instrumental “Just
Jammin’”. A wave of musical delight
washes over me as this one plays on. Featuring
the signature sounds of Lucky Peterson
on vocals, “Jukin’ and Shakin’” shifts into high gear for a refreshing blast of
spirit-lifting, feel-good, high-energy blues. Alfredson’s performance on the organ is simply amazing. Biscuit
Miller lends his fabulous voice to the infectious soulful groove of Eddie Kirkland’s “Good Good Day”.
Being a huge fan of Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils,
I immediately fell in love with the outstanding cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”. Westwood’s vocal delivery is beautiful
and iconic. Kellerman dishes out huge doses of searing slide guitar, which
opens up for a dazzling guitar solo from Dunbar.
This is a terrific track indeed.
Veloz closes
this eight song treasure out a breakneck performance on Prince’s “Kiss” with Joey
Spina (Whitey Morgan and the 78’s)
on the mic. The creativity in Veloz’s musical arrangements and
production choices are the icing on the cake of his extraordinary talent as a
bassist. And that’s what makes Offerings such a blast to hear.
---
