#710 > Jovin Webb - Drifter (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Blind Pig Records
By Phillip Smith; Oct. 19, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

It is exciting to see a new musician take the blues scene by storm. Gonzalas, Louisiana native Jovin Webb, who captured the hearts of television audiences on Season 18 of American Idol in 2020, now has a spectacular new album called Drifter and is signed to Blind Pig Records. Produced by the four-time Grammy winning Tom Hambridge, the album is destined to be a grand-slam. With Webb on vocals and harmonica, he is joined by Hambridge on drums, background vocals, and percussion, Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Mike Rojas on piano and keys, and Rob Cureton on bass guitar.

Webb delivers a striking and soulful performance on “Save Me”, a powerful original he wrote with Hambridge and Richard Fleming. The way Greenberg injects a dreamy texture to this heartwarming track on guitar pulls everything together. The opening bassline on “I’m a Drifter” instantly pulls me in to this propelling anthem with a marching magnetic pulse. I can’t help but smile when the electric piano boogie of “Wig on Wrong” kicks in. This one is surely a standout. I love the way Webb pours his whole being into “Mine Someday” and belts the song out of the ballpark. His voice is a beautifully strong one. Webb pours the icing on the cake as he brings the album to its close with a stellar cover of “Born Under a Bad Sign”. Featuring Max Abrams on saxophone and Julio Diaz on trumpet, this is an absolutely amazing track.   

Jovan Webb’s Drifter won me over upon my first listen. This instant classic garners my highest of recommendations.      

---

#521 : Altered Five Blues Band - Holler If You Hear Me

2021 – Blind Pig Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 9, 2021

Those sensational blues-masters of Milwaukee Altered Five Blues Band has added another piping hot release to their catalog with Holler if You Hear Me.  Clocking in as their sixth album, the energy of the band runs high, and is magnificently captured within this Tom Hambridge-produced recording.  The powerful and soulful voice of front-man Jeff Taylor sounds so good backed by this tight-as-hell band consisting of guitarist Jeff Schroedl, bassist Mark Solveson, keyboardist Raymond Tevich, and drummer Alan Arber.  Special guest Jason Ricci is the icing on the cake, with his harmonica accompaniment on five of the thirteen tracks.  This is absolutely a winning combination. 

I am in love with the album from the moment “Holler If You Hear Me” breaks out of the gate.  The rhythm barrels through like a locomotive as we get a solid dose of Tevich’s hot ivory stylings topped with searing blasts of Ricci’s harmonica.  The party pushes forward as Taylor lets loose on his anthem of after-hours debauchery in “Guilty of a Good Time”.   Schroedl’s guitar solo absolutely sizzles as the rhythm fiercely latches on.  Harp-a-blazing, Ricci gives a flawless performance as he goes toe-to-toe with Arber’s furious beat on “If You Go Away (She Might Come Back)”.  A dash of swamp water is sprinkled atop “I Got All I Need”.  This delightful bowl of slow-simmered blues heats up to a boil, licked by the red-hot flames rolling off Schroedl’s guitar.  It’s absolutely wonderful.  The record comes to its close with “Big Shout Out”, a sort of blues version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”.  This upbeat roll-call honors the blues artists of the past who’ve paved the way for those who play the blues today, and is a splendid song to end the album with.      

Holler If You Hear Me is as solid as an album can get.  It’s one hundred percent straight-up blues, delivered on a silver platter.    

---

   

 

For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.alteredfive.com

 

 

Altered Five Blues Band "If You Go Away (She Might Come Back)" [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

 

Kubek & King - Fat Man's Shine Parlor

2015 – Blind Pig Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb 21, 2015

Dynamic Blues duo Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King have teamed up again, to record and produce an album of the best down-home blues one can hear.  The title itself, Fat Man’s Shine Parlor, conjures up visions of seasoned bluesmen congregating in the neighborhood barbershop on a Saturday afternoon, exchanging stories of days gone by.

“Got My Heart Broken” is an excellent track to start off with its high energy and driving rhythm.  Eerie growls resembling the snores of a sleeping dragon emit from Kubek’s guitar and make this one even more fascinating.  Keeping that initial energy flowing, they dive into another favorite, “Cornbread”, a heavy blues ode to country cooking and soul food.  I love the groove on “Diamond Eyes”.  Heavily steeped in Seventies blues/rock, my mind wanders to artists like Robin Trower and Pat Travers when immersed in this song.      

As soon as I hear the beginning Zeppelin’esque riff from “Brown Bomba Mojo”, I get excited.  This is phenomenally played and hits on all cylinders. It really doesn’t get much better than this.  Kubek and King certainly deliver the goods once again, proving tasty guitar blues is their specialty.     

http://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/