2025 – Run it Back Records
I love it when an album arrives for review and after just one listen, I have a strong feeling that it will be landing in my ‘Top-25’ list at the end of the year. Andrew Duncanson’s California Trap is no-doubt one of those records. It’s loaded to the brim with funky, horn-infused rhythm and soul. Duncanson, who has been the frontman for Champaign, Illinois-based bluesters Kilborn Alley for over twenty years and is a founding member of The Dig 3, has an unbelievable amount of talent on this new solo recording. Featuring Michael Peloquin as arranger and performer of horns and harmonica, Kid Andersen on guitar, Fender bass, clavinet, Mini-Moog and more, Jerry Jemmott on Fender bass, Derrick “D’Mar” Martin on drums/percussion, Jim Pugh on Hammond B-3, piano, and Wurlitzer piano, Baxter Robertson on B3, Wurlitzer, piano, clavinet, and Fender Rhodes, and amazing backing vocalists Tia Carroll and Lara Price, this thirteen-track record truly shines.
In a retro R&B fashion Duncanson opens the album with “Relearning To Climb”. His voice, suave and soulful, draws me right in to the song’s beautiful musical landscape. A wave of funk emerges on top of a tight bassline, ripping saxophone, and sounds of clavinet on “Town Saint”. Cleverly exploiting the definitions of good and bad, this track lands as a sure-fire favorite. The cosmos speaketh loud and proud on “Outer Space” with an amazing performances from Peloquin on baritone sax and diatonic harmonica, Andersen on guitar and Pugh on piano. Their funkdafied cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” is a brilliant re-imagineering of the classic. I love the smokin’ blast of harp which captures the moment in a grand way on the swinging blues of “Feelin’ Better Now”. It’s sounds like the ones on this gem which made me a huge fan of John Nemeth. The record comes to a close in a fabulous troubadour style with the horn-soaked soul-blues of “Better Off Now”. Reminiscent of the songs from legendary soul singers such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, It’s a gorgeous homage to Sixties soul.
Masterfully crafted from beginning to end, California Trap from Andrew Duncanson featuring Michael Peloquin is a must-hear album. I highly recommend it.
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For more info on Andrew
Duncanson, visit their website at https://andrewduncanson-takearide.com/
