2018 –Jim Dan Dee
By Phillip Smith; January 26, 2019
Jim
Dan Dee, the debut self-titled album from Toronto-based Jim
Dan Dee is a high-energy and bluesy listen.
The band name itself stems from the expression, “Everything is just Jim
Dandy”, and defines the essence of their music. The phrase also defines the
front-man singer/guitarist Jim Stefanuk aka Jim Dan Dee. Along with Stefanuk, the rest of the
band is comprised of bassist Brian McCarthy, saxophonist Jason
“Bobby” Sewerynek, and drummer Shawn Royal.
With Royal and McCarthy dishing out a
heart-pounding pulse, Stefanuk drives “Save My Soul” with a fearless
hard-driving fashion, filling the song with catchy-as-hell riffs. I love the sax accompaniment, and the angelic
backing vocals from “Sweet” Jules Cordosa. “Payday” packs quite a wallop too. A fistful of swagger and Jim’s gravelly
take-charge voice take this song to the next level. “When You Move Like That” shines with the
spirit of John Lee Hooker as it races through the speakers. The jam on this is very nice indeed, filled
with backing keys played by Jesse Karwat and blasts of sax to punch it
up. Jim Dan Dee takes a suave yet
ominous approach with “Killer”. This is
such a fabulously composed song, and Jim’s guitar prowess is styleful
and captivating. Stefanuk confronts
Old Scratch himself in “Walking Shoes”, as he closes the album out with a
little bit of grease and shaker full of psychedelia. It’s terrific.
Bulletproof and dripping with cool, Jim Dan Dee has surely been one my
favorite surprises this year. It’s quite
the album.
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For more information about the artist, visit this
website.. www.jimdandee.com
