#713 > Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2024 – Vizztone Label Group
 
By Phillip Smith; Nov. 2, 2024
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

Christmastime is coming up soon, and for those in search for new holiday music, I’m going to have to recommend “Ben Levin Presents a Holiday Blues Revue”. This album plays like a timeless classic. Levin, a Blues Music Award nominee for Best Piano Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, and nominated for Best Emerging Artist Album in 2020, brings in big-name guests Lil’ Jimmy Reed, Candice Ivory, Lil’ Ed, and Sonny Hill for this record. Also appearing on the album is his father Aron Levin on guitar, Takuto Asano on guitar, Joe Polen on saxophone, Eli Gonzales on saxophone, Walter Cash Jr. on bass, Jim Anderson on bass Chris Douglas on bass, Cole Baker on drums, Art Gore on drums, Ricky Nye on drums, and Oscar Bernal on drums. This Revue consists of a marvelous mix of ten seasonal tracks, eight of which are original songs.

“Candy Cane”, featuring Lil’ Ed on guitar and vocals, leads the record off with deluxe serving of Chicago blues. Listening to Ed and Levin join forces is indeed a riveting treat. I adore how Levin suavely delivers the 1961 Charles Brown song “It’s Christmas Time”. There’s a certain retro-feel to this memorable song which taps into my soul. Candice Ivory appears with Levin for the duet “Christmas Mood”. With the addition of Asano on guitar, they walk the line between blues and jazz. The jump blues of “Forgot Mrs. Claus” pulls me in tight for another wonderful track featuring Asano on guitar. I love Levin’s cover of Vince Guaraldi’s instrumental “Skating”. This one sure takes me back to the care-free days of my youth. Animated images of the Peanuts gang skating on a pond gush from my memories with every listen. It’s so very fitting to represent the Blues on Christmas with a “Lump of Coal” from Santa. Soaked in a barrel of deep blues, this song features Lil’ Jimmy Reed on guitar and vocals for an outstanding performance.

Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue is a beautifully-crafted seasonal album which I could listen to anytime of the year.

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For other PhillyCheeze reviews with Ben Levin follow this link:    https://amzn.to/4hxEtuphttps://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Ben+Levin

This album available on Amazon : https://amzn.to/4hxEtup

#491 : Robert Allen Parker - The River's Invitation

 

2021 – Broken String Records
Music Maker Relief Foundation
 
By Phillip Smith; March 20, 2021
 
Robert Allen Parker, a staple of the Memphis music scene, is going all-in on his second solo effort The River’s Invitation.  This incredible double LP ushers the listener along an amazing Memphis-music experience, incorporating the many styles and genres which have graced the Bluff City to produce a potent cocktail of delta blues, southern soul, psych-rock, southern boogie and gospel.  Recorded in Memphis with an ensemble of local talent, the album features singers Kennard Farmer, Candice Ivory, Yubu Kazungu, Lahna Deering and Chris Stephenson, with a top-notch cast of musicians consisting of guitarists Khari Wynn (also on bass guitar) and Rev. Neil Down, bassists Chiemi Fujio, Leroy Hodges (Hi Rhythm Section) , keyboardists Gerald Stephens and, Chris Stephenson, percussionists Michael Alan Todd and Melvin Turner, sitarist Richard Cushing, saxophonist Hope Clayburn, trombonist Victor Sawyer, trumpeters Shayla Shaw and Jared Dover, violinist Krista Lynne, cellist Jana Misener, and drummers Paul Taylor, Brian Wells, and Howard Grimes (Hi Rhythm Section).  Parker’s guitar style and mastery has garnered critical acclaim from Gary Clark, Luther Dickinson, Valerie June, and Tav Falco.   

 

Surfing atop a furious beat, “The Sound of Revolution” epically washes ashore on a wave of prog-rock spiked with a string section and hints of R.E.M..  Parker then takes us to church in the Mississippi delta for a swampy delivery of gospel standard “Jesus is on the Main Line”.  With vocals drenched in blues, he gives a breathtaking slide guitar performance.  “Indian Dream / 1 Way 2 Fly” is a most interesting display of musical duality as the selection abruptly transitions from a soft Indian-inspired instrumental into an explosion of power-punk-pop.  Complete with crunchy guitar, catchy hook, and a smoking bridge, it definitely rocks.  “More Than Love” is a brilliant nod to the legendary Stax catalog, boasting a funky groove, soulful vocals, and blasts of brass.  And I adore his cover of Al Green’s “I’m a Ram”.  It’s loaded to the brim in a groovy and funky stink.  Parker pays homage to the great Duane Allman on “Skydog”.  I love the Allman Brothers vibe he injects into it as he pours out this flawless performance.  The River’s Invitation comes to a magnificent end of its twenty-four track journey with a fistful of funk, Hendrix-y psych-blues guitar, and full-bodied organ with “And the Song Goes on Forever”.  It’s quite the amazing listen.       

 

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About "I'm a Ram" 

Since reading Robert Gorden’s book It Came From Memphis and listening to the companion soundtracks, I’ve become obsessed with the song “I’m A Ram”.  Although originally recorded by Al Green, the version appearing on the soundtrack was performed by Memphis band Big Ass Truck.  After going through a rabbit hole of sorts, I had even created a Spotify playlist consisting of every version of “I’m a Ram” I could find.   Within a week, I received a CD for review from a blues-rock band called Head Honchos,  which also contained a cover of the song.  I took that a sign to take a closer look at that album.  It ended up being one of my favorite albums I had heard so far this year. 

 

When I noticed the song was listed on the track-list to this album, I took it as another sign,  I was hooked on this album from the beginning.  I’ll be keeping an eye out for Robert’s version of the song to show up on Spotify.  When it does, it will definitely be added to the playlist.

 

Link to the PhillyCheeze playlist -  I’m a Ram   

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/66oVAHT8FnPIEFkOy2a1Ff?si=hwndbJ9vQMWN32ahXhO1SA

 

 
  

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For more information about the artist, visit this website  : robertallenparker.com