#721 > FreeWorld - More Love (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – SWIRLDISC

By Phillip Smith; Dec. 28, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

FreeWorld is definitely one of the must-see bands in Memphis Tennessee. For over thirty-seven years, this ever-changing ensemble has been captivating audiences and earning the utmost respect from their contemporaries. They sure have my full attention. In 2012 they were honored to receive a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. Fronted by Richard Cushing (producer/ band director/ lead vocals/ bass guitars/ shaker/ ratchet), FreeWorld is also comprised of Peter Climie (saxophones/ NuRAD EWI/ tambourine), Cedric Taylor (Hammond B3/ grand piano/ Wurlitzer/ Nord), Alex Schuetrumpf (trumpet/ piccolo trumpet/ flugelhorn), Courtney Reid (lead & backing vocals), Frank Paladino (baritone saxophone), Freedman Steorts (trombone), Walter Hughes (guitars), Matt Sweatt (drums). More Love, their eighth album is a melting pot of fourteen fresh original tracks baptized in the vibrant sounds of funk, jazz, soul, rock, and blues.

I’m instantly charged by the high-vibrational sounds of “Outta Sight”. The track ferociously tears the roof off and opens things up. The rhythm is slathered in funk, the horns are so hot they melt, and the guitar solo is phenomenal. Soaked in that Southern spiritual goodness, title-track “More Love, sung by special guest Jerome Chism with the Tennessee Mass Choir is a beautiful anthem. I dig the addition of slide guitar by special guest Aubrey McCrady into the intoxicating sounds of their reggae song “Heart on the Table”. That’s really unique. In numerology 11:11 refers to a reset or transition. FreeWorld brings it to song form with “11:11 on Beale”, a relaxed horn-fueled jazz instrumental which serves as a backdrop for a free-flowing spoken-word homage to Beale Street by Benjamin Theolonius “IQ” Sanders. It’s a very cool track indeed. “Who Knew” draws me in with its buttery rhythm before it really wows me with the sax-guitar dual, steering the song into a smoking instrumental. I snuggle right in to the feel-good and carefree blanket of “Nothin’ Wrong”. The song reminds me of the playfulness of one of my favorite bands Phish. Closing out the album is “D-Up (Here’s to Diversity)” the second of two bonus tracks. With lyrics written by FreeWorld’s drummer David Skypeck, the song made its first recorded appearance twenty-five years ago on their 1999 album called Diversity. The song was re-recorded in 2020 and featured over three dozen Memphis artists to make a ‘We Are the World”-inspired video with stars like Earl “the Pearl” Banks, Joyce Cobb, Luther Dickinson, Al Kapone and Blind Mississippi Morris. The version on this album is from the 2020 video and I absolutely love it.

FreeWorld’s More Love has everything I like to hear in an album. It has surely landed among my favorites for the year,

 

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D-Up (Here’s to Diversity)

For more information about FreeWorld, visit the website @ https://freeworldmemphis.com   

#410 : Ghost Town Blues Band - Shine

2019 – Ghost Town Blues Band
By Phillip Smith; Sep. 28, 2019

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this new album from Ghost Town Blues Band since first hearing about it this past Spring.  It was indeed worth the wait.  Shine, the band’s fourth studio album, and fifth overall is downright spectacular.  Soulfully packed in roots and blues, each of the dozen original songs stand out in their own way.  With singer/guitarist Matt Isbell as front-man, this Memphis-based band consists of guitarist Taylor Orr, saxophonist/producer Kevin Houston, trombonist Suavo Jones, bassist Matt Karner, drummer Andrew McNeill, with Cedric Taylor on B3 and piano.  

The feel-good energy of “Running Out of Time” delightfully ushers the album in.  I love the Allman Brothers vibe and the sweet sound of slide guitar.  “Soda Pop” is a downright blast.   Isbell fearlessly rips it up on cigar-box with some hard-driving blues.  The song is definitely one of my favorites.

Although “Shine” and “Givin’ it All Away” were both on GTBB’s live album, Backstage Pass, I embrace the new studio recordings.  Guest vocalists Paul DesLauriers and Annika Chambers both make an appearance on title-track “Shine”.  This beautiful feel-good song always puts a smile on my face. “Givin’ it All Away” is one bodacious jam.    The jazz-soaked rhythm from McNeill and Karner set the stage for a captivating performance from Suavo amid the swirling sounds of guitar and B3.  I enjoy it immensely.               

The funky groove of “Dirty” sinks its psychedelic claws in deep as Orr tosses out screaming cool-as-hell guitar licks.  I dig the rap break injected into the song by Suavo too.  It truly gives the song an extra dimension.  With a chockful of emotion, Orr gives a heart-felt delivery on “Carry Me Home”.  It’s such a great song.  Illana Katz Katz makes a guest appearance on “Hey There Lucinda” with violin in hand.  This absolutely lovely song delicately brings the album to a close.         

Shine is one of the best records I’ve heard this year.  I give it my highest of recommendations.

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For more information about the artist, visit this website.. www.ghosttownbluesband.com  

#383 : Ghost Town Blues Band live @ Moline Viking Club - March 24, 2019

Moline, Illinois

By Phillip Smith; March 26, 2019

I was happy as a lark to see Ghost Town Blues Band return to the region on their latest Canada/Midwest tour.  They truly are one of my favorite bands.  Presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, and hosted by the Moline Viking Club, the show featured two bodacious sets of riveting high-energy blues.  Fronted by Matt Isbell on lead vocals and guitars, Ghost Town Blues band is also comprised of lead guitarist Taylor Orr, bassist Matt Karner, drummer Andrew McNeil, organist/keyboardist Cedric Taylor, and trombonist Suavo Jones.

As soon as the band kicked the first set into gear with “Hate to See Her Go”, and “Memphis Blues”, I knew it was going to be a sensational show.  They broke out “Dust the Dust” and ”Big Shirley” too, the latter of which sweetly rolled right into Led Zepplin’s “Rock and Roll”.  I loved the funky two-fer including “Shine” and "Givin’ It All Away” from their latest album, Backstage Pass.  Suavo belted out such a tremendous solo on trombone.  It was absolutely amazing.  Isbell pulled out his one-of-a-kind cigar box guitar he made out of his late grandmother’s silver drawer for an enthralling performance of “Road Still Drives the Same”.    

With a Bourbon Street-style entrance, horns and drums in hand, the band marched back into the venue for the second set playing “When the Saints Go Marching In”.  That was so fun to watch.  They played “Memphis Train” and “Tip of My Hat” soon after.  When they broke into the Beatles’ “Come Together” though, it was quite magical.  Like sword-wielding knights, Suavo and Isbell squared off.  While Suavo extended the outer slide tube of his trombone skyward, Isbell held his cigar box high in the air, nailing every note as the guitar neck maneuvered about the trombone as a slide.  It’s such a unique and amazing feat to witness.  Afterward, Orr gave a smokin’ guitar solo on “One More Whiskey”, then the band wrapped up with a spectacular extended jam on “Whipping Post”.  It was such a wonderful evening of music, I can’t wait to see them again. 

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* All photos by Phillip Smith