2019 - Vizztone
By Phillip Smith; Aug 17, 2019
Soulshaker, the tenth and latest
disc from Rick Vito is terrifically enchanting. Vito,
who was a member of Fleetwood Mac
from 1987 – 1991, has also played with a truck-load of my favorite artists,
such as John Mayall, Bob Seger, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton,
and Todd Rundgren. With Charles “Mojo”
Johnson manning the drums, Vito handles
most everything else: guitars, vocals, bass, and keys.
Vito sets
a mysterious retro atmosphere in “I’ve Got a Secret”. Beautifully played and sung with a crooner’s finesse,
it pulls me right in. Laced with a
fistful of boogie and slide guitar, “I Do Believe” is a nice jam indeed. This spirited tune hosts drummer Rick Reed, bassist Charles
Harrison, and organist Mark Horwitz. Vito breaks
out some delicious Texas blues on “World On Fire”. His guitar performance shines bright on this absolutely
fabulous song. “Ball and Chain” is
another favorite. I love the tribal beat
Johnson lays down. It meshes quite nicely with the ominous
sounds Vito concocts with his slide. Wrapping up the album, is a lovely heartfelt instrumental
of Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come”. Words
are not needed. Vito’s guitar speaks for itself on this one.
Vito’s
style is unique and sits atop a conglomeration of blues, roots, and pop. Regardless of which style each song
gravitates to, it’s a joy to hear him play. Soulshaker is definitely a winner in my
book.
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For more information about the artist, visit this website : www.rickvito.com
