#562 > Dylan Triplett - Who is He? (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2022 – Vizztone Label Group

By Phillip Smith; July 9, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Who is He?, the debut album from 21 year old St. Louis vocalist Dylan Triplett, is a phenomenal recording.  With a voice that has a range of four and a half octaves, Triplett began his professional singing career at the age of fifteen singing with his father, jazz saxophonist Art Pollard.  Produced by Larry Fulcher who is also on bass guitar, this ten-track album features Triplett on lead vocals with Dr. Wayne Goins (head of Jazz Studies at Kansas State University) on guitar, Montez Coleman on drums, Ryan Marquez and Mike Finnegan on keys, and Joe Sublett and Kyle Turner on saxophones.  Also appearing on the album are special guests Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Johnny Lee Schell, Sean McDonald, and Tru Born on guitars.

“Barnyard Blues” cracks the lid of this album open with Kingfish manhandling the guitar solos and Finnegan tearing it up on organ. Triplett tackles this original like a seasoned pro with a fearless approach.  He then fabulously takes on Bill Wither’s “Who is He (And What is He to You?).  His voice, soulful and buttery, sounds so damn good.  “Junkyard Dog” cowritten by Triplett and Fulcher is a horn-infused delight about love for better or worse.  Schell and Tru Born rip it up on guitars as Coleman lays down a serious groovy beat.  I love the heart-felt slow blues of “I’ll Be Waiting”.  Written by Triplett, this heart-wrencher features Schell on the guitar solos.  Triplett confidently takes on Marvin Gaye’s “That’s What Love Is” for a stellar performance with an old school Motown vibe.   Then he follows up with a smoking take on Lonnie Brooks’ “Feels Good Doin’ Bad” with Kingfish back on guitar.  It’s a surefire favorite. The album comes to a close with an exquisite jazz selection covering of Miles Davis’ “All Blues” complete with horns.  Triplett’s delivery is suave and guided with precision as he slides in to George Benson mode.

Who is He? won me over on the first listen, and continues to garner more of my attention with each and every listen.  I can’t wait to hear what Triplett has in store for this next album.

---

#510 : Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - 662

 

2021 – Alligator Records

By Phillip Smith; July 24m 2021

 

Clarksdale, Mississippi’s breakout blues star Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has just released his second studio album 662, and it’s fantastic.  It’s even stronger than his 2019 debut album Kingfish which entered the Billboard Blues charts at #1, remained in the charts for ninety-one weeks, and was nominated for a Grammy.  This recording has that same promise.  662, the album’s title refers to the area code in Mississippi where the twenty-two-year-old Kingfish was born and raised.  It’s truly the land many consider the ground zero or cradle of the blues.  And it’s within that magical place, Kingfish draws his inspiration.  662’s fourteen original tracks were cowritten by Kingfish and the album’s acclaimed producer/drummer Tom Hambridge.  Also appearing on the record are guitarists Kenny Greenberg and Bob Britt , bassists Glenn Worf and Tommy MacDonald,  pianist/organist Marty Sammon, saxophonist Max Abrams, and Julio Diaz on trumpet.

Fueled with a driving beat from Hambridge and his own blazing guitar mastery, Kingfish paints a lyrical picture of his home and family as he leads off with title-track “662”.  A pulsing rhythm and infectious riff pull me right in to “Long Distance Woman” where Kingfish’s guitar play is over-the-top fabulous.  “Not Gonna Lie” downright rocks on the riff, and is chockful of guitar ear-candy, and suave vocal stylings.  Loaded with a fistful of funk, Kingfish sings about the juke-joint experience which the older generation reminisced about in “Too Young to Remember”.  This one is another favorite.  I really like to hear him go into ‘crooner’ mode as he does on “You’re Already Gone”.  Reminiscent of those early days of Robert Cray, everything is just so perfectly smooth, from his guitar playing to Kingfish’s voice.  He tears the roof off with “My Bad”.  This song is so hot and smokin’, it absolutely cooks.  I simply adore “Something in the Dirt”, another homage to his home and the legendary bluesmen who played there.  It’s a great mix of barrel-house piano, paired with Kingfish’s instrumental finesse.  Beautifully performed, “Rock & Roll” softly and sweetly brings this stellar record to its close with a present-day twist on Robert Johnson’s visit to the crossroads. 

662, the second album of hopefully many more to come in Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s career, is an absolute gem.  I highly recommend this one for all music fans.                      

 ---

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

 

#393 : Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - Kingfish

2019 – Alligator Records

By Phillip Smith; May 25, 2019

I first heard of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram a couple of years ago, while watching a YouTube video.  I remember being amazed at his guitar prowess and being enamored by the sheer depth he plunged himself into the Blues.  Earlier this month, I was fortunate to have witnessed a live performance of this Clarksdale, Mississippi blues prodigy at Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee.  It was indeed a rare treat for this blues music loving soul. 

Ingram’s debut album, simply titled Kingfish, has finally been released, and I’m absolutely loving it.  Produced and co-written by two-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, the album features notable guest performances from Buddy Guy, Keb’ Mo’, and Billy Branch.  With Kingfish holding court on vocals and guitar, and Hambridge behind the drums, the band is comprised of guitarist Rob McNelley, bassist Tommy MacDonald, and Marty Sammon on B3 organ/piano.     

From the beginning, I was hooked by the dynamic groove of “Outside of This Town”.  Kingfish’s fearless delivery and robust vocals stand tall in the saddle.  Buddy Guy who has stated “Kingfish is the next explosion of blues.”, appears with Keb’ Mo’ on the delightful gem of a tune “Fresh Out”.  This track about being down and out has a cool vintage quality about it.  Sammon’s piano accompaniment is terrific.  “Before I’m Old” is another great song.  It is funky, soulful, and topped with more searing guitar.  Keb’ on this one too, as well as three other smoking tracks.  One of which is “If You Love Me”.  With Billy Branch on harp and Chris Black on drums, it’s a downright jamboree.          

One of my absolute favorites on the album is, “Been Here Before”.  Kingfish plays this amazingly-reflective song on acoustic guitar and sings it with heart.  I remember being wowed and captivated by his performance of this song at Beale Street Music Festival. It really stuck with me. 

Kingfish is one of those albums, every blues fan will want in their collection. It’s that damn good.   

---

      

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