#717 > Carly Harvey - Kamama (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2024 – Do Good Records

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 30, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Kamama, the debut album from Washington, D.C.-based blues artist Carly Harvey is quite special. I love how her Indigenous roots shine through a carefully-curated mix of soul, blues, and jazz. Each of the eleven tracks are written by Harvey and performed with beauty and grace. Appearing with her on this recording is Jonathan Sloane, and WALKING EAGLE on guitar, Mike Tony Echols, Patrick Thornton, and Sean Hurley on bass, Deren Blessman and Leland Nakamura on drums, Coleman Williams and WALKING EAGLE on percussion, Wes Lanich and Daniel Clarke on keys, Danny Davis, Mario D’ Ambrosio, Kevin Cerovich, Ben Ford on horns, and Dana Nearing and WALKING EAGLE on backing vocals. Special guests appearing on the album include Joe Louis Walker, Doug Woolverton, Sean Hurley, Annika Chambers, Dave Keller, and WALKING EAGLE.    

The album begins with “Native Scat” a short introductory track in which Harvey delivers an amazing performance of Native vocables delivered in a fusion of delta blues and Indigenous percussion. WALKING EAGLE’s slide guitar performance is deliciously swampy. “Mean Old Woman” slides in next on a riveting wave of funky, horn-accompanied blues with Joe Louis Walker on guitar. It’s a terrific song, and Walker makes me smile as he pours his blues-filled magic on top. I absolutely love the Sixties-soul sound on “Misery”. Harvey’s vocals shine with pure delight and remind me very much of singing-legend Etta James. With special accompaniment from Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Harvey marvelously sings her all-original torch song “Please Do That To Me”. The song hits me with absolute bliss.

After looking up “Kamama”, the name of the title-track, I found the word to have dual meanings. One, a Cherokee name for girls which means “butterfly” which can represent hope, joy, and transformation. This gives a deeper meaning to the album art, which features a butterfly on both the front and back cover. The other meaning is of Kenyan origin, and is a plant known as Portulaca oleracea. It is used for food and medicine. With WALKING EAGLE on hand drum, and backing vocals, this short-in-length song is a lovely, glory-filled tribute to a girl named Kamama.

Alongside Harvey for the stirring and poignant track “Human Too”, is Dave Keller and Annika Chambers. Both guests share lead vocals, and Keller also takes on lead guitar. Kamama comes to a close with “Native Scat Reprise. With Harvey on vocals and hand drum, she is backed by WALKING EAGLE on flute. This short song dives deep into my core.

Carly Harvey’s Kamama earns my highest recommendation. It’s beautiful from beginning to end.

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For more information about Carly Harvey, visit her website @  https://www.carlyharvey.com/

 

  Available on Bandcamp

#639: Dave Keller - It's Time to Shine (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2023 – Tastee Tone Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 14, 2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

With nearly twenty-five years of recording music under his belt, Dave Keller returned to the studios again last fall.  The studio, however, happened to be a friend’s cabin ten miles south of the US/Canadian border nestled in the Adirondacks.  It was there, Keller and his band recorded his tenth album It’s Time to Shine.  This record of all original songs brings joy to me with every listen.  His sophisticated vocals lend an extra layer of finesse to the sleek brand of feel-good soul-blues he masterminds.  With Keller up front on vocals and guitar, he is joined by Ira Friedman on keys, Jay Gleason on drums/percussion, Alex Budney on bass, Mark Earley on sax, Tom Palance on trumpet, and Annika Chambers-DesLauriers on backing vocals.

It’s Time to Shine breaks open with the infectious bassline of “Waiting for the Sunrise”.  A slight Beatles “Come Together” vibe hangs around just out of sight, as cosmic guitar sounds accent Friedman’s steady-rolling keys on this cool-as-hell song.  Keller and company deliver a tight and riveting performance on “The Truth of the Blues”.  The driving rhythm tightly pulls me right in to this wonderful track.  With a suave approach, Keller delivers a soulful, happy love song with “I Wanna Go Back to Memphis”.   Hearing him sing about walking by the river and Beale Street, makes me a little homesick since I grew up about sixty miles from the Bluff City.  Keller digs deep and conjures up his inner-Eric Clapton for “Full Measure of Pleasure”.  Vocally and sonically this song is an absolute gem. 

Keller has a sure-fire hit with It’s Time to Shine. It is a splendid listen from beginning to end with a dozen terrific songs which flow effortlessly from one to the next.                           

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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.davekeller.com/

 

Check out other PhillyCheeze reviews for Dave Keller at :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Dave+Keller

Available from Bandcamp

Dave Keller - Right Back Atcha

2016 – Tastee-Tone Records  

By Phillip Smith; Mar. 11, 2017

Immersed in the goodness of Memphis soul, Vermont recording artist Dave Keller’s latest album Right Back Atcha, is a sheer delight to hear.   Keller’s splendidly soulful voice sounds terrific, as does his band which consists of Ira Friedman on Hammond B3 and piano, bassist Gary Lotspeich, and drummer Brett Hoffman.  The inclusion of Mo’ Sax Horns sweetly fills the bill needed to recreate that Memphis sound which Keller definitely channels.  They sound great and bring a wealth of energy to the album. 

I am instantly captivated upon my first listen to the fabulous cover of the 1974 Willie Clayton single, “It’s Time You Made Up Your Mind”.  Dap and funky, this song begs me to get up on my feet and dance.  Memphian Darryl Carter, who co-wrote that song, also teams up with Keller in writing the beautiful “Deeper Than the Eye Can See”, a love ballad with a lingering Otis Redding vibe.  I love the infectious groove of “Slow Train”.   This soulful ballad is highlighted by a fantastic sax solo from Joe Moore ( Slim Harpo, Wilson Picket ). 

Funky guitar riffs and playful blasts of horns swim among the lush sounds of Friedman’s B3 in “Urgent (I’ll Give It All)”.  Keller sings this with sophisticated conviction, making for a one cool as hell track.  Keller’s vocal performance in “What’s it Gonna Take?” is electric and amazing.  Drenched in sweat and dripping with raw soul, this song burrows deep down right to my core.

Right Back Atcha is a terrific album which I could listen to all day long.