#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

#322 : Victor Wainwright and the Train - (self-titled)

2018 – Ruf Records

By Phillip Smith; March 2, 2018

Victor Wainwright, one of my favorite keyboardists playing the Blues today, has released a spectacular new album with his new backing band, The Train.  Making up The Train is drummer Billy Dean, bassist Terrence Grayson, and guitarist Pat Harrington. This album features a dozen original songs from Wainwright which ranges from barrelhouse blues to boogie-woogie.  No matter what he’s playing, it’s performed with precision and soul. 

Wainwright’s lush keys and ominous lyrics stand tall on “Wilshire Grave” as it sinks its claws in.  A seductive hook, the growling trumpet of Doug Woolverton, and the backing vocals of Reba Russell make this song the embodiment of cool.  With a bluesy Randy Newman vibe, “Dull Your Shine” emits a message of positivity as it reinforces the characteristic of individuality.  There hasn’t been a better song about debt collection than “Money”.  Wainwright’s piano prowess is quite amazing and Harrington’s guitar performance is terrific.  “Thank You Lucille” is a wonderful homage to the great B.B. King.  In a fitting tribute, guitarist Monster Mike Welch seemingly channels the man himself.  A slow-burn start on “Sunshine” breaks into a rejoicing Phish-phriendly jam with tiny nods to the great Frank Zappa.  Harrington’s smokin’ guitar performance coupled with Billy Dean’s amazing drum fills put a gigantic smile on my face.

Victor Wainwright and the Train is one stellar record, and certainly deserves to be heard.

   

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Also reviewed on Phillycheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews

Click below to read PhillyCheeze's review of  :Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots – Boom Town

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2015/07/victor-wainwright-and-wildroots-boom.html

Tweed Funk - Come Together

2016 – Tweed Tone Records

By Phillip Smith; May 3, 2016

Give me some great tunes with a lot of soul and a fistful of funk, and I’ll be perched up in my cat-bird seat.  Spring will be ending soon, and I’ll be spending more time out on the deck jamming to a super-sized playlist built around the summer season.  Tweed Funk’s latest album, Come Together is surely on my list.  It has everything I like, including a smooth horn section and a retro-Sixties Memphis soul vibe.  This Milwaukee six-piece band is composed of lead singer Joseph “Smokey” Holman, guitarist JD Optekar, Eric Madunic on keys and bass, drummer Dave Schoepke, saxophonist Andrew Spadafora, and trumpeter Doug Woolverton.    

“Light Up the Night” is an excellent high-energy number to kick the album off with.  It really gets the blood pumping, with its ear-catching bassline, and infectious groove.  By the time the fun and funky instrumental “Who is This” rolls through, I’m looking all around for my dancing shoes.  The same goes with the sensational “Love Ain’t Easy”.  This one tears the roof off in style and puts an enormous smile on my face with its bodacious bassline, and dazzling horns.  

I just let the music soak in when I hear “Muse” and “Sweet Music” back to back.  Both are bathed in a delicious old-skool Stax soul sound, reminiscent of the Mar-Keys.  Optekar pours it on Steve Cropper-style, and of course, I can’t help but think of the Memphis Horns when Woolverton and Spadafora do their thing.  Holman’s silky and tender vocals bring great depth to the somber and beautifully written “Bullet”. It almost brings tears to my eyes.

Come Together has everything going for it.  Tweed Funk scores huge on this fantastic album.