#644 : Ghalia Volt - Shout Sister Shout! (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2023 – Ruf Records

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 11, 2023

 

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I have been enamored by the music of Ghalia Volt since her album with Johnny Mastro and Mamas Boys Let the Demons Out crossed my desk for review five years ago.  She is a musical force on guitar and vocals with a mastery of songwriting.  Ghalia’s talent shines bright with on her latest release Shout Sister Shout!.  The album is loaded with a dozen all-original tracks.  Each one is a gem.  Backing Ghalia is Danny Frankel on drums/percussion, Ben Alleman on keys, and special guest on guitar David Catching.   

With a funky, slide-slathered riff, the record opens with “Every Cloud”.  The Ray Manzarek-inspired keys Alleman contributes makes for a groovy touch.  “Can’t Afford to Die” pulls me in fast and tight with its upbeat delivery and dire, matter-of-fact lyrics.  “Insomnia” is a true masterpiece.  Ghalia’s dobro performance is beautifully guided with Alleman’s poly-rhythm beats, setting an Eastern musical landscape for this wonderful blues song.  Catching’s cosmic guitar splashes add a psychedelic Pink Floyd feel.  The North Mississippi Hill Country sound of “Can’t Have it All” opens up in a genius way.  I think of the moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy is instantly transported from a black and white world to one that boasts the full glory of Technicolor.  With guitar in hand, Eddie 9V makes a guest stop on “Hop on a Ride” for a searing blues performance fit for a juke-joint.    

Shout Sister Shout! is a stellar album that stays strong from beginning to end.  It is such a terrific release; I feel it should land Ghalia on several awards lists.     

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

 

Check out other PhillyCheeze reviews for Ghalia Volt at : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Ghalia

#609 : Dean Zucchero - Electric Church For the Spiritually Misguided (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Dean Zucchero

Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided

2023 – Pugnacious

By Phillip Smith; April 15, 2023

Release Date : April 7,2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Originally from New York City’s East Village, Dean Zucchero now calls New Orleans his home.  I first became aware of him through his work through the music of Ghalia Volt.  I had reviewed two of her albums, and Zucchero had made a big impression on me with his performance on bass guitar.  His debut album Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided is quite exciting and a fabulous listen.  With Zucchero on bass guitar, he is accompanied by drummers Terrence Higgins and Doug Belote, organist Phil Breen, percussionist Alex McDonald, and guitarist Jake Eckert.   It’s great to hear him collaborate with personal favorites Ghalia Volt, Johnny Burgin, Johnny Rawls, and Jason Ricci.  Other featured guests include Dale Spalding, Jonathan “Boogie” Long, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, John Fohl, Joe Krown, Leslie Smith, Papa Mali, Johnny Sansone, and Jeremy Joyce.

“Big Boss Boy” the first hymn played at the Electric Church features Mississippi soul-blues legend Johnny Rawls on vocals, and Chicago blues great Johnny Burgin on guitar.  The buttery bassline, swirling organ, and backing singers sound fabulous alongside Rawls’ silky smooth vocals, and Burgin’s blues-infused licks.  “Craft Beer”, and ode to one of my favorite things, places Johnathon “Boogie” Long behind the mic for a suave-as-hell number.  Ghalia Volt sings “Last Minute Packer” a track which kicked off her 2021 album One Woman Band.  Co-written by Zucchero and Volt, this bodacious song features spirited performances by Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle and Alex MacDonald on washboard.  I love the instrumental “DBA” which is fortified with harp from Jason Ricci and organ from Joe Krown.  The New Orleans energy flows freely through this one.  “Mortal Man” features Johnny Sansone on lead vocals and harp for a dose of real-deal blues.  It penetrates right to the bone.

The healing power is great at the Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided.  Dean Zucchero has created a wonderful album indeed.    

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Track Listing:

 

1.      Big Boss Boy

2.      Independence Day

3.      Craft Beer

4.      Last Minute Packer

5.      Empty Postbox

6.      La Belle Poursuite

7.      Stack It

8.      Fascist Love

9.      DBA

10.  Mortal Man

11.  American Dream

 

 

For more information about Dean Zucchero visit his website at :  https://www.deanzucchero.com

 

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

 

#483 : Ghalia Volt - One Woman Band

 

2021 – Ruf Records

Release Date – Jan. 27, 2021

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 23, 2021

 

I was first introduced to the talents of Belgian-born blues artist Ghalia Volt with the 2018 release of Let the Demons Out by Ghalia & Mama’s Boys.  For that recording, which I absolutely loved, Ghalia teamed up with New Orleans bluesman Johnny Mastro and Mama’s Boys.  This past March she started a new one-woman philosophy and took it Mississippi to test drive the new arrangement.  According to Ghalia, “I started playing on a real drum set, playing a kick, snare, and hi-hat plus a tambourine with my two feet, while playing slide/guitar and singing at the same time.”  So for this latest album One Woman Band she flies solo, recording all the instruments live at once and ditching the popular multi-track route.  The recording which took place at Royal Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee includes guest appearances from Dean Zucchero on bass, and Monster Mike Welch on guitar.   

Ghalia delivers “Last Minute Packer” with pure raw gusto and powerful, yet delicate vocals which sound fantastic.  Her slide guitar prowess certainly demands attention on “Espiritu Papago”.  Zucchero’s steady thumping bassline solidly holds the fort down, as Ghalia’s vocal and guitar performance reaches a somewhat hypnotic state.  “Can’t Escape” chugs along like a locomotive, and is slathered with gobs of swampy slide.  It takes me right to the heart of the Mississippi Delta.  She keeps that deep blues rolling on breakup song “Reap What You Sew”.  It’s such a treat to hear her play.  “Bad Apple” is undoubtedly a strong selection too.  This original song is absolutely stellar.  Ghalia tackles Tampa Red’s “It Hurts Me Too” with feeling and finesse, as she pours herself into the performance. 

It’s obvious Ghalia Volt has spent a lot of time in the Mississippi Delta, soaking up as much of its spirit as she possibly can.  That’s certainly evident on One Woman Band.   Magnificent and timeless, this album is one hundred percent pure blues.     

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Link to the PhillyCheeze review for Ghalia and Mama’s Boys – Let the Demons Out

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/01/312-ghalia-mamas-boys-let-demons-out.html 

 

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

Take a listen to the album on Apple Music, and if you decide to purchase it, use my special link.