2019 – Sam Price Music
By Phillip Smith; April 13, 2019
It’s been a couple of years since Sam Price, bass
player for Honey Island Swamp Band, has released an album with the True
Believers. So, the time has come for
a new one. His latest album, Dragonfly, is a superb follow-up to its predecessor. It’s a delicious blend of blues, jazz and
funk simmered in kettle of soul.
Produced by Papa Mali and written by Price, it’s such a
laid-back listen, I just love it. The
True Believers is comprised of drummer Ethan Shorter, vocalist Whitney
Alouisious, guitarist Alex Mallet, keyboardist Phil Breen,
and percussionist Conga Mike, as Price drives the bus on bass and
vocals.
“I’ll Meet You There”, with its charming southern
soul, delightfully kicks off the album. I
dig the short instrumental “Stand Up”. With
Breen behind the keys, and Conga Mike’s groovy beats keeping everything
aligned, Price fills out the funk-filled rhythm with his buttery bass. The title-track, “Dragonfly”, is a soothing, rich
and amazing listen. The accompanying
percussion from Michael Skinkus is remarkable. Guitarist Todd Duke, trumpeter Gregory
Davis, and Andriu Vanovski on electric piano, join the band for “Old
Jim Crow” a socially-conscious New Orleans-style blues track which is plumb great.
From dreamy to funkified, the songs of Sam Price
and the True Believers run the gambit of southern Americana, and makes a striking
impression. Dragonfly is indeed a superb listen.
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