The Sherman Holmes Project - The Richmond Sessions

2017 –M.C. Records

By Phillip Smith; Aug 26, 2017

The Richmond Sessions is Sherman Holmes’ first recording since the 2015 passing of his Holmes Brothers partners: brother, Wendell Holmes, and Popsy Dixon.  This also stands out as Holmes’ solo debut in a career which has spanned over half a century.  Originally from Christchurch, Virginia, Holmes enlisted Jon Lohman, Virginia State Folklorist and Director of the Virginia Folklife Program at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities to produce this outstanding record of Americana roots, blues, and gospel music.  The album offers a diverse blend of traditional and contemporary songs, performed in the classic spirit The Holmes Brothers are known for. 

Leading off the album is a feisty bluegrass performance of “I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages”.  Sharing the lead vocals with Sherman on this one is Almeta Ingram-Miller (Ingramettes).  Her powerful voice is sweetened by the accompaniment of five-time EBMA Banjo Player of the Year Sammy Shelor, and David Van Deventer on fiddle.  With a beautiful somber foundation created by Jacob Eller on upright bass, Holmes’ vocals ring with heartfelt emotion singing the spiritual “I Want Jesus”.

His cover of Vince Gill’s 1991 hit single “Liza Jane” is plumb terrific.  The swampy slide guitar and infectious slow-groove makes it a go-to track.  Holmes pays homage to fellow Virginians The Stanley Brother’s with an exquisite rendition of their now-classic 1959 dirge “White Dove”.  “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” is a tremendous song which Holmes fabulously delivers on a silver platter full of twang, topped with banjo and strings.   The lovely Joan Osborne makes a guest appearance on the marvelous and soulful “Dark End of the Street”, which was first recorded by James Carr in 1967.  The rich and lush sounds of the B-3, played by DJ Harrison makes a great backing for Holmes’ and Osborne’s vocal harmonies.  In a superb tight jam, Holmes and the band close the album with a stellar version of Ben Harper’s “Homeless Child”.  Like a game of three-card monte with instruments, they swap out harmonica, fiddle, and banjo picking to gospel-style vocals and a funky driving beat provided by Clarence Walters.

The Richmond Sessions is an excellent record, and I highly recommend it.

          

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Tommy Castro and the Painkillers - The Devil You Know

Alligator Records,  2014

By Phillip Smith; January 18, 2014

Returning to the studio with a new band, The Painkillers, along with a bus load full of special guests which includes Marcia Ball, Tab Benoit, Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish, Mark Karan, Magic Dick, Tasha Taylor, and the Holmes Brothers, Tommy Castro has recorded one smoking hot Blues album, The Devil You Know.  The Painkillers consist of bassist Randy McDonald, drummer Byron Cage, and keyboardist James Pace. 

It’s almost impossible to not get down and do some foot-tapping when I hear “When I Cross the Mississippi”.  Tab Benoit and Mark Karan both jump in with guitars. Tab joins along on vocals as well.  I really identify with this song, and the way it invokes a longing to return to wherever we call home.  When I hear him sing the lyrics, ‘That river runs so strong.  The river clears my brain.  When I cross the Mississippi, I got muddy water in my vein.’, I get the urge to hop in my car, drive down to Memphis, and catch some live music. 

I love the slow and swampy infectious groove on the title track, “The Devil You Know”.  Between that groove, Castro’s killer guitar licks and the soulful organ contributions from Pace, this makes for a strong opening track.  Things get even better when Joe Bonamassa joins in on a cover of Savoy Brown’s “I’m Tired”.  Bonamassa handles most of the guitar on this as Castro’s slightly gravely vocals add an extra layer of ‘cool’ to the song.  The jam between the two towards the end of the song is nice as well.  Mark Karan also sits in on another outstanding cover, Wet Willie’s “Keep on Smilin’”.  I might have to even say I like this version a smidge better than the original.  I can’t help but be in a better mood when I hear it.

Joining Castro as he wails on his guitar, in the fast paced original, “Medicine Woman”, is Samantha Fish.  She’s sexy and sultry.  It’s always a pleasure to hear her sing.  It’s also a pleasure to hear the Holmes Brothers who provide spiritually uplifting backing vocals on “Two Steps Forward”, which has an extra boost of richness provided by harmonica master, Magic Dick.     

One of my favorites, “Center of Attention”, is an energetically charged powerhouse of a song with pounding rhythmic drums, splendid guitar riffs, and fierce vocals.  Revolving around a drama queen who just has to be the center of attention, this song definitely ends up on my heavy rotation list. 

The Devil You Know is thirteen tracks of soulful positively charged Blues music. It is a fantastic listen from beginning to end.