2018 –Artur Menezes
By Phillip Smith;
Oct. 27, 2018
Keep
Pushing, the fourth and latest album from Brazilian blues
artist Artur Menezes
scores high on my list of blues-guitar albums released
this year. Currently based out of Los
Angeles, Menezes was recently named winner of the Gibson/Albert King
Award for Best Guitarist and picked up third place winner in the Band Category at the 2018
International Blues Challenge. Keep Pushing, produced by another
current favorite of mine, Josh Smith
, also features Daniel Aged
on bass guitar, Gary Novak on drums, Carey Frank on Hammond/keys,
Jamelle Adisa on Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Dan Boisey on Tenor/Baritone
Sax, and Smith on rhythm guitar for four tracks.
scores high on my list of blues-guitar albums released
this year. Currently based out of Los
Angeles, Menezes was recently named winner of the Gibson/Albert King
Award for Best Guitarist and picked up third place winner in the Band Category at the 2018
International Blues Challenge. Keep Pushing, produced by another
current favorite of mine, Josh Smith, also features Daniel Aged
on bass guitar, Gary Novak on drums, Carey Frank on Hammond/keys,
Jamelle Adisa on Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Dan Boisey on Tenor/Baritone
Sax, and Smith on rhythm guitar for four tracks.
I love the mix of horns and keys as they build off
the slow-cooked opening riff of “Now’s the Time”. This feel-good song sets the mood and fills
me with joy with its message, ‘listen to your heart’. Title-track, “Keep Pushing” quickly draws my
attention with Menezes’ power vocals and impressive picking as it thumbs
a ride atop Smith’s deep-seated rhythm. An ominous, bone-crushing riff surges through “Come
With Me” as Menezes spackles the song with gobs of scorching hot guitar. I positively love this track. “Pull it Through” oozes with a soulful, funky
goodness. “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind”
is a mammoth head-turner. A suave vocal
performance in a puree of jazz and buttery soul lulls me into a state of
absolute peace. The George Benson
vibe on this treasure elevates Menezes
to a whole new level.
vibe on this treasure elevates Menezes
to a whole new level.
Terrific songs, a tight band, and a mastery of sound
insure Keep Pushing
maintains its
status of heavy rotation. It’s a keeper.
maintains its
status of heavy rotation. It’s a keeper.
---
