Showing posts with label Kenny Greenberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenny Greenberg. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2024

#710 > Jovin Webb - Drifter (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 


2024 – Blind Pig Records
By Phillip Smith; Oct. 19, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

It is exciting to see a new musician take the blues scene by storm. Gonzalas, Louisiana native Jovin Webb, who captured the hearts of television audiences on Season 18 of American Idol in 2020, now has a spectacular new album called Drifter and is signed to Blind Pig Records. Produced by the four-time Grammy winning Tom Hambridge, the album is destined to be a grand-slam. With Webb on vocals and harmonica, he is joined by Hambridge on drums, background vocals, and percussion, Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Mike Rojas on piano and keys, and Rob Cureton on bass guitar.

Webb delivers a striking and soulful performance on “Save Me”, a powerful original he wrote with Hambridge and Richard Fleming. The way Greenberg injects a dreamy texture to this heartwarming track on guitar pulls everything together. The opening bassline on “I’m a Drifter” instantly pulls me in to this propelling anthem with a marching magnetic pulse. I can’t help but smile when the electric piano boogie of “Wig on Wrong” kicks in. This one is surely a standout. I love the way Webb pours his whole being into “Mine Someday” and belts the song out of the ballpark. His voice is a beautifully strong one. Webb pours the icing on the cake as he brings the album to its close with a stellar cover of “Born Under a Bad Sign”. Featuring Max Abrams on saxophone and Julio Diaz on trumpet, this is an absolutely amazing track.   

Jovan Webb’s Drifter won me over upon my first listen. This instant classic garners my highest of recommendations.      

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Thursday, July 25, 2024

#696 : Chris BadNews Barnes - BadNews Travels Fast (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)



2024 – Gulf Coast Records

 By Phillip Smith; July 25, 2024

 Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

BadNews Travels Fast, the latest album from Nashville-based bluesman Chris BadNews Barnes drew my attention quite quickly. His fearless approach to the blues makes for a splendid outlet for his witty lyrics. Produced by multi-Grammy-winning Tom Hambridge, this eleven-track record of all originals features Barnes on lead vocals with Hambridge on drums/percussion/backing vocals, Kenny Greenberg on guitars, Tommy MacDonald on bass, Mike Rojas on keyboards, Max Abrams on saxophone, Steve Patrick on trumpet, and Tabitha Fair on backing vocals.  This release also features guests Jimmy Hall, Sugaray Rayford, and Walter Trout.

Hall steps in with harp in hand as Barnes and his band release a ferocious blast of blues on “Badnews Travels Fast”. I love the high-energy and tight musicianship packed into this barn-burner. To keep the fire burning, the legendary Walter Trout lends his guitar mastery to “True Blue” for an amazing listen. Fair’s vocals add a beautiful and soulful touch. This is truly an outstanding song. It brings a smile to my face to hear Sugaray Rayford on “You Right Baby”. It’s fun one indeed. Greenberg and Rojas fabulously keep the blues flowing as Barnes’ sharp wit turns its focus to the boudoir in “Skin to Skin”. Bounties on heads and unshakable outlaws are subjects of Barnes’ intriguing spaghetti-western landscape for “Ambushed by the Blues”.  It’s absolutely brilliant. An unexpected trunk of funk is busted open for “Do the Houdini”. I dig the touch of Stax lurking behind the keys and bassline. It makes for a playful, infectious groove that pulls me right along as I enjoy the musical ride.

Chris BadNews Barnes’ BadNews Travels Fast is a refreshing record of blues which has a way of brightening the mood in a most enjoyable way.    

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For more information about Chris BadNews Barnes, visit the website at https://www.chrisbarnesnyc.com/