#590 : PhillyCheeze's Favorite 20 of 2022 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

By Phillip Smith; Dec.22, 2022

 

PhillyCheeze's Favorite 20 of 2022

(in alphabetical order)

Bernard Allison - Highs & Lows

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/01/537-bernard-allison-highs-lows.html

Bad Daddy - It's a Mad Mad Bad Dad World

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/08/568-bad-daddy-its-mad-mad-bad-dad-world.html

Buckmiller Schwager - To Memphis and Back

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/03/phillycheezebluesblogspotcom-545.html

Gary Cain - Next Stop

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/06/558-gary-cain-next-stop.html

Annika Chambers & Paul Deslauriers - Good Trouble

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/11/584-annika-chambers-paul-deslauriers.html

Ryan Lee Crosby - Winter Hill Blues

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/05/555-ryan-lee-crosby-winter-hill-blues.html

Robert Connely Farr - Shake It

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/10/581-robert-connely-farr-shake-it.html

GA-20 - Crackdown

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/08/572-ga-20-crackdown-phillycheezebluesbl.html

Diunna Greenleaf - I Ain't Playin'

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/05/phillycheezebluesblogspotcom-554-diunna.html

The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Live at the King Eddy

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/06/559-harpoonist-and-axe-murderer-live-at.html

Herman Hitson - Let the Gods Sing

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/10/578-herman-hitson-let-gods-sing.html

Spencer Mackenzie - Preach to my Soul

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/10/582-spencer-mackenzie-preach-to-my-soul.html

Eliza Neals - Badder to the Bone

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/04/phillycheezebluesblogspotcom-550-eliza.html

Prakash Slim - Country Blues From Nepal

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/03/phillycheezebluesblogspotcom-547.html

Gina Sicilia - Unchange

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/06/557-gina-sicilia-unchange.html

Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors - Keeping it in the Family

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/09/575-sir-rod-blues-doctors-keeping-it-in.html

Sugaray Rayford - In Too Deep

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2021/12/533-sugaray-rayford-in-too-deep.html

The Terraplanes Blues Band - Stepping Stones

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/02/phillycheezebluesblogspotcom-544.html

Dylan Triplett - Who is He?

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/07/562-dylan-triplett-who-is-he.html

Matty T Wall - Live Down Underground

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2022/07/561-matty-t-wall-live-down-underground.html

The Spotify Playlist

#575 > Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors - Keeping it in the Family (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2022 – Adam Gussow and Roderick Patterson

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 10, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I was quite enamored with Come Together the debut album from Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors when I reviewed it a couple of years ago.  I have the same opinion regarding their latest album Keeping it in the Family.  It’s a live thirteen track delight featuring new original songs, fresh covers, and past favorites.  Front-man and vocalist Sir Rod is Roderick Patterson.  He is the nephew of New York blues legend Sterling Magee aka Mr. Satan from the critically-acclaimed blues duo Satan & Adam.  University of Mississippi professors Adam Gussow and Alan Gross form the Blues Doctors.  Gussow (Satan & Adam) brings his amazing harmonica playing to the trio and Mississippi bluesman/cigar box guitar luthier Alan Gross (Terry “Harmonica” Bean) brings his guitar mastery.

Kicking the record off, in a feel-good style, is Big Joe Turner’s classic “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”.  It rolls right into an exuberant performance of the Satan & Adam song “Seventh Avenue”.  Sir Rod’s smokey vocals sound fabulous as Gussow ignites the flame on this funky blues track with his harp.  It’s an absolute favorite.  Spirits remain elevated as they skillfully perform a blues transfusion on James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)”.  A heart-felt tribute is paid to Mr. Satan on a Sir Rod original called “Brother Sterling”.  Afterward, Gussow and Gross break into a smokin’ funky performance on instrumental “Thunky Fing Rides Again”.  It made me happy that they added a live version of the title track to their debut album, “Come Together”.  This song about peace and love is a song everyone should give a listen to.  The listener is transported to the Mississippi Delta for a soulful remake of Bobby Gentry’s “Ode to Billy Joe”.  It’s outstanding.  Bringing the album to its close in full-on-party mode, they cover Clifton Chenier’s 1977 release “Hot Tamale Baby”.  This zydeco-turned-blues side is a certified shindig.   

Sir Rod and the Blues Doctors have captured lightning in a bottle once again with Keeping it in the Family.  With a chemistry which stretches beyond the music, this band puts a smile on my face with every listen.  

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PhillyCheeze’s review for Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors – Come Together

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2020/09/462-sir-rod-blues-doctors-come-together.html

 

 

For more information about Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors, visit this website :

http://www.sirrodandthebluesdoctors.com

 

 

#462: Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors - Come Together

 

2020 – Adam Gussow and Roderick Patterson

 By Phillip Smith; Sep. 12, 2020

Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors is a collaboration between Adam Gussow, the master harp player of Satan & Adam, and Roderick Patterson aka Sir Rod.  Sir Rod a vocalist, dancer, and motivational speaker from the Atlanta-area also happens to be the nephew of Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee.  Magee is the other half of the incredible blues duo Satan & Adam.  After watching the highly-rated documentary Satan & Adam last year, Sir Rod contacted Gussow to suggest they join forces to record a few songs as a tribute.  One thing led to another, and they gave birth to this wonderful new blues album, Come Together.  Sir Rod takes on lead vocals, as Gussow brings it on harp/percussion along with fellow blues doctor Alan Gross on guitar.

The album opens up with a blast of riveting original blues on title-track “Come Together”.  The harp is hot, and the vocals are delivered with soulful conviction.  This is a song of the times which bears a positive message.  “I Want You”, another original song, fills me with joy with every listen.  I can’t help but smile when I hear it.  Sir Rod shines as songwriter, and pianist on “So Mean”.  It’s a beautiful song filled will heart-stirring emotion.

Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors pay an honorable homage to Satan & Adam through a few songs.   “Sanctified Blues”, a delicious slice of delta blues, takes me back to sounds of Mississippi when I hear it.  Rod’s vocals remind me a lot of Chris Robinson’s on “Seventh Avenue”.  I absolutely love this song delivered in a Black Crowes-inspired fashion.  “Freedom for My People” is terrific as well.  A song of unity and freedom, it cuts through right through to the bone.

The covers they chose for the album are plumb great.  They absolutely cook on James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)”.  Then immediately following, they bring the blues back home on a fabulous rendition of Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster”.  For an album closer, they get down on Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say”.  Rod’s raspy growls, tossed in like little grenades, are fabulous. 

Come Together is a remarkable recording from beginning to end.  Blues fans will surely want to give this a listen.

 

 

 

* Note:  Just as I was writing this review, I sadly found out Sterling Magee, passed away on September 6^th, at the age of 84 in Gulfport, due to complications from COVID-19.  Condolences to Roderick, Adam, and all of Sterling’s family and friends.

 

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Take a listen to the album on Apple Music, and if you decide to purchase it, use my special link.  This helps keep the PhillyCheeze site going.