#582 > Spencer Mackenzie - Preach to My Soul (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 2022 – Gypsy Soul Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 29, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Ranking high on my list of the newest wave of blues artists is Canadian bluesman Spencer Mackenzie.  While just in his mid-twenties, he’s already been nominated for multiple blues awards in Canada, and is bound to push the envelope even further in his career.  His talent for playing guitar, songwriting, and singing runs quite deep and he seems to pour everything he has into each performance.  Preach to My Soul, his third and latest release is a magnificent ten-track album produced by Emmy Award Winner and Juno Nominated Ross Hayes-Citrullo.  Mackenzie’s band is comprised of Miles Evans on piano/Hammond organ/keys, Steve Pelletier and Stacey Shopsowitz on bass guitar, and Adam Cannon on drums 

Mackenzie leads the record off in a glorious way with “Baptized by Cold Water”.  I love his heavy guitar riffs as they intermingle with the swirling keys.  The backing vocals of Chantal Williams adds a lovely and soulful touch to the song as well.  I enjoy this track immensely.  Following next is a fast-driving barn-burner called “No Good”.  Mackenzie’s all-in, no-holds-barred approach is chockful of searing guitar licks. Cannon provides a thunderous pulse for the song to wrap itself around.  “Can’t Do Right” has a bit of a Stevie Ray Vaughan vibe going as Mackenzie breaks out a big bowlful of Texas-style blues guitar.  He sounds amazing.  Hearing him take on Paul Simon’s “Paranoia Blues” was an unexpected pleasure.  Greased up with a slab of slide from guest guitarist Steve Strongman and topped with a sprinkling of piano, the track absolutely smokes.  Mackenzie releases his inner Seventies soul-man on “Your Turn to Cry”.  His buttery vocals sound fantastic with the horn accompaniment of Julian Nalli on saxophone and Stephen Dyte on trumpet.

Preach to My Soul is one of those albums I can listen to over and over. It’s just so damn good.  Spencer Mackenzie’s work keeps getting better and better.  He is definitely an artist to keep an eye on. 

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For more information about Spencer Mackenzie, visit this website :

https://www.spencermackenzie.ca

 

Angel Forrest - Angel’s 11

2016 – Ad Litteram

By Phillip Smith; April 2, 2016

The latest album, Angel’s 11 by Quebec songstress Angel Forrest is quite a terrific record.  It features eleven original blues-laden tracks, each spotlighting a different guitarist to back Forrest’s powerful vocals. 

There’s something intriguing about the topic of dodging the law, when it comes to music and song.  That’s the hook in “Hangman”, featuring Johnny Flash on guitar.  This ripping track satisfies my craving for both blues-rock and outlaw country.  “Tumbleweed”, with Dimitri Lebel-Alexandre is another really cool song with that western vibe.  Forrest beautifully sings this heartfelt melody about longing for a lost love.    

“Spoil Me Up” is a sexy and soulful treat with a delightful horn arrangement.  Steve Strongman plays this one with precision. The lady sings the blues so good in “Let Me Go”, featuring Kim Greenwood on guitar.  Greenwood is a monster on the guitar, and when he lets loose, it sounds fantastic.  Forrest and guitarist Corey Diabo give an electric performance on the manic “Wildflower”.  While Forrest belts out a powerful delivery to “Touch Of My Hand”, axe-man Shane Murphy injects a heavy dose of psyche-blues for some really trippy results.

The other guest guitarists are Rob MacDonald, Ricky Paquette, Paul DesLauriers, Steve Hill, and Adam Karch.  Angel’s 11 is such a fantastic album, musically and lyrically, it definitely lands as one of my favorites of the year. 

Roly Platt - Inside Out

2014 – Roly Platt  

By Phillip Smith; Jan 3, 2015

It takes a harpist like Roly Platt to show the world that a harmonica, in the proper hands, can be the main dish instead of a mere seasoning.  Platt, a thirty-five year veteran of the Canadian music scene and two-time Maple Blues Awards nominee for “Harmonica Player of the Year”, recorded eleven fantastic pieces for his first solo album, Inside Out.  Backing Platt in the studio is producer/keyboardist/pianist Lance Anderson, guitarist John Tilden, bassist Russ Boswell, and drummer Al Cross.  Platt also brings in special guests Steve Strongman, John Jordan, and Neil Chapman to join.
 

Platt pays an instrumental back-to-back homage to Ray Charles with “I Got a Woman” and “Georgia On My Mind”.  Break out the dancing shoes for “I Got a Woman”.  Platt tears this rip-roaring party song up while Tilden tosses out some quite impressive guitar licks.  Cross, on drums, brings it to closure very nicely.  Afterwards, settle in for a calming rendition of “Georgia On My Mind”.  I love the way Anderson sprinkles a bit of gospel seasoning on the Hammond organ while Platt nails every note.  And speaking of “gospel seasoning”, listen for the cleverly planted segue of “Bringing in the Sheaves”, which leads right into “Rippin’ It Up”, an original ditty about dances at the old church hall.  A throwback to the early years of Rock and Roll, Platt sings and plays this in the spirit of the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis.  A tight instrumental performance on “Mad River” makes for a hell of a bluesy romp. This is a smokin’ jam that brings me great joy each time I hear it.  

With Steve Strongman on guitar and vocals, “Ocean of Tears” is pure blues, and sounds so good.  Played with heartfelt emotion, Platt makes it impossible for this song to go unnoticed.  Jordon John lends his amazing voice along with his acoustic guitar, for a very cool, country rendition of James Taylor’s “Bartender’s Blues”.   One more ‘must-mention’ track is the beautifully played “Over the Rainbow” from the film, The Wizard of Oz.  Platt and Anderson both score big on this lovely cover.

Inside Out is such a rewarding listen; one doesn’t have to be a blues harmonica fan to enjoy. 

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For more information on Roly Platt, visit his website at http://www.rolyplatt.com/