 |
|
BLUES
CD REVIEWS
Saturday Nite Fish Fry
- Rhythm &
Soul - 7 Arts Ent. |
|
|
 |
I once wrote
in a live review that the Saturday Nite Fish Fry band
left me in a state of being ‘Fryed’ - well I’ve been ‘Fryed’
over again with the Fish Fry’s follow-up to “Jump Shout
Rock da House”; “Rhythm & Soul”. If this not one of
the best R&B recordings I’ve heard in years, please put me on
the broiler. One of Canada’s most gifted musicians and
arrangers, the man behind the 88’s, Bill King, is the
musical brainchild of Saturday Nite Fish Fry. Bill
pulled together some of the finest jazz musicians in town
molding them into one hell of a band getting right down to the
playing traditional R&B and Soulful material that sounds like
it was recorded right out of the 40’s, 50’s and the early
60’s.
|
|
|
Check out this
incredible line up; Neil Chapman, guitar; William
Sperandi, trumpet; John Johnson, alto sax; Bob
Brough, tenor sax; Chris Gale, baritone sax;
Scott Alexander, upright bass; David Direnzo,
drums; Bill King, vocals and keys and one of the most
inspirational singers I’ve ever heard, Shakura S’Aida.
With a feeling for the past and a love for the music, they
really know how to ‘roll’. It’s time for this freight train
to get onto the tracks. |
|
|
|
The music first
busts loose with Shakura singin’ like only she can do on the rockin’
R&B song “Ain’t I Talkin’ To You Baby” - an old Sheri
Washington 50’s tune. I like the way the Fry cover Blind
Willie Johnson’s “John The Revelator” retaining the
emotion of the 1930 prewar version with Bill doin’ the lead vocal
and Shakura doing the refrain as Neil plays the National steel
guitar with the horn and rhythm section - it all has a kool
contemporary feel. An easy groove is felt on the classic ‘53 Ella
and Buddy Johnson song “That’s How I Feel About You” with
Shakura and the band soundin’ every bit as good as the original.
Bill takes on the lead vocal on his own composition “Something On
My Mind” and I have to say his voice just gets better and
better. The play list slows down a bit on Anne Cole’s
memorable 1956 R&B number “Easy, Easy, Baby” with Shakura
really blowin her pipes and Bill rollin’ along on the ivories. The
tempo picks up once again with Bill singin’ Annistine Allen’s
“Down By The River” - once again from 1953. A mood shift to a
slow soulful Blues, a song from 1961 you’ll really fall for, as
Shakura puts you in her back pocket with her version of Mary Ann
Fisher’s “Give”. A straight-ahead R&B treatment is given
to the standard 1960 Elmore James’ number “Can’t Stop
Lovin’”. One of my hi-lites on the CD is listenin’ to Shakura
belt out on “Don’t Freeze On Me” - an obscure track
originally recorded in the early 60’s by Jesse Mae. With Bill
on vocal once again, the band pumps out a New Orleans rendition of
Big Bill Broonzy’s 1930 “I Can’t Be Satisfied”. You’ll
start jumpin’ with Shakura layin’ her ‘oh so fine voice’ on Dinah
Washington’s “I Just Can’t Stand It No More” from 1954
and then slows you down deep into the Blues doin’ “Maybelle’s
Blues” - an other classic from 1953 by ‘Big Maybelle” Smith.
The mood stays low on “I’ll Miss Your Smile” with Bill
soundin’ very Ray Charles like on another great tune he
wrote. The lyrics just grabbed my heart about how I personally feel
in my life. Although “Lady Be Good” has been recorded vocally
since the early 40’s the CD finishes off with Bill tickling the
black and whites on a movin’ instrumental version based on pianist
Albert Ammons’ 1946 recording. I went to flip over the album,
but realized I’d just have to start it over again. I can only
forecast nominations for a number of awards in the near future.
Thankx gang, for allowing me to contribute a little to this very
exciting album. Really lookin’ forward to hearing the band perform
live again at the record release party. If you got any “Rhythm &
Soul” in your body, then this is your CD, and you can make very nite
a Saturday Nite Fish Fry. Nothin’ like bein’ ‘Fryed’.
Eddy B
MP3 -
Ain’t I Talkin’ To You Baby |
|
|
|
|
