|
 So
who’s in my top ten touring bands on the Blues scene these days?
There’s no question that Sugar Ray And The Bluetones are there!
Sugar Ray Norcia’s soulful vocals and deep toned harmonica licks
should put them high on any Blues fans list!
Years
ago I picked up a CD called “Knockout” by Sugar Ray & the
Blue Tones on Varrick/Rounder and I was ‘knocked out’. Then I
saw Sugar Ray live with the popular band Roomful Of Blues, and now I
knew I was a fan of his for life! Over the years I‘ve gone to many
of his shows and no matter who was in the Bluetones, Sugar Ray led
the way to the Blues. “Hands Across The Table” is their latest
release on Severn Records.
Backed by long time band members Michael “Mudcat” Ward on
upright and electric bass and “Little” Anthony Geraci on piano,
plus Paul Size (Red Devils fame) on guitar, Neal Gouvin on drum kit,
and special guests The Providence Horns with Carl Querfurth;
trombone and Doug “Mr. Low” James; saxes, Sugar Ray And The
Bluetones are really to blow your Blues away again!
The
title track is a groove-setting song about a liar, but love prevails
with his woman. The horns break in on “I Done Wise” a tune about
walkin’ out the door. The pace slows down on “Dark Roads
Calling” with some hot Blues licks from Stratocaster Master Paul.
Back to crisp blowin’ tones from Sugar Ray as he’s now
“Livin’ A Lie”. “Cloud Cover” is an instrumental and it
features Sugar Ray’s dynamic harp runs. The band really rocks it
up on “Say You Love Me (Before I Hang Up)” and delivers a strong
message. There’s a New Orleans feel with the horn section on the
classic “That’s My Desire” and Ray really sings his heart out
on this cut. “(I’m Gonna Break Into) Folsom Prison” is an
intense piece due to Sugar Ray’s harmonica and Neal’s drumming.
Sugar Ray sings out Paul’s lyrics on “I Wanna Marry You Girl”,
and it is driven with a steady beat by the small band combo. Time
again for those slow Blues and this Sugar Ray composition, “I
Won’t Leave Home No More”, is inspired by homesickness. “River
Stay ‘Way From My Door” has a Jazzy groove to it and hi-lites
the talents of both Anthony on the piano and trombonist Carl
Querfurth. We’re getting’ near the end of the album, but
there’s always time for “The Last Blues Song” and a great
guitar solo from Paul. The record finishes with a very short
instrumental appropriately called “End Time”.
Sugar
Ray And The Bluetones are one of the most exciting Blues bands to
check out live, but the great thing is that every ounce of energy
you may feel at a live performance is also captured in their latest
release “Hands Across The Table”. Git It! Eddy
B
A five out of a six-pack release.
Check out Sugar Ray And The Bluetones' website
at: www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com
|
