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Blues Underground Network
Al Lerman "Crowe River Blues"
(Canada)
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 When I first posted in my
Facebook Blues Group, that I was going to be listening to Al Lerman's
newest release "Crowe River Blues", for the first time, one of our
members left a post saying, "You'll Love It", and I must
say she was absolutely
right."Crowe River Blues" is Al Lerman's
first solo album, and it did not come early in his career, in fact his
career had already spanned 40 years, with 20 of them being as band
leader of the award winning Canadian Blues/Roots sensation Fathead,
before releasing "Crowe River Blues" on February 25, 2012.
Al Lerman is not only a great
instrumentalist, but also one mighty fine singer and songwriter. The
songwriting skills, have of course, always been there, but as far as doing
the Lead Vocals, it is something that has alluded Al, as many of his
Vocals on previous releases has been in the capacity of just Harmony
Vocals. "Crowe River Blues" has allowed Al Lerman to step up to the podium
as Lead Vocalist, and it has shown us all that he is just as equally
skilled in that capacity, as he is as an
instrumentalist.
"Crowe River Blues" consists of 13
Tracks, of which Al Lerman penned all but 3. For the covers, Al chose 3
really nice ones, that after you have listened to the whole album, you
realize that they complemented Al's style to a tee. Included are "Suitcase
Blues" a song written by Hollywood Fats (aka Michael Mann), Al Blake, Fred Kaplan, Larry Taylor,
and Richard Innes,
"Judgement Day", which is one of Snooky Pryor's better
known songs, and R. Brown's "Nobody But Myself To
Blame".
Joining Al Lerman on
"Crowe River Blues" was fellow Fathead compadre Bucky Berger on Drums, along with Alec
Fraser (Upright/Electric Bass/Percussion/Backing Vocals) and Lance Anderson (Piano/Hammond Organ/Wurlitzer Electric Piano/Accordion). Alec Fraser and
Lance Anderson are both Producers, with Alec producing "Crowe River
Blues".
"Crowe River Blues" had a lot of great Tracks on it,
that showed off Al Lerman's love of not only the Blues but also the genre
of Roots, most notably Tracks 3 & 9, "Gypsy Feet" & "I'm Gone".
"Gypsy Feet" & "I'm Gone", both had great Acoustic Guitar/Harmonica
from Al, with Alec Fraser joining in with some really nice
Harmonizing Vocals, on "Gypsy Feet".
For instruments, Al Lerman brought
Harmonica, Acoustic/Electric Guitars, and Tenor Saxophone, to the mix. I
just love Tenor Sax and Al played a mighty fine Sax on "Nobody But Myself
To Blame", a tune that was the closest to Al's Fathead roots, to be found
on "Crowe River Blues".
Their are 2 instrumentals on "Crowe
River Blues", Tracks 2 & 8, Chuggin' The Blues" and "Harmonica Gumbo".
Chuggin' The Blues" had Al Lerman doing some pretty awesome stuff on
Harmonica, almost sounding like he was using the Overblow technique
made famous via Carlos Del Junco. "Harmonica Gumbo", uses pieces
of the Iko Iko tune to build yet another great Harpfest.
Leave it up to Al Lerman to write a
gem of a tune called "Blues So Bad I Could Write A Country Song", and
then perform it with a Silky Jazzy feel, courtesy of Lance
Anderson on Piano.
My favorite Track on "Crowe
River Blues" was "She Calls Me A River" with the heavenly Harmonizing of
the chorus lines. A great song about love found and life shared, as
one.
She Calls Me A River
Cause We're Flowing In The Same
Direction
"Crowe River Blues" was 40 years in
the making and really not a moment to soon. It is an album, I am sure, Al
Lerman made not to prove something, but simply because his lifes journey
had said it was time.
One Heck of a Good Album, perhaps his
best work... Great work by all involved...
Highly Recommended and Thoroughly
Enjoyed...
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground Network)
Listen To Samples Here...
Additional Artist Info... http://www.allermanmusic.com/home.cfm
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