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Blues Underground Network |
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Big Apple Blues
"Brooklyn Blues"
Big Apple Blues (formerly Stone Tone
Blues Band) newest release is called "Brooklyn Blues", so named for the
fact it was recorded in a Brooklyn Recording Studio, namely Excello
Recording. The actual music on "Brooklyn Blues" is referred to as
"Chicago-style electric blues of mid-century Middle America" and
if that was all there was to this album, one would probably think it was
just another half decent run of the mill Blues release. That of course
couldn't be farther from the truth as "Brooklyn Blues" went that extra
extraordinary step of not only playing the style of music they did, but
also playing it in it's truest representation of sound, going back to
the old days of recording with the help of vintage analog
recording equipment such as "ribbon and tube microphones feeding the
transformers of Neve preamps and equalizers, and ‘golden-age’ vacuum
tube-based signal processors rocking the meters of the Studer and Ampex
tape machines." There were no separate rooms for this recording, as
it was all done with the band playing together in one big room, allowing a
wonderful Live feel to "Brooklyn Blues", made more so by allowing the
'bleed' of instruments to seep into other microphones. Paying this much
attention to the sound truly made it possible for us to hear all the great
songs on "Brooklyn Blues", as close to what they originally sounded like,
when first recorded many years
ago.
"Brooklyn Blues" consists of 12 great Tracks of Chicago style
blues, with 10 fabulous covers and 2 superb originals. The players on
"Brooklyn Blues", whom either performed on all the Tracks or
just a few, included Zack Zunis (Guitar), Barry 'The Baron of the Blues'
Harrison (Drums/Vocals), Anthony Kane (Harmonica/Vocals), Admir 'Dr. Blues'
Hadzic (Bass), Hugh Pool (Vocals/Maracas/Backup Vocals/Hand Claps), Brian
Mitchell (Piano), Christine Santelli (Backup Vocals),
and Matt Mousseau (Backup Vocals/Hand Claps). Zack Zunis is
credited with writing one of the originals, Track 3 "Brooklyn Swamp", which is
an instrumental, and Anthony Kane is credited with writing the other
original, Track 8 "Who's On Third (Duvel)?". The covers for "Brooklyn
Blues" were songs of such greats as Paul Butterfield ("Too Many
Drivers"), Chester 'Howlin Wolf' Burnett ("Killing Floor" and
"How Many More Years"), Big Joe Turner ("Honey Hush"), Dave
Bartholomew ("Whole Lot of Lovin" and "I Hear You Knocking"), Antoine
'Fats' Domino ("Whole Lot of Lovin"), Amos 'Junior Wells' Blakemore Jr.
("It's My Life Baby"), Marion 'Little Walter' Jacobs ("Hate To See You Go"
and "Everything Is Gonna Be All Right") and Willie Dixon ("Mellow Down
Easy").
All the Tracks on "Brooklyn Blues"
were done beautifully, especially the covers, for which I am sure that the
originators would of been proud of. The sound was simply put, superb, with
the choice of the way this album was recorded, as being spot on. As for
picking out favorites on this album, that was not a easy
task, especially trying to pick from such a steller lineup of songs,
but a few that stood out were, the opening Track "Too Many Drivers",
Track 3 "Brooklyn Swamp", and Track 11 "Everything Is Gonna Be
Alright".
If it were not for the exceptional
way in which "Brooklyn Blues" was recorded, I would of still given this
album my highest rating of 5*****, but since it was recorded in the was it
was, well that is just the icing on the cake. I can't wait for more from
Big Apple Blues, especially if they record it in this
style. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly
Enjoyed...
Additional Artist Info...http://bigappleblues.com/
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