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Blues Underground Network Boy Wells "Blue Skies Calling" |
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 Every now
and then, I receive an album, from an artist, that goes far beyond
simply being the blues, one that takes us down a road of several
masterfully interpreted genres, Boy Wells "Blue Skies Calling" is
such an album. "Blue Skies
Calling" is the exciting new debut release from Boy Wells Aka Mark
Schultz, whom may very well be one of the best undiscovered Guitarist out
there, something that will certainly change awful fast with this dynamic
and amazing album.
Boy Wells started
playing Guitar at 16, after hearing "a Duane Allman
solo on The Allman Brothers Band classic, "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed."
"Before that, I never even considered playing guitar," he
remembers. Shortly after, he had the immense good fortune
of meeting the Legendary Guitarist Danny Gatton whom became a mentor
to Boy Wells, giving him many lessons and advice along the way. Danny
Gatton, whom passed away far to young, "was
an American guitarist who fused rockabilly, jazz, and country styles to
create his own distinctive style of playing. Gatton was ranked 63rd on
Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time in 2003. On
May 26, 2010, Gibson.com ranked Gatton as the 27th best guitarist of all
time".
Boy Wells played professionally throughout the Washington, D.C. area starting in the late 70's and has opened for acts such as Maybelle Carter, the Osborne Brothers, Billy Joe Shaver, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, and many others. In the early 90's he met up with Bruce Crump, the former Drummer for Molly Hatchet. Together they formed a Allman Brothers tribute band called Southern Legend. After a heartbreaking tragedy took the life of his son and daughter, Boy Wells moved to Austin, in 2006 and began to regroup his life, via starting to, once again, play Guitar, in clubs, throughout Texas. The writing and recording of "Blue Skies Calling", came after Boy Wells fought a battle with Meniere’s Disease, which is a very debilitating inner ear disorder, and one in which sidelined him for a couple of more years. "Blue Skies Calling" consists of 12 immensely creative Tracks of which all the songs were written by Boy Wells, whom was also responsible for the composing and arranging. In addition to Boy Wells playing Lead, Slide, and Acoustic Guitar, he is also joined by a great lineup of musicians which included Andy Hamburger (Drums), John Prevetti (Bass), Bill Watson (Saxophones), Dave Hanbury (Acoustic/Electric Guitar), Brian Simms (Keyboard), Rickie Simpkins (Violin/Mandolin), Becky Taylor (Banjo), Jimi Lee (Harp), and Brad Clements (Trumpet). Also performing on "Blue Skies Calling" was none other Boy Well's Southern Legend bandmate Bruce Crump on Drums. In addition to playing Guitars, Dave Hanbury also recorded and mixed this album, as well as, co-produced it with Boy Wells. "Blue Skies Calling" also contains a special bonus in the form of a one hour Guitar lesson given to Boy Wells by Danny Gatton at Danny's house in the late 70's. "Blue Skies Calling" opens with Mr. Coluzzi, one of a number of instrumentals on this album. Mr Coluzzi is by far the Jazziest Track on this Album and shows off the fine Sax work of Bill Watson and equally impressive Trumpet from Brad Clements. Other unique instrumentals on "Blue Skies Calling" included Track 4 "Marcel Marsupial", Track 9 "Tova", Track 11 "Tin Winter" and Track 12 "Traveller". I enjoyed all the instrumentals quite a bit, especially "Tin Winter" and "Traveller", which both having great Banjo and Violin work courtesy of Becky Taylor and Rickie Simpkins. I got a little bit of a Jefferson Starship "Git Fiddler" feel from those 2 Tracks. For those that like a little more Blues Rock, "Blue Skies Calling" has a number of great Tracks which included Track 2 "World Weary And Blue", Track 3 "Bring It Back", and Track 10 "Devil's Backbone Blues" of which the first two may be considered more Allman Brothers in style. The third one, "Devil's Backbone Blues", is as one reviewer puts it, "just that, straight-up bottleneck blues ." My favorite Track on "Blue Skies Calling" was the Country Rootsy title Track. I really loved Boy Wells Vocals and Guitar, as well as, Rickie Simpkins's Hauntingly Exquisite Violin work on that Track. I also found the Lyrics to be very moving. "Blue Skies Calling" is one of the best multi-genre albums I have heard all year, and certainly should garner a lot of critical attention. Boy Wells comes across as simple an American Musical Treasure that is finally getting the attention he deserves. "Blue Skies Calling" is, I am really hoping, just the tip of the iceberg for future albums to come. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed. Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
Listen To Samples Here... Additional Artist Info... http://www.boywells.com/
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