The F & G Band "Grease Up Yo' Strutt"

 

 

The F & G Band are Edlene Hart, Sly Geralds, Tom Foschino, and Chuck Russell, and together they bring a fine mix of Blues, Funk, Soul, and R&B, with their new release "Grease Up Yo' Strutt". Edlene Hart has toured the world with the Glory Gospel Singers, as the lead singer, and has sung with some of the best including Tony Bennett and Isaac Hayes. Sly Geralds has toured and recorded with many greats including Al Green, Cindy Lauper, and Bill Perry, to name a few. In addition to Vocals and Bass, Sly also co-produced "Grease Up Yo' Strutt" with Suzanne & Tom Foschino. Tom Foschino played Drums, toured, recorded, and performed with the Legendary Sam 'Bluzman' Taylor, right up till Sam's passing. Tom also performed with Sweet Suzi for many years, which also lead them to the IBC's a total of three times. Guitarists Chuck Russell, is a staple of the New York music scene and has worked with many of the greats from that area, over the years.

 

Special Guests on this album included Bill Marino (Guitar), John Anderson (Guitar), Lil Cliff Bernard (Harmonica/Backing Vocals), and Tim Mitchell (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards/Rhodes/Piano). Tim Mitchell, whom currently tours with the Javier Vargas Band throughout Europe and Asia, was also the Musical Director for James Brown. Tim played and sang on 8 of the Tracks on "Grease Up Yo' Strutt", of which he recorded all 8 of them while in Spain with the rest of the band recording in a studio in New York. Tim's expertise in what he does, still had the record sounding like he was right in the room recording with the rest of them.

 

"Grease Up Yo' Strutt" consists of 11 great Tracks of which all of them were written by Suzanne Foschino and John "Sly" Geralds. Suzanne's songwriting has been hailed by many including John Lee Hooker Jr., whom refers to her as "a consummate and professional songwriter. She and her writing partner Sly Geralds hit a home run at their first batter up."

 

Sticking with their styles of Blues, Funk, Soul, and R&B, The F & G Band bring a fine mix of music, which should attract a variety of listeners. "Mamma Said" starts off "Grease Up Yo' Strutt" with a nice little Funky number, which is followed by "Can't Get Your Man Off the Rack", a nice Soulful Blues Track, that continues to highlight Edlene Hart's amazing Vocals. One of my favorites on "Grease Up Yo' Strutt" was Track 4 "You Don't Sing the Blues, The Blues Sings You", a great rockin' Blues tune featuring great Harmonica work from Lil Cliff Bernard, whom also supplied Backing Vocals. Bill Marino's Guitar work also sizzles on this fine Track. Another great Track for me was "Seeing Eye To Eye, Maybe Toe To Toe", which featured the Duet singing of Edlene Hart and Sly Geralds, as a song pertaining to the continuing Battle of the Sexes.

 

I found "Grease Up Yo' Strutt" to be quite an entertaining Debut album and certainly one that will get a lot of attention. Immensely good singing throughout by Edlene Hart, with an outstanding lineup of additional singers and musicians.

 

For the styles of music that The F & G Band play, "Grease Up Yo' Strutt" is a really nice addition to the musical horizon.

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

Listen To Samples Here...

 

Additional Artist Info...http://fandgmusic.com/