Doc’s Juke Joint

JAZZ 90.1 FM WGMC (SUNDAY NIGHTS)
Mail Address: 613 Westchester Ave. Rochester NY 14609

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Andrew and the crew at Electro-Fi Records have given us all three good reasons to jump from Springtime clean up to Summer Fun. Three new releases by Electro-Fi are sure to get you in the mood for Summer Blues Festival Season. Sometimes we need to be reminded that there are still some Blues Legends among us. Billy Boy Arnold is back with a new tribute to his mentor, the Original Sonny Boy, John Lee Williamson. Since the torch had been passed, Billy Boy Arnold has knocked down the hits with Bo Diddley and influenced an entire generation of British Cats that in-turn influence a whole generation of American kids. Yes this one guy did all that and is still doing it today. Billy Boy Arnold “Sings Sonny Boy” (Electro-Fi Records) is a straight forward blues documentation of how it should be done. To properly document the blues you need an outstanding cast, they are all here (Billy Flynn on guitar & mandolin, Bob Stroger on bass, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drum, special guest Mel Brown on piano & guitar and the legend himself, Billy Boy Arnold on vocals, harmonica & guitar). The Billy Boy penned track “Sqeeze Me Tight” stands out as a personal favorite. Billy Boy Arnold “Sings Sonny Boy Williams” is 17 tracks & 71 minutes of pure Chicago Blues that will have you asking for more and looking for summer festival dates. I hope Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page are first in line to find this new release.

The piano is an often over looked but still a major component of the blues mix. Two new piano CDs round out the springtime offerings of Electro-Fi Records. Keyboardist Kenny Blues Boss Wayne returns with “Can’t Stop Now” (Electro-Fi Records). Lucky for us Kenny’s Grandma lived in New Orleans and her grandson soaked up the sounds of the Crescent City and Fats Domino. Wayne provides a fine cover of the Dave Bartholomew song “You Can Pack Your Suitcase.” The opening track “Boogie Woogie Mama” sounds as good as its title. Kenny rolls the keys and pays tribute to his friend and mentor the late Johnnie Johnson on two tracks on this new release. The “Blues Boss” covers Johnnie Johnson’s “Tanqueray” and also wrote a tribute to Johnny entitled “Johnny J. Was Good.” For music fans that don’t know, Johnnie Johnson was the key component and driving musical force behind the success of the great Chuck Berry. The late guitarist Jeff Healey makes an appearance on “You Cured My Blues” one of my favorite tracks on this CD.

The second piano offering from Electr0-Fi is the sophomore effort from the talented signer/songwriter Julian Fauth. “Ramblin’ Son” is a CD that will take you on a varied adventure down the road to yesterday with a hint of today. Working mainly up in Toronto, Julian likes to put his own touches onto musical classics of the past while entertaining us with his wit and wisdom on his own 14 personally penned tracks on this new release. No lounge lizard here. Julian lays down some serious Barrelhouse boogie piano. The opening track “Maggie Campbell” really kicks things into high gear with some real nice guitar work from Jason Danley. Besides the piano, Julian also picks up the guitar on two tracks. Julian Fauth possesses a voice and style that reminds me of Southern piano player, Bobby Lounge. Julian tackles and reworks the Carter Family classic “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Other covers include Fats Waller’s “Hopeless Love Affair,” Guitar Slim’s “Done Got Over That,” Sister Rosetta Thorpe’s “Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down” and a nice reworking of “Stagger Lee” entitled “Yet Another Stagger Lee.” Julian Fauth proves that sometimes we need to look North to find the good old sounds of the South.

Greg “Doc” Lefebre

The funk is back in the house. Walter “Wolfman” Washington is back with a hot new release entitled “Doin’ The Funky Thing” (Zoho Music). I’ve always been a bigger fan of Walter’s live shows over his studio releases. This new release really captures the live feel that Walter and his band the Roadmasters have on stage. The opening number “Shake Your Booty/Funky Thing Part 1″ is true New Orleans funk and boogie, where you just can’t sit down. There is no surprise that Walter would include a post Katrina song on his first studio release since the disaster. “I’m Back” is an honest uplifting groove that tells the story of returning to New Orleans, while looking to rebuild the once great musical hotbed. Dr. John grinds out on the Hammond B3 on “I’m Back.” Walter has certainly done his part by really never leaving New Orleans. It was well documented that Walter and a group of a few artist were the first to find some generators and plug in before the flood waters had even totally relented.

Like his live shows the “Wolfman” perfectly blends his guitar playing with the tight horn arrangements of James “Jimmy” Carpenter. Age has improved the soulful voice of Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and his guitar playing reminds us of the great heyday of the Crescent City’s R&B Kings that Walter once backed (Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas & Johnny Adams). “Just Like That” reminds us of those days and “Only You” reminds of the progression of R&B into the 70’s and beyond. Walter also shows us his other side with a straight ahead tune called “Wolf Jazz” that reminds us that NOLA was the birth place of Jazz. Shake your booty on down to the local record store or get on that internet thing and get this CD.

Greg “Doc” Lefebre