THE VOLKER STRIFLER BAND Blue Rock’It Records, BRCD135 (Distributed by Blind Pig Records) SONGS: Doggin’ It; Never Like This Before; Struck by Lightning; In Your Arms; All Mighty Dollar; Love; I Smell Trouble; JPB; Movin’ On; Heard It On the News; Never Been to Spain; Hell and Purgatory; True Blue Thing This exciting CD highlights three of the talents of Volker Strifler. He plays a strong, melodic guitar, sings the lyrics with expression, and writes songs in a variety of musical modes. He wrote eleven of the thirteen tracks on this CD. Volker grew up in Germany where he first heard the blues on hard- to- find U.S. records. Then he moved to the States to learn more about the blues firsthand. He has recorded and/ or toured with several groups, including Robben Ford and Chris Cain, and worked with blues legends like the late Lowell Fulson. At the moment, he is a member of the Ford Blues Band which is based in Northern California. This is his second CD release. There are lots of chances to hear the impressive guitar playing of Volker. Whether he is playing blues, R&B, jump blues, or classy jazz, his strong, melodic guitar playing captures attention. His vocals have a slight country sound and are emphatic and pleasant to hear. His band, comprised of Claus Bubik on bass and Stephan Bollack on drums, along with three special guests, add special dimensions to the album. The solid arrangements are excellent and create an intriguing, happy, effect. This CD opens with a dynamic blues, “ Doggin’ It,” and closes with a very soulful, slow blues,” True Blue Thing.” In between is a variety of blues, R&B, and jazz. The deep bass and rhythm patterns are particularly fine in “Doggin’ It” and “In Your Arms.” Most of the jazzy numbers, with the exception of the abstract, “Hell and Purgatory,” are catchy and easy to listen to. Two of the slower, expressive blues are cover versions. “I Smell Trouble,” credited to Don Robey, is deep and filled with emotion. Axton Hoyt Wayne’s “Never Been To Spain,” is a slower version than the original and is mellow and flowing. “JPB,” the only instrumental on the album, is a good chance to focus on Volker’s talented guitar playing. This CD of The Volker Strifler Band offers some great listening moments. It is an excellent one to discover the talents of Volker Strifler, guitarist, singer, and song writer. The music selections are well chosen and well done. This CD is definitely worth checking out. Maria Bainer Little Sammy Davis and Midnight Slim Ten Years and Forty Days Fat Fritz Records FFR5771 Little Sammy Davis is a Delta original with family still in Mississippi. His New York residency has bloomed of late since the septuagenarian has shown his skills on MSNBS’ Don Imus In The Morning Show. His rich blend of soft Memphis sound and the grit of Mississippi roadhouses keeps the action smooth yet intense. Little Sammy’s sometimes loosely defined harp work and his earthen but veteran vocal profile are clever complements that work together with excellent responses. In support is the producer, idea man, background vocalist and guitarist Freddie Scribner. He has assembled Jack Geisenheimer on the bass and Brad Scribner on the drums to build the bottom. Neil Eisenberg handles the piano chores. Guests contributing on a tune or two are drummer Johnny Rush, bassist Doug Abramson, and guitarists Mike Ciliberto and Bobby Kyle. Ciliberto and Robert Bard each co-produce three cuts. Leading off with his own “Fine Lookin’ Woman”, Davis plays some subtle harp support but stretches out with his seasoned vocal character. Catch his harp histrionics on the boogied “Done Got Over”. These recordings, marked by Little Sammy’s seventy-second birthday show a tender regard to tradition: i.e. Sammy’s “Since You Been Gone” carries high-registered soul filled vox and soft rhythm and lead guitar lines that echo old Sun sessionists. You will find Sammy’s chromatic winds in sweet tones that avoid sharp edges or dramatic volume changes. His inclinations seem to support rather than lead, but he makes up for all that with some delicious vocal takes. Little Sammy’ regional appeal could explode to national prominence with this release. Hopefully we will continue to hear more from this harpman and vocalist. Hats off to bandleader Freddie Scribner and producers for a job well done. Great material in the name of traditional Delta and Memphis shades.Mark A. Cole Fat Fritz Records; Call 845-692-5301 Walter T. Higgs Just A Few Miles To Go Doc Blues Records DB 6802 A veteran of the fertile Austin Texas blues scene, Walter T. Higgs is another graduate of the Antone’s house band school of the blues. All twelve tunes are from Higgs’ own hand and his perfectionist harp work walks the dog throughout. With strong rock leanings, powered Texan beats, and consistently good writings, Walter T. Higgs comes across like a consummate musician and strong songwriter. A virtual who’s who is playing here also. The incomparable talents of drummer George Raines and bassist Larry Fulcher combine to lay the foundations. Guitarists Derek O’Brien and Johnny Moeller, along with piano player Riley Osbourn, help with lead and rhythm chores. On the horns are saxmen Mark Kazanoff and Les Izmore, and Jimmy Shortell giving up the trumpet work. The percussion comes from Bradley Williams rubboard and James Fenner’s congas. The title tune shuffles open this disc as does the second song “I Have A Dream”. With traditional blue structures and good rocking beats, Higgs keeps the action rolling on this platter. The jump styled “Shake Shuffle Shimmy” is a moving composition that follows the wishful “Too Many Women Knockin’”. The surf guitar sound, piano, and harp combine to make “Kiss My Shoes” a hit, along with the funked out sounds of the closing “Keep It Going On”. Higgs has smoothed hard rocking Texan blues with Chicago slants, strong harp register work, and solid lead vocals. His synthesis is nothing new aside from his own personal flavorings. Can’t say there’s anything bad on this plate, so eat it up! With Riley Osbourn at the production chair, this is a killer CD. Mark A. Cole Doc Blues Records; Austin Texas: or www.docbluesrecords Johnny Winter Lone Star Shootout Fuel 2000 Records 302 061 160 2 Beaumont Texas native Johnny Dawson Winter III has remained at the top of the blues rock world for decades. His formative beginnings are captured on this disc with vintage remastered recording culled from various Houston and Austin live performances dating back to the late sixties. The triumphal reemergence of this material reannounces the roots of blues embedded in Winter’s body of work. Guests from the period include Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed, both contributing on one of their own. Winter’s beloved trips to Mississippi in his youth put him in the unenviable radio range of Nashville stations pumping blues across the South. Johnny and his brother Edgar took serious note developing their own incessant brands of rock and blues. Johnny is supported here by bassist Tommy Shannon (pre-Double Trouble days) and championed drummer ‘Uncle’ John Turner. That rock bottom support leaves Winter room for torrential lines and delicate, if need be, phrasings. The then-younger Winter also displays his made-for-blues vocal range and tones. On covers like Taj’s “EZ Rider”, the Stone’s “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, Junior Walker’s anthemic “Messin’ With The Kid” (by Mel London), Sonny Boy’s “Help Me”, or Memphis Slim’s “Mother Earth”, Winter comes across with dynamic lines and ultimate string bending that spells blues. His own penned “Busted In Austin”, “Black Cat Bone”, and “Low Down Gal Of Mine” explode with equal divisiveness and delivery. With Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed performing alongside doing their own “Big Boss Man” and “Spoonful” this is only further authenticated. Hats off to a crucial and historic collection of material that not only reaffirms Winter’s roots, but the roots of blues in the development of classic rock in the seventies. This is not one to miss out on! Mark A. Cole Fuel 2000 Records; Distributed by Universal Music; 10 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91068: or , www.fuel2000.com, or www.umusic.com COCO MONTOYA CAN’T LOOK BACK Alligator ALCD 4885 SONGS: Wish I Could Be That Strong; Running Away From Love; Something About You; I Won’t Beg; Trip, Stumble and Fall; Can’t See The Streets For My Tears; Same Old Thing; Can’t Look Back; Women Have A Way With a Fool; Back In A Cadillac; No Longer A Part Of Your Dreams; Holding Out For You; Free Coco Montoya Vocals and Guitar Chuck Kirkpatrick Rhythm and Slide Guitar Benny Yee or Tommy Eyre $, Keyboards Steve Evans or Bob Glaub $, Bass Randy Hayes †, Scott Kirkpatrick +, or Tony Braunagle $, Drums with Chuck Kirkpatrick and Scott Kirkpatrick Background Vocals Joe Sublett Tenor Sax #, Darrel Leonard Trumpet = This CD of Coco Montoya reflects influences of his thirty-year musical career that have evolved into his own musical style. After playing in the band of Albert Collins for five years, and then in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for ten years, Coco started his own band in the mid nineties. These days he tours 200 days out of the year, and plays in venues and festivals throughout the world. Coco can play a screaming guitar in a rock song or an expressive one in a catchy funky or soulful number as well as a melodic one in a tender blues song.There are plenty of opportunies to hear his guitar solos and playing in this CD. His vocals are always clear and strong. Sometimes there is a rough, country edge to them, while at other times, they are soft and gentle. Coco puts out a lot of energy when he performs. Sometimes it seems more focused in on some tunes rather than on others. Particular favorities, like two of the five songs Coco co-wrote,the mellow, “I Won’t Beg,” and the bluesy “Can’t See The Streets For My Tears” are well done.” Coco pays tribute to his mentor, Albert Collins, in “Same Ole Thing.” He does a solid, catchy, funky version of this Collins’ song, and plays some good guitar solos. He also does a good performance of the song, “No Longer Part Of Your Dreams,” which has a nice melody and rhythm pattern. His version of “Holding Out For You” is his most soulful one on the album. Bandwise, of course Coco plays guitar and sings on all the tracks. Chuck Kirkpatrick plays rhythm and slide guitar. Joe Sublett plays tenor sax on four of the thirteen tracks while Darrel Leonard blows trumpet on three tracks. Several musicians share playing of the keyboards, drums, and bass. All in all, this is an energized CD with some particularly pleasing tracks. Coco Montoya gives some of the numbers his best shot, while other tracks lack the heartfelt emotion that he is capable of doing. Perhaps just pickiing out favorites from the CD and repeating them is a good way to listen to this album. Maria Bainer back to BAS Journal next page -7-