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Steve Gifford 'Beaudesert'
I am quite proud of the fact that I have had the enviable pleasure of watching and listening to Steve Gifford playing live tracks from this, his latest album, but until recently have not had the opportunity to listen to Beaudesert in it's entirety. Those familiar with Gifford's music will already appreciate what a truly fabulous singer/songwriter the man is and no doubt, won't be bothering or needing to read this. Let me start firstly with classification.... If Steve Gifford is to be 'pigeon-holed' into a genre then you could spend all day trying to decide where to place him - some say "Contemporary Folk" others say "Blues" whilst I've also heard it referred to as "Easy Listening". I personally tend to ID Tag Steve's work as "Steve Gifford" because that's what it is! Yes his music is very 'easy' to listen to and sometimes you can hear 'Folk' elements and there are tracks that you would say have a 'Bluesy' quality, but he's much more diverse than that.
Every piece has a story to tell and Gifford is a master at storytelling. There is a 'familiarity' to his songs, the music, the words and of course the delivery - that draws you in and has you living that story. I've tried, in the past, to describe to friends and colleagues the quality of Steve Gifford's work and have found myself using senses of taste and smell as an analogy ..... The smells of Cinnamon & Vanilla and the taste of Mulled wine that leave the most exquisite warm glow, enticing the listener back for more. 'Beaudesert' is the fifth and latest Steve Gifford album to come into my possession and I'll refrain from saying "the best so far" because, in my opinion, there is no 'best Steve Gifford album'. I will say though that this is a piece of work I wasn't quite expecting..... The opening track 'Geordie Trawler Man' could most definitely be described as 'Folk' - almost of the traditional Northumbrian kind as Gifford tells us a tale drawing upon personal family history. I've listened repeatedly to the album - sometimes I've listened rather intently, other times just as 'background music' and have found myself mentally making a lot of notes. By the third track, I had sensed there was a 'tiredness' to Steve's voice, a 'world-weariness' if you like, and there is certainly a 'bluesiness' BUT that is not a criticism - more a testament to the exceptional writing skills.... as, knowing Steve personally, I know that tiredness and world weariness are two things he appears to be incapable of suffering from - the man has a contagious energy, vibrancy and joie de vivre and I can only conclude that yet again his life observations have been expertly captured in his music. Giving depth, mood and (if possible) even more colour to the album is the exquisite Cello accompaniment of the fabulous Hilary Fielding..... WOW! An inspired choice! Beaudesert has now been inserted onto the playlist and is not likely to be taken off.......until album #6
Dave Holmes
September 2014
'Can't afford me' - the new single from Kaz Hawkins
Right then... Let's get one thing clear, Kaz Hawkins has to be, in my honest opinion, one of the finest female blues singers I have ever heard anywhere, and quite understandably I was rather excited when she sent me a copy of her new single 'Can't afford me' which was released on May 1st
Yeah, nice title Kaz, although I would have called it 'Can't afford me - 'cos I am priceless!'... (and that would be an understatement)
Stop right there!...I bet I can guess what some of you are thinking..."oh no, another depressing blues number about how "I woke up this morning and my baby had gone, so I took to drinking liquor, lost my job, gonna get me a gun... yada yada"... Well that couldn't be any further from the truth!
What we have here is a very upbeat blues/boogie that will literally take your breath away.
Talk about value for money! There's no dithering intro here or seemingly endless fade out...From the moment you hit <play> you are smacked with a sound that will grab you by the scruff of the neck, give you a severe (but pleasant) thrashing, then drop you in a breathless heap and reaching for the play button in order to get your next 'fix'
Kaz Hawkins' voice is truly staggering. It has power and it has volume - vast amounts of both! But most importantly, it has soul
Imagine, if you can, the voice of Alison Moyet, blended with that of Beth Hart and you might possibly begin to come somewhere close to understanding what I mean.
But not only are we treated to the aural delights of Kaz Hawkins,. Accompanying her are her band... one of the most outstanding, the tightest and dynamic bands to be heard in a long time. But I won't be guilty of saying that the band 'back Kaz up' because what we get with Kaz Hawkins and her band is a collective of finely tuned musicians working as one living organism... and resistance is futile! So can we have some more please Kaz? Lots more - and soon
Dave Holmes
May 2014
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Kaz Hawkins
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Leanne Dixon
'Slide away, Sail away' is the new EP from 20yr old Ireland-based songstress Leanne Dixon, and is due to be released on May 15th
Comprising of 6 original songs, all penned by Stew Dixon, this EP has grown on me and has been placed onto my personal playlist of music that isn't 'hard work' to listen to. That's a key element here... a collection of songs that are so sweet and pleasant to the ear that you are not required to 'listen' to them, but simply 'hear' them - and enjoy!
If I was asked to place 'Slide away, Sail away into any particular genre, I would be hard pressed to do so and will leave it to the reader to decide how one categorizes what I can only describe as 'an acoustic contemporary folk/country fusion'.
I was first struck by the crispness, range, power and clarity of Leanne's voice which, from the outset, I found myself likening to several other of my favourite female vocalists. And - at the risk of sounding like I'm tasting a fine wine - I was getting elements of Jo Long, Eva Cassidy and The Bradley Sisters...... No finer compliment needed!
The first track 'Skip a Beat' is so aptly titled. I defy anyone to try listening without involuntarily either tapping their feet, bopping their head or clapping along to the highly infectious beat..... Or maybe doing all at once!
'Sweetest Refrain', the single from the EP offers a complete change of pace and is the track in particular from which I hear undertones of Eva Cassidy. Lilting melodies with fine lyrics and great piano accompaniment make this a beautiful love song... The only 'down side' in my own opinion is that this track is much too short and I found myself wanting more.
The third offering 'Tired Eyes' came as a pleasant surprise and shows the power and versatility of Leanne's voice. Lyrics that appear to be plucked from the everyday language of a 21st century love story set to music that almost verges on 'gospel'
'Fortune and Fame' is a rollicking, swinging country(ish) number. Now, I personally have never much cared for country or country(ish) music.....until now.
'The Shoebox' is another love song, again with a country feel, and like all country songs, tells a story....
'Slide away, Sail away' is the last )but certainly not the least) track on the EP and again I find myself making (complimentary) comparisons to other artists, (this time the lovely Jo Long.)
Yet another (albeit more 'up-beat) love song which shows off some terrific writing by Stew Dixon, combined with belting vocals by Leanne and accompanied by the usual crystal clear guitar and super rhythms that are evident throughout.
Dave Holmes
April 2014
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Rob Berry
I have got my hands on the (eagerly awaited) latest album by someone who I consider to be one of the finest bluesmen around - and what's more I can quite proudly say that he is a friend of mine. 'Cuttin Stone' is the 6th album from Rob Berry, and here I am listening to it, saying "surely it can't get any better than this?"..... But of course I have said that about each and every one of his albums
As listeners of 'Big Boots and Celtic Roots' and the growing army of Rob Berry fans will already know, this is a virtuoso blues guitarist, inimitable singer/songwriter, masterful recording engineer and...............(the list goes on) and I have had the enviable pleasure of seeing Rob play live gigs on dozens of occasions, and trust me the man does NOT drop a note. Live or on CD his playing is superb!
Another of my favourite musicians is the keyboard maestro Ray Drury, and he has joined Rob on Cuttin Stone to add his own spice to the mix - what more could I ask for?
This album will have you spellbound and crying out for more, it is a masterclass in blues writing and performing, as Rob takes you on a musical journey of many routes. Along the way you'll encounter gentle soothing melodies one minute, and the next his Stratocaster will be grabbing you by the hair that will be standing on the back of your neck, shaking you vigorously and then (paraphrasing Jim Steinman) will be screaming at you with the VOICE OF A HORNY ANGEL!
This album is made up of mostly original Rob Berry penned tracks, each one an absolute belter, but included are two tracks that I refuse to label as 'covers' because as far as I'm concerned, the man doesn't do covers. What he does (quite superbly) is take a damned good tune and 'makes it his own' - that's the only way I can describe it. The tracks in question? Bonnie Raitt's 'I Cant Make You Love Me' and Gary Moore's 'Still Got the Blues'
But hey! What do I know? Find out for yourselves and go get a copy of Cuttin Stone, but rest assured you'll be hearing a lot of this in the coming shows.
Thank you so much for this latest offering Rob, It is now on 'repeat play' and I've bust the switch off...........
Dave Holmes
Feb 2014
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Mudcats Blues Trio
Click on this picture to visit the Rob Berry shop
So here I was pondering over what sounds I wanted pumping through my headphones.. A bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan? maybe some Bloodline (can't beat a bit of Joe Bonamassa) How about some Jeff Jolly Band or Rob Berry? hmmm.... how about some Buddy Guy?....NO!.. hold it right there, 'cos I have just become the proud owner of an album that has settled the argument.....'Mudcats Blues Trio' are now on repeat play and it's staying that way! It's only once in a blue moon that I can claim to be 'totally blown away' by a band, and it seems that today the moon has a definite shade of blue about it! This is some mighty fine original rockin' blues which has most certainly got me putting this band on a par with the aforementioned Bloodline - one of my favourite bands who, up until now, I didn't think could be equalled...........how wrong was I??? Here's the band's biog, have a read, and then get yourself some Mudcats.
Dave Holmes
July 2014
'Over the last three years Mudcats Blues Trio have quickly risen to become one of the UK’s most incendiary and exciting blues outfits; they place an emphasis on authenticity and passion in both performance and output. Drawing their inspiration from the great blues legends (and some not so legendary) their aim is to keep the form alive in the 21st century.
Notable appearances include the main stage at The Colne Festival (Britain’s largest blues festival) in 2012 and headlining the ‘Blues Stage’ at Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival three years running; with a fourth booked for this year.
The band completed an acclaimed 10 day European tour in April, taking in Belgium,The Netherlands and Germany, including a headline slot at the Delerium Blues Festival in Belgium on the 19th of April.
Their new, self-titled LP was released in the UK on the 10th of May in physical format with a launch night at the Riverside in Sheffield; followed by worldwide online distribution shortly after.
The album was self produced at their spiritual home, Tesla Studios in Sheffield and features 12 original tracks. As always, the album artwork was designed by famed Sheffield artist Martin F. Bedford.
The trio’s two previous LPs ‘The Tesla Recordings’ and ‘Burn Down The City’ are available to stream and purchase via all major online services (iTunes, Spotify, etc)'
https://myspace.com/mudcatsbluestrio
Mudcats Blues Trio are:-
Chris Wragg - Lead Guitar
Matt Doxey Drums & Lead Vocals
Jon Reed – Bass Guitar
Click on any picture to listen to Mudcats Blues Trio
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Adrian Nation
OMG!..... OMG!..... OMG!.............
How fantastic is this?... A package arrived this morning containing something that is so beautiful and a perfect example of master craftsmanship, that it totally knocked me off my one good foot and has stopped me from getting any work done today.
This fabulous CD... 'Adrian Nation - Live at Crossroads' is certainly not what I was expecting it to be, it's a helluva lot more but needs just one word of description. It is, quite simply.......... STUNNING!...
Thank you so much Adrian!
The album was recorded at the end of Adrian's 14 day tour of the Netherlands in October 2013 during a performance at The Crossroads Sessions at the Vestzaktheater in Bergen Op Zoom. Adrian gives us his own thoughts in the album sleeve notes:
Dave Holmes
July 2014
"Capturing sound is a special task but capturing a feeling is even more difficult. However, when I heard the recordings of that show a week or two afterward, I didn't just hear them, I felt them.. I don't pretend to know how that works and i'm not sure I want to but I hope when you listen you will also feel, as well as hear,the energy that somehow only songs can discharge amongst gathered humans."
Quite right Adrian..... can't add anything to that really. In fact, I can't really write a review that would (or could) say anything different to the reviews of some of my contemporaries. Here's what people are saying:
“Tackling a song by a guitar legend (Richard Thompson) is brave but Nation delivers in style” ( Scottish Daily Express)
“an exceptional concert performance”…..”there was clearly some sort of alignment of stars – everything in the right place at the right time.” (Fatea- Mike Ainscoe)
“a prodigiously talented fingerpicking guitarist”……(R2 Magazine)
“a superior fingerstyle troubadour”……”mesmerising chops.” (Guitar and Bass Magazine)
“the amount of different sounds he gets from the guitar is amazing and hard to believe there is only one man on stage”…..”a truly charismatic artist, a soulful vocalist, exquisite guitarist and his lyrics are full of depth and emotion.”……..”an emotion packed stunning live album.” (Rock Society Magazine)
“wonderfully evocative acoustic guitar” (Blues Matters)
“Live at Crossroads ….. gives hope to a world out of sync with its self”……..”what comes across throughout each song is a man in harmony, not just with his music but also with the audience; he is allowing them to breathe and for a brief while think rather than react, contemplate rather than counter.”……..”a remarkably captured live performance from a master of the craft.” (Liverpool Sound and Vision)
Click on a picture to visit Adrian's website
