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A few numbers: 40 band alumnae, 35 years, 16 albums, 4 Grammy Award nominations, and 2 W.C.
Handy
Awards since the group was founded by keyboardist Al Copley and guitarist Duke Robillard.
Roomful of Blues’ resume includes Joe Turner, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Eddie “Cleanhead”
Vinson and was once called “the hottest blues band I’ve ever heard” after a gig supporting no less
an authority than Count Basie.
That’s Right! debuts a new Roomful band on a new label,
modern
blues bastion Alligator Records. The group has reincarnated as an octet led by guitarist Chris
Vachon with a new lead singer,
bassist, drummer, keyboard player, and saxophone player joining holdovers Vachon, trumpeter Bob
Enos and saxophonist Rich Lataille, That’s Right! revisits Roomful’s legacy as an institution
of
American roots music, specifically the joint-rockin’ sound of jump blues.
Just like the group personnel, this new album blends new and old material together into a mixed
bag of straight blues, jump blues, hard swing, and rock & roll. ROB bounces through lots of uptempo
material from T-Bone Walker (“I Know Your Wig Is Gone”), Little Milton (“I’m Tryin’”), and Elmore
James
(“Stranger Blues”), plus songs popularized by Turner (“Lipstick, Powder and Paint”) and Big
Maybelle (“Ocean of Tears”).
Close your eyes and crank it up, and you’ll swear you’re crammed in a hot and steamy club.
“Wig”
shakes, rattles and rolls true to the earthy yet gentlemanly spirit of Walker, one of the true founding
forefathers of blues. They downshift into slow-rolling blues just twice and each time Vachon’s guitar
ignites blazes, almost overpowering the entire ensemble, burning like Albert King on “How Long
Will
It Last?” and like Albert Collins on “I Just Got To Know.”
See From The Inside Out for related reviews.
~ Chris M. Slawecki
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Track Listing: 1. That's Right!
2. We Can't Make It
3. Shame, Shame, Shame
4. How Long Will It Last?
5. You're Driving Me Crazy
6. Ocean Of Tears
7. 2 Point 8
8. I Know Your Wig Is Gone
9. I'll Keep On Trying
10. Lipstick, Powder And Paint
11. I'm Tryin'
12. Tennessee Woman
13. I Just Got To Know
14. Stranger Blues
Personnel: Bob Enos - Trumpet,
Brad Hallen - Bass,
Rich Lataille - Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Mark Stevens - Piano, Hammond B3, Chris Vachon -
Guitar, Mark DuFresne - Harmonica, Vocals, Mark Earley - Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Jason
Corbiere - Percussion, Drums
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