ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS BLUES QUARTET "SOUL MONSTER"

Without a doubt, it’s a gamble and an immense challenge, this creation of a new body of musical works, whether original or covering an old favorite. The final performances need to work together to become one musical story, finding a cohesiveness to be considered worthwhile at the least, and great at the best. This being said, and considering that this is my 24th album (cd), there’s always a part of me wondering if I can do it one more time. Over the last 44 years of playing music, I have always tried to produce something I could believe in as a valuable piece of the music I call Blues.

Will I be able to find some original and reflective inspiration that enables me to collectively bring myself, the musicians of the group, and the material together in a melding of soul, talent, and art? In three words… IT’S ALL HERE.

From the aggressive George Smith instrumental, Sunbird, which I produced in 1983 for Murray Brothers Records, to the deep blues recital of “Tell Me About It Sam,” to the Jimmy Forrest jazz influenced Mrs. Jones (Jimmy played on one of my earliest records), this cd touches on the many sides of this music that I love so much. Standing on their own merit, and showing the full scope of the group, the ten remaining songs on the cd give the listener a full blues experience. No filler here.

Interplay, spontaneity, and classic chops are what have kept the Mighty Flyers soaring above. And it is present here. Henry Carvajal’s soulful vocal on the great R&B classic “Talk To Me” is and always will be a crowd pleaser to all. The second line groove of Dave Kida’s drums on the original Cheap Wine is a good time party waiting to be heard and impossible to shake loose. Honey’s piano throughout the cd is, as always, the fundamental blues glue which sticks the band’s sound to the roots it has always been based on.

I’ve played a lot of harp over the past 24 CD’s, and I believe that this one contains some of my strongest yet.

Rod Piazza