Let Me Take You On A Sea Cruise, (04/17/08)

The most spectacular Blues event is the semiannual Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, which sails in January to the Eastern or Western Caribbean and in October to the Mexican Riviera. Cruisers onboard are entertained by approximately twenty of our most high profile bands and for seven nights they are in Blues heaven. Although concerts are planned late-night jams evolve into showcases all their own. The Tommy Castro Band regularly has hosted this late-night jam which evolved into a "land" tour known as The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue.

The Tommy Castro Band just might be the tightest live Blues band on tour today. Consisting of Tommy Castro (lead guitar and vocals), Keith Crossan (saxophone), Tom Poole (trumpet), Chris Sandoval (drums), and newest member Scot Sutherland (bass), they have honed their live performance to perfection. The unplanned jams enable the band to be a lot looser than normal and the shipboard jams are enjoyed by both the musicians and cruisers alike as a lot of new musical collaborations are born.

On this live disc from the land shows Ronnie Baker Brooks' guitar gives them a whole other sound and helps the band metamorphose into the Revue. Brooks becomes the leader and sings on his own two songs, "Can't You See" and "See You Hurt No More," and on Muddy Waters' "She's Nineteen Years Old." The addition of Deanna Bogart on piano adds a boogie Rock 'n' Roll mentality on her own "Still The Girl In The Band," on Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round In Circles," and on "Looking For A Love." Magic Dick brings yet another dimension with his signature harmonica on "Whammer Jammer," reprised from his days with the J. Geils Band, and on Willie Dixon's "Tell Me Mama." Tommy Castro takes charge again on "I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On" and on two of his own, "If I Had A Nickel" and "High On The Hog." Special guests on this session include Curtis Salgado, who plays harmonica and sings on Jimmy Rogers' "If It Ain't Me," and Marcia Ball closes the revue with "Sea Cruise."

This album is a success on many levels; as an advertisement, as a documentation and souvenir for those who were cruisers, and as a vehicle to promote the talents of its participants. For whatever reason you decide, this Command Performance will take you on a "Sea Cruise" unlike any other.