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LYNWOOD
SLIM "LAST CALL"
Source: Elmore Magazine
Date: 10/2006
Writer: Tom Clarke
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Lynwood Slim is as mindful of musical
style as his stage name is witty and cool (Lynwood
is the L.A. suburb where he was born Richard Duran).
He’s a sought after singer and harp player
working a variety of retro blues styles and the
name of his game is genuine entertainment. Six
of the 25 or so albums he appears on are either
his own or his and guitar great Junior Watson’s,
and he’s backed on every one by the crème
de la crème of West Coast players. [it]
Last Call [it] is no different. Well, actually
it [it] is [it] a little bit different. This time
out the mode is a tad chic with a program that
mixes originals with selections from the songbooks
of such American icons as Bo Diddley, Clifton
Chenier, and Duke Ellington. Amazing how the works
of such disparate artists can hang together and
flow so easily. But when the players include guitarists
Kid Ramos and Kirk Fletcher, bassist Johnny Bazz,
and drummer Richard Innes, the session is all
but guaranteed to end up great. Individually,
these dangerous gentlemen boast resumes that include
stints in the legendary Hollywood Fats Band, the
James Harman Band, the Blasters, and the Fabulous
Thunderbirds. Bo’s “I’m Sorry”
is given a luxurious, swayin’-on-the-dance-floor,
1950’s-styled rock ‘n’ roll
treatment. The rockin’ take on Chenier’s
“Al Night Long” has a touch of hillbilly
running through it by way of Rich Delgrosso’s
serious mandolin. And as for Ellington, there’s
a clean pass through “Nothin’ but
the Blues”—in a minimal setting of
bass, sax, and percussion—that sounds perfectly
blue and muddy. Meanwhile, Slim’s own “You’re
a Pain” swings uptown, big-time. This is
one of the best blue-tinged records you’ll
hear all year. It’ll move you, and it’ll
make you a fan. |
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