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THE
MANNISH BOYS "LIVE & IN DEMAND"
Source: Blue Suede News
Magazine
Date: ?
Writer: MB |
This
band describes themselves as a ”one band blues
festival”, and that seems entirely accurate. The
front lineup includes Finis Tasby, Kid Ramos, Johnny
Dyer, Leon Blue, Franck Goldwasser (also known as Paris
Slim), and label owner Randy Chortkoff. The rhythm section
of Tom Leavey and Richard Innes have both worked with
many greats of the West Coast scene. Because they’re
a one band blues festival, a 12 song CD (recorded live
at our own Winthrop Blues Festival up here in Washington)
doesn’t give any one member a lot of space to
shine, but of course you’d have to assume you’re
getting the cream of the crop. Actually, Dyer and Tasby
seem to be the primary frontmen, with the former getting
3 tunes and the latter 6. But the show opens with Ramos
playing an original guitar instrumental (“Kid’s
Jump”), and of course he’s featured on solos
throughout the show. Chortkoff M.Cs, plays harp, and
he sings “I’m Ready” at number 2,
before turning the mike over to pianist Leon Blue, who
sings “She Wants To Sell My Monkey”, with
the audience providing the answer parts. Since Dyer
also plays harp, he’s featured on it for one of
his tunes, and Randy on another – in fact the
group’s title song from Muddy Waters. The set
continues in that vein, mining the classic catalog for
the most part, from Muddy to Little Walter, to Tampa
Red, to Junior Parker, to Freddie King and like that.
I’m not sure if this was the group’s full
set at Winthrop, but I know they have an earlier CD
on this label, and that various members have or will
have their own individual titles on Delta Groove as
well. The audience clearly was enjoying the show, which
also features some fine slide by Paris Slim. This is
clearly both a group and a label to watch – they
are fast accumulating quite an impressive roster of
L.A. area blues talent, of course including our last
cover artist Rod Piazza. Tasby is introduced as the
leader, and it’s clear that he’s the most
powerful presence, though this truly is an all-star
band. Ramos and Innes are new to the group since the
first CD, and with a crew like that any singer is going
to sound great. If you start with a great singer, like
Tasby, you’re way, way ahead. The group, and this
CD, function as a bit of a label sampler, although Delta
Groove has more to offer than just these guys. We reviewed
Blues Festival, but ths CD puts you in the front row
for what must’ve been one of many great sets up
there. See the ad! |
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