THE MANNISH BOYS "SHAKE FOR ME" Source: Epinions.com Date: 04/2010 Writer: Mike Holmes

FIVE STARS

Although I write mostly about jazz on this site and have a jazz radio show, I also love the blues. In actual fact there are huge similarities between blues and jazz. They came from the same roots. Some of the best jazz artists such as Count Basie and even Duke Ellington used the blues as a solid base for their jazz recordings.

The Mannish Boys is a group dedicated to keeping the blues in the public eye. Founded in 2004, the group is not like many "bands" because they rarely feature the same musicians on their albums. In fact, the band is very much an "all-star" blues group although there are a few "regulars." Among those veterans are guitarists Kirk Fletcher and Frank Goldwasser. Three vocalists have also been featured with the band: Finis Tasby, Bobby Jones and Johnny Dyer. All of those gentleman are on this CD which is the fifth "Mannish Boys" album.

Also appearing on the album are: Nick Curran, guitar; Fred Kaplan, piano; Willie J. Campbell, bass; Jimi Bott, drums; Woody Woodford, sax; Lee Thornburg, trumpet and trombone; Mike Zito, vocal and guitar; Rob Rio, piano; Randy Chortkoff, harmonica; Rod Piazza, harmonica.

The song selection is fairly eclectic for a blues album. The Wall Street Journal says the band is "an infectious revival of both 40's jump and 50's and 60's Chess-like styles. That covers a lot of blues territory.

The CD opens with "TOO TIRED" by Maxwell Davis, Sam Ling and John Watson. This is more of a "jump" blues that morphed easily into the Louis Jordan jazz/blues of the 40's. Tasby is the lead vocalist and he's accompanied by the fine guitar playing of Curran and the horn playing of Woodford and Thornburg. The lyrics are quite simple and keep repeating that Tasby is "too tired" but the guitar solo is great and reminds me a little of B.B. King. Energetic opening.

Next up is a medley of "MONA/WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE" by Ellas McDaniel and Johnny Otis. This song may be the strangest music on the album because I keep thinking of the rock version of the song and this is not that different. Bobby Jones is the lead vocalist and he has a deep, "B.B. KIng" voice. The guitar work is strong with a low register at first and then a King-like second guitar solo. The rhythm remains the same whether the group is performing "Mona" or "Hand Jive".

"RECONSIDER BABY" by Lowell Fulson is a real funky downhome blues that features Godwasser's fine lead guitar. Tasby is the lead vocalist on the song which has him asking his "long term gal" to reconsider her decision about leaving him. Really when I think of blues, this slower tempo is what I'm used to. Great for dancing.

Randy Chorthoff wrote the next song, "EDUCATED WAYS" although he doesn't play it here. This is another funky blues which includes Glodwasser on a slide guitar, Kaplan on piano and Jones on the vocal. The song refers to the "educating ways" of a lover who is mature beyond her tender years. This is a song that could fit into the blues, R & B or even Rock genres.

I really like "HALF AIN'T BEEN TOLD" which features great piano from Rob Rio and Bobby Jones' vocal. This one reaches back to a "boogie-woogie" piano style and is full of the laments of the singer who has been "treated like a dog." Blues lyrics as sung here are not complicated but they tell a soulful tale. Rio really shines on his piano solo and accompaniment.

"NUMBER NINE TRAIN" by Morgan Robinson features Glodwasser on guitar and vocals with jimi Bott on drums. Even though there are only the two of them, the song has a strong energy and again reminds me a little of King's playing.

"LAST NIGHT" by Walter Jacobs features some fine harmonica playing by Rod Piazza. Sung by Tasby, the song concerns losing "the best friend" the singer "ever had." A true blues tale which is played at a slow tempo with great support from Goldwasser and Fletcher on guitars, the song is the very definition of the blues.

What is amazing about this album is that there are 16 excellent selections. That's more music than is usually put on one album but what is more important is that the music is top quality blues. One of the co-founders of the group, Randy Chortkoff, points out that the creation and continuation of this band is part of "a thrilling concept of putting together a group of musicians who have traveled their own paths, played with the greats of the past and become legends in their own rights." Even though the combination of such "All-star" groups is a little unusual, the music stays true to the feeling and concept of the blues.

The variety of blues heard on this CD show how different the music can be and still remain "blues". It also ends up being a very entertaining way to hear the musical roots of the this great genre.