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ROD
PIAZZA "FOR THE CHOSEN WHO" (CD/DVD)
Source: Big City Blues &
Rhythm Magazine
Date: 08/2005
Writer: Gary Von Tersch |
FIVE
HATS!!!!!
When you’re hot, you’re hot. It seems that
lately I’ve been reviewing a great album by vocalist,
burr-toned harp player and band-leader Rod Piazza every
other month or so. With this project, his debut outing
for the new North Hollywood-based Delta Groove label,
he not only proffers a dozen blues in his unique, refined-over-the-years
style—a ringing blend of Chicago grit and suave
West Coast swing (as exemplified by Piazza’s harp
mentor George “Harmonica” Smith) with the
rhythmic verve and flash of the best early R&B and
rock ‘n’ roll—but includes a lengthy
behind-the-scenes bonus DVD.
In
addition to his Mighty Flyers band, with wife Honey
on keyboards, guitarist Henry Carvajal, Bill Stuve
on bass (acoustic and electric) and drummer Paul Fasulo,
the 58 year-old Piazza explores the funky side of
things with special guest shots from the likes of
Finis Tasby, Kid Ramos, Phil Guy (great lead guitar
on the ardent “Description Of A Fool”
and the slow boogie instrumental “Honey’s
Blues”), James Gadsen and vocalist Johnny Dyer,
who duets with Piazza on a tough version of Little
Walter’s playful “Got To Find My Baby.”
Other
ear-catching covers include a hopped-up, backup trio-accented
revival of Jimmy Reed’s early hit “I’m
A Love You,” a loping redo of Ike Turner’s
dramatic “She Made My Blood Run Cold,”
a scalding take on the original Sonny Boy Williamson’s
juke-box smash “Ground Hog Blues” (with
great buzzing piano by Ms. Honey) and a pair by Chicago
veteran Jimmy Rogers. Also noted are the soulful,
compelling Piazza original “Blues Player,”
an emotional “Call Me Dangerous” (composed
by label owner Randy Chortkoff) and the jump blues
instrumental “Shoestring,” written by
one Wilbert Prysock, that smoke from start to finish.
The
DVD has lots of informal studio/session shots, incisive
catch-as-catch-can interview segments with all the
participants and plenty of music, all professionally
photographed (nice use of double and triple-screen
angles) including two full CD songs and a series of
session stills. The philosophical Piazza, who remains
at the top of his game, feels this is his best album
yet. It’s certainly up there as he reaches out
to both his long-time fans (remember the Dirty Blues
Band?) and the next generation of those to be chosen.
You know who you are. More at deltagrooveproductions.com. |
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