ROD PIAZZA "FOR THE CHOSEN WHO" Source: Blues News Date: 11/21/2005 Writer: Mike Garner

So any new album from Rod and the Mighty Flyers is going to be worth a listen. This release finds Rod teamed with a new producer and a new record company, whose aim is to provide some marketing impetus for this fine, west coast blues. One especially welcome innovation is the inclusion of a bonus DVD, of the making of the album, with some full length music tracks, too. How long will it be, I wonder before the DVD is the norm, rather than the audio-only CD. The bonus DVD is very enjoyable in its own right.

For this selection, Rod has reached back into a bag that includes two by Jimmy Rogers, one by Jimmy Reed, a John Lee Williamson (Sonny Boy the first) and a Little Walter. These are classics of Chicago blues - including the older style, acoustic harp work on the John Lee cut, and Rod has all these styles nailed down, while still imbuing them with a smatter of his own flavour. There's some help on the guitar front, not only from band member, Henry Carvajal but from guests Phil Guy and Kid Ramos.

Ike Turner's "She Made My Blood Run Cold" is one of several cuts with backing vocals that inject variety into the album - this cut is a favourite and Carvajal's guitar work carries it well, and Rod jamming with him on the outro of this cut. Honey Piazza contributes to all the album, of course, and has a featured piano cut, "Honey's Blues" - you wouldn't buy the album if she didn't get a chance to show off her piano chops! This cut is a slow blues and the rest of the band get a chance to step up, too, Phil Guy and of course Rod himself, getting a fat sound from the chromatic. All masterful stuff.

The final track, "Blues Player", takes us out with Rod's self penned study of what it's like to be a blues player, what it's all about for him. But it's not too self conscious, it's a well played blues.

A good outing from Rod Piazza on this new label.