ROD PIAZZA & MFBQ "THRILLVILLE" Source: Blues Critic Date: 08/2007 Writer: n/a

**** 4 STARS! ****

Joe Cool is back with all killer no filler on this 14 track(!) set for the indomitable Delta Groove team. Now, for those of us who've seen Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers live we know that no studio record truly captures the "thrills" of one of their live gigs but "Thrillville" may be the closest they've come (even more so than their official live disc at B.B. King's in Memphis). White mostly originals, there's expert takes on Little Walter ("Hate To See You Go", "Sad Hours"), Willie Dixon ("I Don't Play") and Elmore James ("Stranger Blues"). Each sprayed with Piazza musk. Of course the new additions are the most welcome and along with the usual flawless instrumentals ("Westcoaster", "MFBQ", "Snap, Crackle & Hop"- no Honey Piazza piano boogie this time, sorry) the Rod/Honey co-writes  "Get Wise", "Honey Bee", "It Can't Be True" and "Stranded" rank with their best.

The Flyers still have that fat sound despite numerous personnel changes over the last decade. Of course Rod and his fast-fingered, blonde bombshell wife, Honey, remain the core. Guitarist Henry Carvajal is now in his third year and third album as a Flyer and he's every bit as good as the former and better known Rick 'L.A. Holmes' Holmstrom. He shines on his self-composed instrumental "The Civilian" and caught my ear with tart licks on "It Can't Be True". New member, drummer Dave Kida, is on target throughout. Bass is handled mostly by Honey. (though I'm too lazy to research what "thunder bass" means).

This makes exactly four decades (!) of recording for Rod Piazza since fronting the Dirty Blues Band in 1967 for the legendary Bluesway label. The Mighty Flyers were born when Piazza teamed with pianist Honey Alexander (now Piazza) in the late 70s, resulting in the very first Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers opus, "Radioactive Material" in 1981. 26 years later and they're flying high as ever.