ROD PIAZZA & MFBQ "THRILLVILLE" Source: Blues Wax Date: 10/2007 Writer: Richard Ludmerer

Rod Piazza is the west coast harmonica playing singer who fronts The Mighty Flyers. Along with his wife Honey they are four times Blues Music Award winners as Band of The Year; winning again this past May in Memphis. Now a quartet Honey Piazza doubles on piano and “thunder” bass. The band also includes Henry Carvajal, guitar and Dave Kida, drums. This is Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers 12th album and second for Delta Groove Productions.

The Band opens with a tribute to both Little Walter and Slim Harpo as they combine “Hate To See You Go” with “Shake Your Hips”. This medley provides a showcase for Rod Piazza as he teaches us about some of his influences. If you have ever seen Rod live it’s easy to visualize him twist and turn to lean into his solos. This track alone is worth the price of the album.

“Westcoaster” is a swingin’ original instrumental and we get to hear why Rod is considered one of the best harp players alive. “Sugar” is a light hearted romp. On “Hoodoo Man Blues”, the Junior Wells staple, Honey takes a nice piano solo. On “MFBQ” Rod has added a sax and it gives the song some extra rhythm. Sax players Johnny Viau and Allen Ortiz appear on five of the fourteen tracks. Additional highlights include “Honey Bee”, “I Don’t Play”, the instrumental “Snap, Crackle Hop”, and the Elmore James classic “Stranger Blues”. The later is given an especially nice treatment. Henry Carvajal contributes the instrumental “The Civilian” and the band experiments with the oldies styled “It Can’t Be True”. Rod closes the album with another Little Walter instrumental “Sad Hours”.

The album is nicely produced by Rod Piazza and Randy Chorthoff. Whether a quintet, or as a quartet, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers continue to make exciting music.