ROD PIAZZA & MFBQ "THRILLVILLE" Source: Elmore Magazine Date: 10/2007 Writer: Dan Guiltoyle

Rod Piazza continues to explore the limits of the blues on his new CD, “ThrillVille”, with a new name for this group. Formerly called the Mighty Flyers, Piazza added new drummer Dave Kida to blend with guitarist Henry Carvajal and his wife Honey, who handles piano and thunder bass, to form the Might Flyers Blues Quartet. 

Rod wrote two of the fourteen songs and collaborated with his wife Honey on four more.  Henry Carvajal penned one, and the band covers blues greats Wilie Dixon (“I Don’t Play”) and Elmore James (“Stranger Blues”).  Rod includes a couple of songs from harmonica legend “Little” Walter Jacobs (“Sad Hours” and “I Hate To See You Go”) and Slim Harop;s “Shake Your Hips.” Rod’s work on Junior Wells “Hodoo Man Blues” is an album highlight.

Rod, winner of a W.C. Handy Award for instrumentalist, plays the harp as well as any of his contemporaries and you can tell that the had is having fun.  His Mighty Flyers won the Blues Music Award for Band of the Year in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006, and the nominations will continue for this new aggregation.

Supported by Dave’s drive on  drums and guitarist Henry’s Fender Strat, Rod and Honey blaze along with his harp and her boogiewoogie piano and thunder bass providing their exciting sound.  Sax players Johnny Viau and Allen Ortis play on four cuts, including the James Brown-styled “MFBQ” (Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet), which is a little funkier than normal for the group, but an interesting addition to the CD.