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MIKE ZITO "PEARL RIVER"
Source: Blue Suede News
Date: 01/2010
Writer: Marc Bristol |
Zito is a Blues/Rock style artist, a sort we don’t often review anymore since we’re more interested in vintage pre-Rock styles and grooves here. But there is one track on this CD I liked so much I wanted to mention it. It’s not that I dislike the rest – this label is a subsidiary of Delta Groove, and everything they release is extremely well produced – which doesn’t include only the sound of the CD, but also the material chosen to record, sequencing - everything. Mike actually explores several different grooves within that Blues/Rock genre, and he has slow tunes, funky tunes – I especially like the funky “Big Mouth.” Sonny Boy’s “Eyesight To The Blind” features producer Randy Chortkoff on harmonica, and a great New Orleans second line groove! Anders Osborne’s acoustic “One Step At A Time” is the track I like a whole lot, even though it’s probably more in the Americana vein than Blues. Osborne sings it as a duet with Zito. That track is a hit, as far as I am concerned! But it is kinda different from most of the rest. I do like the funkier tunes better than the plodding Rock beat things. Hey, Susan Cowsill is duetting with Mike on “Shoes Blues,” which is one of those funkier tunes! Johnny Sansone also contributes accordion on “Dead Of Night,” so all in all there’s a lot to like on this CD, even for guys like me who are burned out on Blues/Rock. Lynwood Slim – another favorite, also plays harmonica on a track (George Smith’s “All Last Night”), and Cyril Neville sings on the title song, which he co-wrote with Zito, and Reese Wynans is on keyboards throughout. In fact most of the songs are Zito’s, except Mel London’s “Sugar Sweet” and those already noted. While the jumping off point was the Anders Osborne song, on repeated listening I’ve found plenty to enjoy on Pearl River. The last tune “C’mon Baby” is another with acoustic guitar, but it does have the full band and Rock groove. |
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