MIKE ZITO Source: BVS Reviews Date: 06/2008 Writer: Bruce Von Stiers

A Great Rocking Blues Performer

Fans of the blues recently mourned the loss of an up and comer named Sean Costello. Not to replace him, but standing side by side with Costello’s music is another up and comer. His name is Mike Zito and he’s burning up the charts and grabbing a whole slew of fans.

Mike recently recorded a scorching new album. This album is Today and is being released on the Eclecto Groove Music label.

Mike grew up in St. Louis, which in a way is just down the road from Memphis, a definite blues hot spot. He gained critical acclaim for his first indie release, Blue Room about twelve years ago. Since then Mike has been honing his material and gaining a lot more praise.

Some of the influences that have been cited for the album include such varied sources as Van Halen, Prince BB King and even John Mayer.

The first song on the album has a touch of that John Mayer sound. The song is Love Like This and has a toe tapping beat and signature throaty vocals. This is a single that has been getting a lot of airplay.

Superman has a bluesy funk sound. I really liked the guitar on the song.

People helping out on the album are Hutch Hutchinson, Tony Braunagel, Benmont Tench, Teresa James, Ce Ce Bullard, Joe Sublett, Darrell Leonard and Mitch Kashmar. Bass player Hutch has performed with such greats as Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs and Randy Newman. Tony is a drummer who, besides playing with luminaries like Taj Mahal, has played on movies scores, television themes and a lot more. Keyboardist Benmont played on a hit Dixie Chicks song a couple of years ago. He provides nice work on the keys for Mike here. Having sung with the great Delbert McClinton, Teresa adds some special backing vocals on this album. Ce Ce is the other background vocalist. Joe is a Grammy winner who has worked with people like Taj Mahal. He cranks out some tough sax on the album. Another Grammy winner on the album is trumpet player Darrell. He, along with Joe Sublett, performs and record as the Texacali Horns. Having performed with Kim Wilson, Pee Wee Crayton and others, Mitch lends a special touch to the album on harmonica. And Mike plays a scorching guitar on the album along with his vocals.

Holding Out For Love is a tough bluesy piece. Cool piano and guitar, along with shivering backing vocals provide Mike a nice backdrop for great vocals on this song.

I can take or leave Prince’s music. One of his songs that gets covered a lot is Little Red Corvette. Mike gives a blues laden rendition of the song with really nice piano.

Cranking out a rocking blues tempo, I really liked the song Universe. Mike gives the listener an almost Claptonesque feel in Blinded.

Moving way down south, Mike cranks out some Delta blues with Slow It Down.

The title track, Today, has a touch of Crosby, Still, Nash and Young or perhaps a bit of Jimmy Buffett.

No Big City rocks out a bit with tough guitar and harsh vocals.

Funky blues guitar gives Deep Down In Love a special flavor.

Dirty Things is a moderately paced tune that might remind you a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughn although Hollywood might be an even better song to compare to Stevie Ray.

Mike ends the album with a sad and endearing song called Time To Go Home.

Bill Blankenship, a columnist for my local paper calls Mike “a blazing guitarist who possesses a warm and expressive vocal style .” I totally agree with Bill’s assessment of Mike. He has a distinct voice and the guitar playing is on par with some of the great blues guitarists. Some day Mike Zito might be as well known and loved as Stevie Ray Vaughn is.