Rob Glassman Band’s latest effort Feelin’ Good Feelin’ Right combines old school numerous styles with the freedom of jam bands’ flowing energy. It cannot be under estimated the tremendous sense of motion Glassman’s songs travel with, and they do travel. Each track makes the listener feel the music is taking him some place special .
Opening cut “NYC Sound” travels in the mellow lane, sweet horn lines, frothy blues organ, gospel like backing vocals, and the groove, all moving smoothly. The silky travel sensation paves the way for Glassman’s mellifluous lead vocal. Part hippie warmth, part wise inflection, a man with something to say. This dandy combines jam band flow with old R&B influences, grooving on two levels at once.
“That’s What It’s All About” grooves in like an oldies R&B tune. Yet, it eventually, through an ever widening groove, expands into a large, thematic chant. Singers keep chiming in with a positive message as jazzy horns dart in and out, a bright keyboard keeps bopping, and a lead guitarist presses out sweet lines with nimble aplomb. Once layered, all of these instrumental and vocal tendencies become one cozy woven blanket of joy.
“In The City” is one of those chirpy, upbeat songs you like to hear on a bright, sunny day. Brittle lead guitar phrasing injects several nuggets, notes that perk to the groove. It’s a twisty phrase, giving the other player something cool to play around, like a playful organ that swells around it. Hip vocals spell out the glorious urban lifestyle and the song’s motions mirror a sense of city energy.
“Got To Try A Little Harder” continues the album’s momentum with many of the previous song’s fine qualities. This time around, “Harder” receives more of an action packed feeling. Its lead guitar uncoils a lot, at once, making a sweet curlicue in each meter. It’s a more biting lead guitar, spearheading this song into a sharper sound beneath its hip lead vocal as well as the svelte chorus that swells up to jive around it.
Taking things down tempo, “Time Has Changed” is a slow burner. Rob Glassman Band achieves a glorious ending, his voice a gentle, quiet presence here. His smooth flowing voice takes us into mellow areas, a pretty electric guitar line, a classy saxophone, and a wide, all encompassing organ. Even when things speed up, all instruments play with that smooth feel, the silky motions, instruments moving around each other symmetrically rather than just all moving at one will. This one stretches the talents of Glassman and company into an easy going and contemplative mood.
“Covid Blues” finds the Glassman band segue into another genre, somewhat. As a bouncy organ rides its chord progression, a jumpy electric guitar grinds out a meaner sound, pressed, trying to express a feeling like only blues music can. An amicable lead vocal gives this bluesy number a conversational feeling, and that’s a plus. The attitude fits right into all of the inviting guitar, organ, and rhythm work.
The freewheeling “I’m Winning” features a loose, wide lead guitar line that invites all into this song. Carrying throughout with its flight of fancy melody, that guitar gives Glassman a smooth path to send his voice out over. It also leads all of the other instruments with its pull. Glassman’s chorus vocal draws us in more its easy drawl. This is certainly good music for cruising down the highway.
The most rockin’ track on the album has got to be “Just Say To Yourself.” Its urgency, busy electric guitars, and raspy lead vocal come together in one thick piece of adventure. While the lead guitar pierces its way forward, a rockin rhythm section barrels through the sonic landscape. This is a successful blend of jam band flow with the aggression of rock. The guitars hint at a greater adventure over the horizon, a sense of abandoning the present moment in favor of a party.
Rippling country flavored lead guitar leads the Rob Glassman Band into a jam band honky tonk band combo for “Somewhere In Colorado.” Glassman’s mellow voice spreads well over this motion filled number. His down to earth, every man timbre also finds a good home among the chirpy country guitar work, guitars that blend in well with an assertive rhythm section and a soulful organ. Again, blending different genres into their jam band energy and flow is one of this band’s most important strengths.
“The Future Better Be Bright” feels a bit like 1960s psychedelic pop. Its sweet airy lead guitar reminds so much of all those radio hits from that era. A grooving organ lays out its time period chords as well. From there, Glassman need only to scatter his words, via his smooth streetwise croon, over the beautiful whistle that is that lead guitar and that bursting soul organ.
“Ease Your Mind” eases into the listener’s consciousness with a Grateful Dead-like swoop, landing its mellow wheels on the tarmac of a music fan’s mind. Glassman’s earthy, smooth vocal pulls one in with ts humble presence, nothing bombastic or showy, just flowing with the mellow vibe. The tune develops a strong feeling of travel, a flinty keyboard line creates motion and a pretty lead guitar spirals forth, like its saying to the rest of the band to follow it. The strong point among a few is that this number turns its vibe into a strong presence.
Closing out with title track “Feelin’ Good, Feelin’ Happy,” Rob Glassman Band ride off into the sunset on the strength of beautiful wafting horn lines, flowing blues organ, and the trademark Glassman vocal drawl. Like the rest of the album, this song uses a jam band flowing energy to carry the listener along, right until this sweet, joyful ending.
Rob Glassman Band achieve true artistic goals on this Feelin’ Good Feelin’ Right album. By melding blues influences, honky tonk flourishes, and some old school R&B into their larger jam band foundation, they create an actual variety of songs that travel like a magic carpet ride. Recorded by Vic Steffens at his Horizon Music Group studio in Connecticut, Feelin’ Good Feelin’ Right plays with a sonic clarity that lets the listener appreciate the jam band flow and vibe.
