Alan Arena ‘s latest blues album Fortune Wheel finds him applying his fine character voice to a variety of blues approaches in his 13 track album. With 15 exciting guest musicians helping Cape Cod-based Arena flesh out his musical vision, this disc cannot help but be a strong offering.
Opening track “Back To The Crossroads” is a nod to Robert Johnson and the early blues genre in general. Arena also makes it about Memphis soul and Detroit R&B with a female chorus that emphasizes the flow of those songs. The girls belt out their chorus as guest guitarist Brad “The Future” Faucher whips out plenty of guitar riffs. The call and response chorus works well as does every player that keeps this in motion.
A country blues influenced number, “Flower Girl,” lets Arena show what he can do with a roots flair in his vocal. He lets this one pour out of him with sincerity as his tangy lead guitar plumbs the emotive well beneath his vocal. Steve Sadler’s lap steel makes a comely appearance, adding a third layer of emotion to this dandy.
Title track “Fortune Wheel” features trumpet man Scott Aruda serving up a fat greasy horn line that makes the aural equivalent of a meatloaf sliding around in hot, thick gravy. Serving up extra soul is organist Jim Gambino laying out his own tasty side of swirl. Arena somehow, among this greatness, remains the focal point. His handsome, husky vocal and strong musical personality, molds the ingredients into the dish he prefers.
Amicable uptempo “Rise And Shine” moves with a seasoned groove. Over that thumping vibe Arena spreads out his hefty timbre, coolly, keeping his hip delivery in just the right spaces. Bits of Steve Mayone’s electric guitar phrase, a swirling organ, and a deeply felt girl chorus maintain a spiritually exuberance.
Arena swaggers through “ABCs Of Love” with deep jive cat “Rockin’ George Leh echoing his vocal as
the band pumps out an infectious groove, brittle lead guitar, and a rich “Sax” Gordon Beadle line. Everyone in this band puts a lot of feeling into this crowd pleasing lesson plan.
“Walk With Me In The Light” is a song that needs to be felt as well as heard. Harmonica player Cheryl Arena(no relation) plays a rambling, rustic line, conjuring a home on the range vibe. Steve Sadler’s tumbleweed of banjo notes is another earthy flavoring here. Meanwhile, Gambino’s organ keeps this in a more modern blues frame. With this solid backdrop, Arena moves his deep rasp slowly and surely through this down tempo blues weeper, carrying us along with him..
“Big Memphis Train” is chugging up tempo blues. Its speedy groove, whistling harmonica line, rushing sax, and flowing organ capture the sense of that big, moving machine that powered the popular early 20th mode of traveling the land. Everything going on in this song, especially Arena’s large, swaggering vocal captures the fun of the old locomotive rides.
Feeling more like classic rock than blues, “Coffee At Joe’s” travels mid tempo, coolly, reminding of Dire Straits’ “Sultans Of Swing. There is something special in Arena’s voice, his timbre truly expresses what he is feeling about this song and his brisk, nimble guitar work is full of spark, making the listener take note of every little one of those brittle, greasy bits of electric spasm.
Moving into a Chicago blues style, “Little Lies” takes advantage of sweet piano, jazzy, rich sax, and a deep rocking chair groove. Arena’s raw rasp playfully sings the lyrics of a woman who is no picnic, a challenging woman that can only be brought to life by several instrumentalists keeping this number busy and hopping, indicating how much of a handful she is.
“It’s All True” is a breezy blues number, complete with a colorful seesawing harmonica line that entices the ear all the way through. Arena’s character voice delivers the goods as he sings warmly of his love. With plenty of high flying descriptions of his ecstatic love, this song entertains wile providing motivation for the feet with its chugging groove.
Getting mellower on “I’ve Got A Plan,” Sadler’s pedal steel and banjo flavor things up. While that easeful melody line and that flinty banjo play in the backdrop, Arena casually unfurls his personal vocal magic, coming across like he’s having a personal chat with you, fitting perfectly into the vibe set by the acoustic instruments as well as his sensitive rhythm section.
The official close out track, “Alan Saves The World,” lets Arena get a lot of things off his chest. The song concerns contemporary issues. Steve Sadler’s pretty Statocaster guitar line, supported by Gambino’s organ swirls, cuts across the soundscape with another layer of emotive expression. Drummer Andy Plaisted and bass player Paul Kochanski keep this awareness song as well anchored as every song that played previously. Bonus track “True To The Blues” benefits greatly from co-lead vocalist “Rockin” George Leh. The singers rock it. Horns blare. The organ swirls. The guitar struts. It’s a sweet juicy blues thumper for the album to close out with.
Alan Arena and his gang have turned a bulbous assortment of blues styles and motifs into a winsome album.. Arena wasn’t exactly flying solo here. He got some help from musicians Allyssa Jones, Brad “The Future” Faucher, Jumpin’ George Gordon, Stephen Clements, Steve Mayone, and Jonas Kahn. Produced by Jonathan Taft & Rob Ignazio at New Alliance Studio in Somerville, Massachusetts and at Rear Window Studio in Brookline, Massachusetts, Fortune Wheel is loaded with in your face blues songs. This disc will likely be spinning inside of many local blues fans CD players this year.
This success is also a sign that good things come to those who do good. Most of us in the New England blues community are aware that Mr. Arena became a caregiver to his best friend Lizbeth Clinton Granfield when she was stricken with Huntington’s Disease. He also maintains a home suited to Lizbeth’s needs. There is a page available for anyone who would like to contribute to her care.
