CD Reviews

Jeff Przech provides warm, gritty, memorable tunes on Sounds Like Fresh CD

Jeff Przech provides warm, gritty, memorable tunes on Sounds Like Fresh CD

Jeff Przech’s latest CD Sounds Like Fresh is fine singer-songwriter faire with a country roots edge. Przech has one of those smooth, warm country vocals that makes the listener feel he’s having a personal conversation with him. Thoughtful reflective lyrics with considered selections of acoustic instruments, pedal steel, and percussion are all part of the charm on this CD. Each track, whether bright or dark, makes the listener feel Przech is taking him down a long country road where his stories unfold like the bucolic scenery.

Shor'ty Billups grows big on Young Woman "Ana" Old Man CD

Shor’ty Billups grows big on Young Woman “Ana” Old Man CD

Shor’ty Billups and his Foxxx Band have come up with a fantastic CD. Young Woman “Ana” Old Man is loaded with fine blues offerings and soul flavored numbers. Billups’ voice makes him sound like a thirty year old crooner even though this Bostonian is 80 plus. His songwriting is solid and he has selected some of the best standards in blues to croon over with his deep down feeling of cool. Billups is also a drummer, keeping the backbeat alluring and irresistible throughout this disc. Like many drummers from the old days, Billups is also a band leader, keeping a bus load of players on track, making sure he milks the talent out of each to get what he needs for each track.

Gay Barboza proves her worth with sophomore effort Work In Progress

Gay Barboza’s sophomore CD Work In Progress is a pared down offering of her beautiful voice, pretty melodies, and engaging chords. She carries her message well with this approach, as her voice is strikingly strong and rangy while her acoustic guitar work adds plenty of pluck to each of her original numbers.

Jim Libby Band take it higher on new CD, meshing hard country and rock and roll

Jim Libby Band take it higher on new CD, meshing hard country and rock and roll

Jim Libby’s latest CD simply titled Jim Libby Band is a step up from his last fine album three years ago. Here, his vocal work, his songwriting, and his crack country rock band reach the human heart on some tunes but also knock down doors on others. There is an earnestness and a heartiness that […]

Rick Lockwood dazzles with guitar work on Welcome To The Now CD

Rick Lockwood dazzles with guitar work on Welcome To The Now CD

Rick Lockwood’s latest CD Welcome To The Now is an eight track excursion through his musical imagination. Lockwood’s instrumental album features him playing several different styles on guitar and bass while offering a fine display of his musicianship. It certainly helps to have drummer Jim Beauchaine on deck to keep this music movable and moving.

Rosemary's Baby Blues Band make the classics come alive with On Time & Feelin' Fine CD

Rosemary’s Baby Blues Band make the classics come alive with On Time & Feelin’ Fine CD

Rosemary’s Baby Blues’ debut album On Time & Feelin’ Fine is a journey through some of the greasiest, down and dirty, and most fun blues songs to ever grace a band’s party set. All of these fun tunes are played by some of Boston’s finest blues musicians. Aside from the band’s name sake, saxophonist Rosemary Casey, this outfit includes guitarist Jake “The Snake” Jacobsen, drummer Larry Bassick, bassist Joe Peck, trumpeter John Abrahamsen, harmonica man Bismo Beerbelly, trombonist Wayne Mogel, and with renowned and infamous keyboardist Travis Colby.

photo by JimDad Kenney

Cheryl Arena to play Nelson’s Candies/Local Café in Wilton, New Hampshire Oct 17, 2015

Tomorrow night, October 17, Boston-based singer-songwriter-harmonica player Cheryl Arena, will be the latest blues act featured at Nelson Candies. Arena will treat New Hampshire and New England blues fans to the kind of steamy, exciting blues she’s been know for these last few decades. Local blues fans would know Cheryl Arena from her gigs at Rynborn in Antrim, New Hampshire several years ago.

Anthony Geraci's Fifty Shades Of Blue swells with great material

Anthony Geraci’s Fifty Shades Of Blue swells with great material

Anthony Geraci’s latest solo album Fifty Shades Of Blue isn’t just a solo album. Although Geraci has written and produced every one of the exceptional songs, he has a high caliber cast of characters along for the ride. Aside from his Sugar Ray And The Bluetones band mates, Geraci has also recruited drummer Marty Richards and vocalists Darrell Nulisch, Michelle Willson, and Toni Lynn Washington. Great songs sung by great singers is often a promising start and this CD is full of much more than just promise.

Andy Newton impresses greatly with debut CD A Banner Day

Andy Newton impresses greatly with debut CD A Banner Day

Andy Newton’s debut CD A Banner Day offers a variety of rocking Americana soundscapes within interesting singer-songwriter song craft. It’s uncanny how well Newton dives into a lot of different approaches and keeps emerging with his own personal, unique vocal timbre, narrative, and musical shadings. Recorded at Mortal Music Studios in Charlestown, Massachusetts, A Banner Day carries a banner for roots music as written from the point of view of a youthful man of today.

Jan Marie & The Mean Reds offer fine live document with Released

Jan Marie & The Mean Reds offer fine live document with Released

Jan Marie & The Mean Reds have chosen to release their song selections with a live album titled Released. A lot of classy timeless music is certainly released by Jan Marie and her band of local A-list players. Trumpet player Scott Aruda, keyboardist Rusty Scott, drummer Phil McGowan, and bassist Justin Meyer provide a high octane support for Jan Marie as she takes her listener down music’s memory lane. Local music scene journeyman Tom Bianchi and Jan Marie have drawn a good sound from the vocals and musicians to come up with a first rate live album.