Album Review: Charlie Hunter - Kick, Snare, Baritone Guitar

Charlie Hunter

Kick, Snare, Baritone Guitar

**and1/2 out of *****

The multi-instrumentalists newest offering is a collection of immensely groovy jaunts that can be easily sampled for other offerings (particularly hip-hop) as Charlie Hunter presents Kick, Snare, Baritone Guitar.

Hunter has always excelled in these loose instrumental waters and this collection is no exception as the direct cuts deliver a base to expand on as Hunter uses the three title instruments to craft sweet sonic pastures. The opening "Root's Hobby Hut" is a chunky, strutting number with splashes of light feedback that keep the growl real before things clean up for some of his best snake like guitar work on the funky "Stop The Clock".

The blues based "Flint's" is a master class in straight ahead riffs and blues drumming while "Silver Ball Gardens" could play as a late night, upbeat, Tom Waits inspired backing track. Speaking of influences, Steve Ray Vaughn shows up in spirit for the strictly guitar based "Sneaking Into the UC Theater". The best drumming arrives with "Oscar's" marching beats while the head bobbing "Tiki Massage" and the shaking good time party track "Fat Dog's Clown Car" wrap things up on bright notes.   

The brief album is a quick run through of Hunter's easy flow and sound. These base tracks are not drawn out, layered or swollen by excess, they simply roll with ease as if Hunter just decided to record an afternoon jam session he alone was delivering. On Kick, Snare, Baritone Guitar, Charlie Hunter breaks it down to the essentials and sounds lively doing so. 

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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:

Live Streams: Colin Davis Presents Mad Dogs and Englishmen New Orleans: A Tribute to Joe Cocker & Leon Russell!

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Colin Davis Presents Mad Dogs and Englishmen New Orleans: A Tribute to Joe Cocker & Leon Russell!

A blast of English Pop and Rock from a bygone era gets a tribute tonight down in New Orleans as the Funky Uncle Live streams this show. 

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To get in the mood here is a Mad Dogs and Englishmen tune:

Album Review: Eels - Extreme Witchcraft

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of Eels newest album Extreme Witchcraft. 

RtBE has reviewed Eels in the past and loved some and disliked some, Extreme Witchcraft is closer to the love column. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

Album Review: Ill Considered - Liminal Space

Ill Considered

Liminal Space

***and1/2 out of *****

Perhaps the most vibrant jazz scene these days emanates out of London, England and with their first proper studio album Ill Considered add another layer to that cities sound. Liminal Space is far from the groups first addition to the scene though as the band has self-released a whopping ten live albums since 2017. 

The band has changed a little bit on this studio release scaling down to a three piece with tenor saxophonist and bass clarinetist Idris Rahman, drummer Emre Ramazanoglu and bassist Liran Donin forming the core of the group. They are joined by a wide ranging set of guests who populate the London scene including baritone saxophonist Tamar Osborn, tenor saxophonists Kaidi Akinnibi and Ahnanse, tubaist Theon Cross, trumpeter Robin Hopcraft and percussionist Sarathy Korwar.

From the opening notes the outfit hold very little back and focus on the overloaded sound of late era Miles Davis (with slightly more structure), using the rhythm as the base to launch from on every tune. The sounds can be everything from inspiring, overwhelming and repetitive over the records hour plus run time. 

Opener "First Light" is an excellent album highlight that announces the players intention from the start using layers, building with frantic sax joining about half way through as pumping energy and a fantastic bass line underneath it all thrives. Tribal beats and a massive groove anchor "Sandstorm" as the horns squawk away while the more melodic "Loosed" delivers fine flute work to become more accessible to for the listener. 

"Dust" continues the early albums sense of layers, building drums and blaring horns but starts to become repetitive in the process while "Dervish is better" blaring out of the gate from the start. The more ominous and meditative "Pearls" releases the bands choke hold on groove for a more spacey effect while "The Lurch" displays the best horn work on the album. 

Both "Light Trails" and "Knuckles" dive into what Ill Considered do best which is ramp up the frantic sound with thundering rhythm supporting layers of horns which at times soars and at times feels stuck in soup with the same idea. Liminal Space ends with "Prayer" as the group strip back the chaos and focus on the percussion leading the way to wrap a heavy record which throws a lot of sounds at the listener throughout.    

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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:

New Single from The Shelly Jones Band "Proceed With Caution"

The Shelly Jones Band has released a new single titled "Proceed With Caution" which you can listen to below.

The husband-wife team have made a name for themselves on the Australian Country charts and hope the newest release breaks out to even a wider audience. The twangy tune has a honky-tonk strut, bright piano and smile flowing through it. 

Listen on any of your streaming sites or below:

Album Review: The Sleazeball Orchestra - Pearl River Tango

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of The Sleazeball Orchestra's sophomore release Pearl River Tango.

RtBE are friends with the band and enjoyed their debut, but without any bias can state that Pearl River Tango is a step up and a really solid release. We also interviewed bassist Stoo Odom for his solo record and enjoy catching the band live every time we are in New Orleans. 

Support the band, buy the album (it is out Friday 1/28), read the review and peep some video below:

Club d'Elf To Release Double Album 'You Never Know' and Tour Northeast

The world-dub-jazz collective Club d'Elf is releasing a double album on April 1st (hopefully not a prank) titled You Never Know.

The fluid group consists of main d'Elf Mike Rivard as well as John Medeski, Brahim Fribgane, Duke Levine and a host more. Pre-order the album on the groups bandcamp now. 

The outfit will also be playing a host of dates in the Northeast to celebrate this release.  Check out the first single "Dervish Dance" and the tour dates below:

Tour Dates: 4/1 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios 4/2 - New York, NY - Drom 4/8 - Portland, ME - Bayside Bowl 4/9  - Providence, RI - Columbus Theater 4/10 - Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall 4/14 - Northampton, MA - Bombyx 4/15 - Pembroke, MA - Soundcheck Studios Tickets On-Sale Here