People forget that songs like Lowell Fulson’s Reconsider Baby, George Benson’s Breezin’ and Willie Mitchell’s Soul Serenade were blues songs, smooth jazz songs and instrumentals that were hits on the pop charts .
Chris Murphy’s sound on his latest album Hotwired reminds me of that era, although with Murphy there is a touch more blues in the mix
Murphy writes his own stuff but also does solid versions of Big Joe Williams/Eddie Cleanhead Vinson’s Hold It Right There which also features Jack De Keyzer. Murphy also lends a “Grazing In The Grass” groove to the classic Just My Imagination
Vocally Murphy is not a classic blues/R& B vocalist in the vein of someone like Tony Flaim but he can get by well on his tracks especially Something Else and the jump groove of She’s Always Buzzin’ Me
Murphy’s real power comes through on the exceptional instrumentals like the catchy title track, Dr. John’s Funkalishus and Burnin’ Rubber where he trades licks with guitarist Teddy Leonard and organ man Lance Anderson who also produces the cd.
Very earthy mix to the cd via Nick Blagona. Your going to like this cd and I’m going to make a point of featuring some of these tracks on my radio show
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, online radio host http://emms.podbean.com/ and singer-songwriter with blues rockers The Shaftmen www.theshaftmen.com and his own roots solo work www.johnemms.com
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