On their new album titled Good News Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters get to the essence and marrow of blues and soul.
It’s not about how many notes, scales or riffs you play it’s all about FEEL and this band has tons of it.
Check out Ronnie’s Grant Green-esque feel to Time To Remember, which also includes a gorgeous piano intro and Hammond solo by Dave Limina.
Having said that I’m happy to cruise down the highway listening to Earl’s guitar solos on Puddin’ Pie, the James Burton nods to I Met Her On That Train or Blues For Henry the co-write and tribute to Hubert Sumlin which also sports an Al Kooper/Michael Bloomfield essence.
Elsewhere, Dave Limina’s title track recalls the mid 60’s influence of Booker T and the MG’s, and vocalist Diane Lane inspires the band on Junior Well’s In The Wee Wee Hours, and Sam Cooke’s classic A Change Is Gonna Come both of course which have had tons of interprets.
Yet by holding back and letting her soulful vocals sit in the pocket Lane is a nice add to the band’s overall sound.
Lorne Entress and bassist Jim Mouradian sit beneath the Broadcasters sound and like all great sections their fills and grooves are a support system any artist would love to have.
It’s summer, it’s warm and breezy and this great cd is enveloping my patio.
That friends, is never a bad thing.
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, and singer/guitarist/vocalist with Canadian blues rockers THE SHAFTMEN
Runnin’ for Peace ends the album inspired by lyrics from the finish line bombing at the Boston Marathon
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