LOS FABULOCOS FEATURING KID RAMOS Source: Blues In Britain Magazine Date: 08/2008 Writer: Mick Rainsford

Mike Zito – Today
Eclecto Groove Records EGR CD 503
Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos
Delta Groove Music DGPCD125

Mike Zito and Los Fabulocos! 

The names may seem unfamiliar but the music is hot.

Blues?   Not exactly – but the name Kid Ramos on the Los Fabulocos release should certainly whet the appetite of blues fans – but both CDs are certainly permeated with the blues.

Mike Zito names Walter Trout as an inspiration and Hendrix, SRV, Van Halen, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Lyle Lovett, Mick Jagger, John Hiatt and Tina Turner as influences.  I can certainly hear Jagger, Vaughan and Clapton in his music – and, Hiatt, Cash and Lovett in his song-writing – but I also detected elements of Van Morrison and Otis Rush – the musical smorgasbord ensuring Zito has an eclectic, bluesy style of his own.

Zito is joined by Phantom Blues Band members Tony Braunagel, Joe Sublett and Darrell Leonard – Mitch Kashmar (harp on 2 cuts) – Benmont Tench (keys) and Hutch Hutchinson (bass) with Teresa James and Ce Ce Bullard (backing vocals) – so you know the musicianship is top notch.

Zito opens with the Stones influenced “Love Like This” exploiting the natural anguish in vocals and fretwork whilst underpinned by a hot band.  “Superman” and “Holding Out For Love” stray into Van Morrison territory replete with soulfully haunting vocals and beautifully understated guitar.  Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” (the only cover) is performed Clapton style – the “Slowhand” influence, permeated with shades of Otis Rush is again apparent on “No Big City” which rides a hypnotic guitar riff.
Zito’s guitar on “Dirty Things” again recalls Otis Rush but the vocals are wistful and echoed by Kashmar’s wailing harp and Tench’s cascading piano.

Other influences abound on this eclectic set.  “Universe” sounds like a bluesy Eagles track – “Slow It Down” brings to mind a restrained Bobby Bland permeated with shades of Simply Red – there are Sting overtones to the plaintive “Time To Go Home” – SRV and U2 on the funky horn-fired “Deep Down In Love” – and Curtis Salgado on the hip but funky “Hollywood”.

That leaves the title track – “Today” – a radio-friendly slab of soul which is reprised, along with “Holding Out For Love” as acoustic bonus tracks.

Blue but not blues – but it still comes highly recommended.

Jesus Cuevas (vocals and Hohner button accordion), James Barrios (bass), Mike Molina (drums) and the great Kid Ramos make up Los Fabulocos whose infectious debut CD is aptly described as CaliMex music.

With Kid Ramos aboard you just know that there is going to be a strong blues element to this set – but, it is never at the expense of Los Fabulocos Mexican roots – in fact the band naturally embrace a wide range of Americana roots influences.

The set opens with Huey “Piano” Smith’s “Educated Fool” which adapts easily to the band’s style as it rocks infectiously fired by Ramos’ rock’n’roll guitar with Cuevas’ accordion taking the piano role – Rock’n’Mex?  Cuevas’ rich baritone leads on his own “If You Know”, a catchy Johnny Allen inspired number replete with swinging guitar – Swamp-Mex?

Cuevas’ resonant but lilting vocals again impress on “Crazy Baby” – think Rancheros meets Guitar Slim (courtesy of Ramos’ shimmering guitar) – Rhythm & Mex?  Johnny Burnette’s “Lonesome Tears In My Eyes” finds Ramos on bajo sexto whilst giving his best Elvis Presley impression – Mexabilly?  “Day After Day” features deep blues guitar from Ramos with Cuevas’ accordion taking the harp role – Delta-Mex ; whilst Sydney Semien and Floyd Soileau’s “You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine” is fired by Molina’s enigmatic slap drumming and irresistible accordion – ZydeMex?

“You Keep Drinkin’” has a strong Jim Reeves feel to the vocals but the accordion can only be described as wild whilst the backing features trash-can drumming allied to infectious rhythms and harmonies – Country & Mex?  Lloyd Price’s “Just Because” with it’s swaying accordion, rock’n’roll guitar and churning rhythms can only be described as Diddley-Mex.  Clifton Chenier’s “All Night Long” is a frantic slice of Mexeco replete with wild guitar inspired by Mexmore James and Mex Berry – whilst the manic instrumental “Burnin’ The Chicken” brings to mind the work of the great Hollymex Fats.

That leaves two more traditional numbers – the lilting conjunto styled love-song “Como Un Perro” and the irrepressible rhythms of Santiago Jiminez’s classic “Un Mojado Sin Licencia” to round out a wonderful set that can only come highly recommended.  (www.wienerworld.com and www.deltagroovemusic.com)
Ratings 9/10