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THE
MANNISH BOYS "THAT REPRESENT MAN"
Source: Blues Wax
Date: 12/15/2004
Writer: Art
Tipaldi |
All-Star
West Coast Band Works
Delta Groove Productions' debut recording captures the
time honored Blues approach of the Mannish Boys , an
all-star collection of West Coast Blues stars. Named
for the famous Muddy Waters song of the same name, the
Mannish Boys are led by the double guitar attack of
Fletcher and Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser
; the leathery vocals of Finis Tasby ; the piano work
of Leon Blue , whose 45 years of work has put him together
with every Blues and R&B legend you can name; and
the dyed in the Blues rhythm section of drummer June
Core and bassist Ronnie Weber . Veterans like Paul Oscher,
Roy Gaines, Johnny Dyer , and Mickey Champion are honored
guests added to deliver the essence of the Blues.
The Mannish Boys bounce the Blues by centering on the
traditional Blues songs written by the likes of Smokey
Smothers, B.B. King, Mighty Joe Young, Eddie Taylor,
Freddie King, Detroit Junior , and Little Walter . All
the Blues bases are touched here. There's a gritty,
double guitar groove of Fletcher and Goldwasser on Smothers'
"Come On And Rock Little Girl." And Fletcher's
big city B.B. guitar vibrato on "Partin' Time"
behind Tasby's intense pleading. Johnny Dyer, Fletcher,
Core, and Weber reprising Little Walter and the music
of his band, the Aces on "High Temperature"
and "You're Sweet." With Roy Gaines leading
the way, these Mannish Boys jump like an old Johnny
Otis R&B record on "I Had A Dream Last Night."
Tasby toughens his Blues on Freddie King's "It's
Too Bad," with Goldwasser's heavy slow Blues jabs,
and then loosens his tie on Detroit Junior's "Call
My Job." The highlight amid a collection of excellence
is Mickey Champion's "The Eagle Is Back."
Her sharp alto digs into honest lyrics the same way
that a high E string cuts to a musical essence.
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