LivinBlues- CD reviews - Rick Fines Trio and Los Gatos

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LivinBlues CD Reviews by Gary Tate -Los Gatos and Riley are back! - back to archive

THE RICK FINES TRIO: RILEY WANTS HIS LIFE BACK (INDEPENDENT)
Rick Fines can lay claim to many musical hats, one of which is his astute knowledge of the polished Blues trios of the 40's and 50's, an era when performers such as Nat King Cole, Charles Brown, Ivory Joe Hunter, and even The Big Three Trio featuring Willie Dixon, held sway. Rick's trio features himself on vocals and guitar, Rob Phillips on piano, and Richard Simpkins on bass. Consisting entirely of rock-solid originals, the tunes on 'Riley Wants His Life Back' perfectly suit the piano/bass/guitar format, for swinging improvisation.

Rick's string work is an amalgam of T-Bone Walker, Lonnie Johnson, and Django Reinhardt.The title track is built around the "common man" theme, and possess as good a melody to come down the pike in years. "Let Me Please You" can't possibly do otherwise---as bouncy Phillips piano and bopping Fines guitar take turns gently ricocheting off each other."Perfect Politician" is so deliciously bizarre and so off-the-wall that it seems culled directly from the Musical Theatre. Some special guests included Peter Andree with spicy accordion on the Cajun-drenched "I Just Had To Ask". Chris Whiteley does some extra-fine trumpet work on "Just A Little Kiss"--perhaps the most nostalgia-inducing piece on the entire CD. It--along with "Can You Forgive Me" and "I Miss Her"-seemed indebted to the Hokum Blues and Music Hall traditions. The trio interacts with such unerring fluency throughout. This is the perfect non-human late night companion, and, moreover one that won't ever wear out its welcome. For those who dig Jazz/ Blues at their very best, 'Riley Wants His Life Back' is a 'absolute must-have'. MP3- Riley Wants | www.rickfines.com

LOS GATOS: SELF-TITLED (INDEPENDENT)
The Katz Brothers, Steve, Doran, and Jonny, haven’t been heard much (at least on record), since their Gold Tops days with BB Odom on the highly acclaimed 'Goin To California'. Their latest release/title is under Los Gatos (Spanish for cats), and while it’s an obvious wordplay on their surname, it’s also reflective of a very healthy dose of Latino rhythms combined into a sort of Blues/Caribana meringue. Blues picante! 'Temperature', as an example, originally by Little Walter gets transformed into a carnival of multi-percussive textures.

Special mention to keyboardist Martin Aucoin whose rhythmic contributions are crucial in connecting elements of the seamless flow. 'Have You Ever Heard The Blues'--as with most other tracks--benefits immensely from the double duty of Mike Fitzpatrick on drums and Mario Del Monte Jr. on percussion, but the real joy is hearing dueling guitarists--special guest Jack De Keyzer and Steve Katz--play off each other. Plus a tantalizing re-working of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson’s 'Ain’t That A Bitch'. Bassist Doran Katz proves to be a very capable vocalist indeed, but Los Gatos is really an instrumental navigation over the musical waters combining that always seductive blending of the traditional with the modern. The intensity of the Blues has always melded superbly with the breezy allure of the Bossa Nova beat, and that successful partnership is fully apparent with Los Gatos. MP3- Ain't That a Bitch | Temperature |