bluesboy_g's Full Review: Colin James and the Little Big Band II by Colin Ja...
Canada's blues-rock guitar hero does it again with another fine album of jump blues and swing standards. Colin's first album, The Little Big Band I from the early 1990's, was one of the first albums to revive the swing craze of the '90's. It sold well in Canada but was under appreciated in the States. This second Big Band album had less success than than the first one but is more mature and polished. Colin shows on this album that he can play jump blues and swing with the best of it's modern masters. While his guitar playing may not be as sophisticated as swing masters such as Brian Setzer and Duke Robillard, this cat can swing and lay down some meaty and tasty down home blues guitar playing. Let's look at the tracks.
1. JUMPIN' FROM SIX TO SIX - Great opening cut. This is a up tempo jump blues song. The chorus is very catchy. I bet anyone who hears this cut will have the chorus hook in their heads after listening to it. Some tasty sax and guitar solos show the listener that this album is going to be one great ride through swing land.
2. SAFRONIA B - Great follow up track. This is a mid tempo jump blues song with jazz changes. It sounds like it's from the Louis Jordan song book. There's some wonderful horn playing in this song. This one is definitely a finger snapping tune. I dare you not to groove to it!
3. MARY ANNE - A little gem of a song here folks. This Ray Charles tune starts off with a Latin flavored piano part and drum beat. Nice melodic guitar lines come from Colin's hands here. Suddenly the chorus kicks into a Chicago sounding blues shuffle. Something like Buddy Guy or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Then verse two comes in going back to the Latin motif, then back to the shuffle chorus. Great arrangements here and the tempo changes spice up the song.
4. LET'S SHOUT (BABY WORK OUT) - Here's a great Texas blues style of shuffle with a jump blues flavor to it. It sounds like T-Bone Walker on steroids. The horn parts really give this song some power to it. Colin let's out a fiery blues guitar solo in the vein of Stevie Ray Vaughan. If this song does not get you moving then you must be dead.
5. YOU KNOW MY LOVE - This Otis Rush classic, written by the legendary Willie Dixon, is a minor blues song. It has smokey bar room written all over it. At least that's the feeling you get when you listen to it. It's raw emotional blues performed well. Colin's singing is excellent on this track. It's pretty slick compared to the Otis' original recording of it. But it's a great choice done well.
6. I'LL SEE IT THROUGH - Another good shuffle song here. This is from Jimmy McCracklin's book. A catchy chorus and good sax and guitar solos keep your head bobbing to this cut.
7. C'MON WITH THE C'MON - Awesome song. It's great that Colin pulled out this Cab Calloway song. It shows that he just not all about blues. This is swing at it's best. If you're a fan of swing and jazz horn playing then this track is for you. Reese Wynans, formerly of Double Trouble, plays a quick but nice piano solo. Unfortunately, Colin did not lay down a guitar solo on this cut. The song has jazz changes but not overly difficult that Colin could not play over them. It would have been nice to hear how well he can play over more sophisticated chord changes. I'm sure most listeners will not care but guitar players like myself are always interested in stuff like that!
8. ROCKET TO THE MOON - Finally an original track! Up to this point they have all been covers. Here we have a great swinging shuffle track. Nothing new really but some great rocking guitar and swinging trumpet playing are on display on this cut.
9. THINK - Another Jimmy McCracklin song. This is a dragging mid tempo blues track. It's a blues standard done with a feel that leans more towards jump blues and swing than roadhouse blues. Colin lay down some fantastic gritty blues vocals. Good stuff.
10. SOMETHIN'S GOING ON IN MY ROOM - Jump blues again. Hey, what did you expect? Hip Hop? Another track with a Louis Jordan feel and catchy chorus. Kaz Kazanoff and John Wolf play jazzy baritone sax and trombone solos respectively. They give this track a 30's/40's Kansas City jazz feel to it.
11. I'M LOST WITHOUT YOU - Jump blues with tempo variations between the verses and choruses. Same type of idea as the Mary Anne track. Colin plays a great solo, once again showing his Stevie Ray Vaughan influence.
12. TIN PAN ALLEY - Not the exact same version as the Stevie Ray Vaughan version but great none the less. It's a slow low down dirty minor blues cut. Great emotional singing from Colin. He convinces you that he is really into this music and can feel it running through his veins.
13. TRIPLE SHOT - Another original! A great instrumental song. This is a fast swinging shuffle. The opening organ, guitar, and sax riff is cool. This a jazz inspired song. First there's a killer sax solo from Greg Piccolo, then Colin plays some of the most tasty and jazzy stuff he has ever done, then Reese Wynans plays some groovy organ leads. Kind of like Jimmy Smith. This is a foot tapping, head bouncing song for sure. Fans of swinging blues will enjoy this cut. Well done guys!
14. BRING IT ON HOME - This album closer is the most raw sounding blues tune on this CD. It stands out because it leans more towards rocking blues than big band inspired blues. This sounds more like the Colin James people are used to.
Overall this album does not really bring anything new to jump blues or swing and jazz flavored blues. The novelty is that it shows that a Canadian boy from the Prairies can play this kind of music with the best of them. Unfortunately the album is mostly cover songs. The songs are done extremely well but originality is what help sets players in this genre apart. This album is great to dance to, to play at parties, or to sit around with some friends, drink beer and listen to. Guitar players interested in learning this style of music should listen to this album. The guitar playing is a great introductory lesson on how to play jump and swing blues. Learn Colin's guitar licks before you attempt to learn some really mind boggling and sophisticated swing guitar playing from masters such as Brian Setzer and jazz legend Charlie Christian. Colin is a great spring board to get you started in this type of guitar playing.
For the non guitar players, let your ears be you guide. This album cooks with songs that will get you dancing or at least moving to the music. You will not be disappointed if you add this CD to your collection.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
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