June 19, 2018

Big Apple Blues: Manhattan Alley

When looking for the sound of New York City Manhattan Alley it's best to skip the streets and avenues and head for to back alleys and find a place that serves drinks and live music. When the sign promises a show by ace instrumental quintet Big Apple Blues don't waste time and brace yourself for a set of steaming jazz blues. The band managed to capture he excitement of a live performance on their new album Manhattan Alley.

They are fluid, without being slick. While it's tempting to compare them to Booker T. & the M.G.'s, that would sell them short in terms of genre variations. It happens to any band that has a prominent Hammond B3 player and a guitarist with way above average slide skills in their midst. Big Apple Blues like to lean towards jazz, each time when they change it up withing the parameters of the R&B idiom. They are not a dance band, but their music is a sure fire guarantee for an irresistible urge to tap your feet. Funky, dirty at times and played with the confidence of musicians who have made a name for themselves in one of the most competitive environments for cutting it as an artist.

Big Apple Bluesy:
Admir "Dr Blues" Hadzic: bass, guitar
Jim Alfredson: Hammond B3, keyboards
Barry "The Baron of the Blues" Harrison: drums
Anthony Kane: harmonica
Zach Zunis: guitar
Guests:
Chris Eminizer: saxophohes
Bill Vits: shakers (1,3,4)
Kevin Jones: congas, shakers, tamborine
Louis Rudner: acoustic bass

Big Apple Blues is a self-released album. Buy it from their website.

Tracks:
  1. You Gotta Start Somewhere
  2. Happy
  3. Take Two
  4. Sdw
  5. Deep Talkin'
  6. Hudson Breeze
  7. Steamroller
  8. Subway Rumble
  9. Love as I Know
  10. Rock On

» bigappleblues.com

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