Charlie Musselwhite I Ain’t Lyin’…
(Henrietta Records) I Ain’t Lyin’…, the
latest album from legendary Bluesman Charlie Musselwhite is chockfull of down- home blues and happens to be a sheer delight. The album was recorded
live in 2014 at the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival in Sonoma, CA, and Clarksdale Soundstage in Clarksdale, MS, with Matt Stubbs (guitar), June Core (drums), and Steve Froberg (bass). I love how Musselwhite takes on Elmore
James’ “Done Somebody Wrong”. Stubbs’ crisp bluesy riffs and Musselwhite’s second- to-none harp playing sound so good. There’s a sort of playful Fifties rockabilly vibe going in “Long Lean Lanky Mama”. It’s just a fun song to dig into, as is “My Kinda Gal” with Froberg’s cool-as-hell, cowboy-fitted baseline. The band gets kind of funky on “Long Leg Woman”. Its Allman Brothers feel makes it one of my favorite tracks on this album. This is definitely a song that jams. Duke Pearson’s “Cristo Redentor” is such a
lovely piece. This slow and easy instrumental is exquisite. Core’s drumming really shines and Stubbs so elegantly keeps the rhythm going as Musselwhite beautifully plays his heart out on harmonica. Musselwhite scores big with I Ain’t Lyin’…
This is how the Blues should be played. - Phillip Smith
Chloe Collins’ 5@15 (Collins House Records) Listen to the new five song EP, 5 @ 15 by
the New York recording artist Chloe Collins, and you’ll find yourself amazed at the sound
of her voice. Collins not only possesses an outstanding ability to sing, but this fifteen year old star shines brightly as a songwriter and guitarist too. Recorded at Grind Central Station in Nashville, and produced by Mikey Reaves, 5 @ 15 is a well- polished album of Country-Pop music. Backing Collins on additional guitars and instruments is Reaves and Taylor Ivey. Breakup ballads, “All Over Again” and “My
Goodbye” both have ‘radio-hit’ written all over them. The music is fresh and catchy. Collins takes to slightly darker waters with “New Nightmares”, a playful song about cut- ting lose and raising a little Hell. 5 @ 15 will certainly resonate with Coun-
try-Pop fans all over. A great voice and good songs make this one a fun little listen. I look forward to hearing what Collins has in store for us in the future.
-Phillip Smith
Dweezil Zappa via zammata’ (Dweezil Zappa) The title via zam-
mata’ is taken from the name of the street in Partinico, Sicily where Dweezil’s grandfa-
ther, Francis Vincent Zappa lived before im- migrating to America. The street name refers to the very specific sound made when rain puddles are trampled by the feet of children at play. In 2013, Partinico renamed that exact street, via Frank Zappa after Dweezil’s father. Zappa hugs the curb, sticking close to this definition of via zammata’, in the music cre-
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