The Kilborn Alley Blues Band
Tear Chicago Down
Blue Bella (2007) 1010
12 tracks, 48 minutes. Highly recommended. Just when you think you’ve heard close to everything blues has to offer, something rears its head and slaps you senseless, making you realize you’ll never manage to get your ears around it all. The Kilborn Alley Blues Band is giving notice and leaving astounded listeners in its wake. The opening notes of I’m Spent drop the listener headlong in a cotton patch somewhere outside of Memphis a half-century ago, while the Muddy Waters-inspired Crazier Things transports you to Theresa’s Lounge in Chicago during the club's heyday. The dual guitars of Andrew Duncanson and Josh Stimmel work seamlessly and eschew heroics in favor of deep feel and pure texture. Joe Asselin’s harmonica work is also stunning in taste and tone. Chris Breen and Ed O’Hara combine for a perfect rhythmic underpinning throughout, and lay down a foundation that moves and breathes. You’d also be hard-pressed to find a stronger, more soulful and relaxed vocalist than Duncanson; his voice has as much smoke in it as it does style. Simply put, these guys make it work. They do it so well it’s already become second nature for them... and this is only their second recording project. It’s A Pity recalls the classic days of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Lay It Down looks to the spirit of Little Walter and Christmas In County would have fit like a glove in Buster Benton’s catalog. There are nods to the Stax sound in Coming Home Soon, Windy City soul in the title track, Tear Chicago Down (with the addition of Abraham Johnson’s exceptional voice), and there’s more than a bit of humor peppered about. Redneck In A Soul Band offers proof. Laid down in Elgin (that’s in Illinois outside of Chicago) at Rancho de Rhythm, the disc sports help from Nick Moss and Gerry Hundt. Neither requires much mention here, as their latest discs were both reviewed recently. Tear Chicago Down has a remarkably vintage and exciting sound, while the approach is both respectful to the music's origins and fully original. With the passing of so many Chicago legends year after year, the Blue Bella label boasts the finest young blood to be heard in a mighty long stretch. That’s no small accomplishment – it’s simply the bottom line!
Blue Bella Records
© 2008 by Craig Ruskey
Tear Chicago Down
Blue Bella (2007) 1010
12 tracks, 48 minutes. Highly recommended. Just when you think you’ve heard close to everything blues has to offer, something rears its head and slaps you senseless, making you realize you’ll never manage to get your ears around it all. The Kilborn Alley Blues Band is giving notice and leaving astounded listeners in its wake. The opening notes of I’m Spent drop the listener headlong in a cotton patch somewhere outside of Memphis a half-century ago, while the Muddy Waters-inspired Crazier Things transports you to Theresa’s Lounge in Chicago during the club's heyday. The dual guitars of Andrew Duncanson and Josh Stimmel work seamlessly and eschew heroics in favor of deep feel and pure texture. Joe Asselin’s harmonica work is also stunning in taste and tone. Chris Breen and Ed O’Hara combine for a perfect rhythmic underpinning throughout, and lay down a foundation that moves and breathes. You’d also be hard-pressed to find a stronger, more soulful and relaxed vocalist than Duncanson; his voice has as much smoke in it as it does style. Simply put, these guys make it work. They do it so well it’s already become second nature for them... and this is only their second recording project. It’s A Pity recalls the classic days of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Lay It Down looks to the spirit of Little Walter and Christmas In County would have fit like a glove in Buster Benton’s catalog. There are nods to the Stax sound in Coming Home Soon, Windy City soul in the title track, Tear Chicago Down (with the addition of Abraham Johnson’s exceptional voice), and there’s more than a bit of humor peppered about. Redneck In A Soul Band offers proof. Laid down in Elgin (that’s in Illinois outside of Chicago) at Rancho de Rhythm, the disc sports help from Nick Moss and Gerry Hundt. Neither requires much mention here, as their latest discs were both reviewed recently. Tear Chicago Down has a remarkably vintage and exciting sound, while the approach is both respectful to the music's origins and fully original. With the passing of so many Chicago legends year after year, the Blue Bella label boasts the finest young blood to be heard in a mighty long stretch. That’s no small accomplishment – it’s simply the bottom line!
Blue Bella Records
© 2008 by Craig Ruskey
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