Blues Underground Network - CD Review - Keepin On - Albert Castiglia

For those of us who know Albert Castiglia, there is no doubt in our minds that he is a great guitarist. In fact he has been a great guitarist for quite a while now, something that ZZ Top and Elvin Bishop know all to well, with him being the opening act for the legendary group and artist. But over the years something else has been developing that Castiglia is now becoming great at, and that is songwriting, which is now more evident than ever on his new release, "Keepin On".

In true Albert Castiglia fashion, he hits us fast with his guitar right off the opening gate with a hard driven blues song written by Mack Rice, titled "Cadillac Assembly Line" and also in true Albert Castiglia fashion the guitar is what rules throughout "Keepin On", even with the acoustic gem, "Sweet Southern Angel" one of his Originals.

"Keepin On" consists of 12 Tracks and as with his 2008 CD, "These are the Days", 5 of them are Originals and mighty good originals they are, laced with meaningful lyrics and drenched with the magic of his guitar. Of the 7 Covers that are on "Keepin On", I don't think Albert Castiglia could of made any better choices, as all fit just perfectly to his style, especially "Till I Fell In Love With You" a Dylan Classic and "Goin' Upstairs" a Hooker Classic, to name a few. All the Covers were respectfully interpreted to perfection and would certainly make the Originators of those Covers proud.

Making the right choices for the Covers wasn't the only thing though that Castiglia managed to pull off, he also managed to choose the right guest musicians, as well, to help him create the magic that is "Keepin On". The wonderful Artists on "Keepin On" included Toby Walker (Dobro), Bill Quinn (Keyboards), Nicole Hart (Singer), Emedin Rivera (Percussion). Those along with his Bass Player and Drummer, AJ Kelly and Bob Amsel. The nice thing I like about really good Albums is when they try to make the sound more real and Castiglia certainly achieves that with "Keepin On", as most of it was recorded live with very few over dubs. This gives the listener a good idea of what to expect when Castiglia is seen playing in person. The other nice thing I like about some Albums, is the Artists ability to give the music a jam type, spontaneous feel, Castiglia is great at that throughout "Keepin On", especially with his songs Keep On Keepin' On" and monster closing track called "Closing Time".

Concerning Albert Castiglia, distant rumbling has already been heard that he is slowly, but surely, heading towards Legendary status. "Keepin On", is just another confirmation that those rumblings are getting louder. Albert Castiglia did not make choosing favorites very easy on "Keepin On", as all songs are purely excellent in their own right, but if I must choose, I would have to pick "Closing Time" and "Sweet Southern Angel". "Keepin On" gets my Highest Recommendation 5*****, and is a must have Album, not only for fans of Albert Castiglia, but for all fans of great Guitar Driven Blues...

Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

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Albert Castiglia #4 Weekly Blues Root Charts W/E Aug 27, 2010

W LW Artist CD Title Label

1 5 PINETOP PERKINS / WILLIE 'BIG EYES' SMITH JOINED AT THE HIP TELARC

2 7 JANIVA MAGNESS THE DEVIL IS AN ANGEL, TOO ALLIGATOR

3 1 ELVIN BISHOP RED DOG SPEAKS DELTA GROOVE

4 11 ALBERT CASTIGLIA KEEPIN ON BLUES LEAF

5 4 MAGIC SLIM & THE TEARDROPS RAISING THE BAR BLIND PIG

6 2 JOHN NEMETH NAME THE DAY! BLIND PIG

7 0 CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE THE WELL ALLIGATOR

8 3 SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING HAVE BLUES, WILL TRAVEL ALLIGATOR

9 23 PETER PARCEK THE MATHEMATICS OF LOVE VIZZTONE / REDSTAR ENTERTAINMENT

10 8 WALTER TROUT COMMON GROUND PROVOGUE

11 14 TIM WOODS THE BLUES SESSIONS EARWIG

12 15 STEVE MILLER BAND BINGO! ROADRUNNER

13 19 DR. JOHN AND THE LOWER 911 TRIBAL 429

14 25 JJ GREY & MOFRO GEORGIA WARHORSE ALLIGATOR

15 6 THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND ROADSONGS SONY

16 38 FOGHAT LAST TRAIN HOME FOGHAT RECORDS

17 17 JIMMIE VAUGHAN PLAYS BLUES, BALLADS & FAVORITES SHOUT FACTORY!

18 16 DAVIS COEN JUKEBOX CLASSIC SOUNDVIEW

19 20 BETTYE LAVETTE INTERPRETATIONS - THE BRITISH ROCK SONGBOOK ANTI-

20 21 LES COPELAND DON'T LET THE DEVIL IN EARWIG

21 29 MISSISSIPPI HEAT LET'S LIVE IT UP DELMARK

22 13 OTIS TAYLOR CLOVIS PEOPLE, VOL. 3 TELARC

23 9 BOB CORRITORE & FRIENDS HARMONICA BLUES DELTA GROOVE

24 0 SHAKURA S'AIDA BROWN SUGAR RUF

25 24 MORELAND & ARBUCKLE FLOOD TELARC

26 37 ANDERS OSBORNE AMERICAN PATCHWORK ALLIGATOR

27 0 CHRIS JAMES & PATRICK RYNN GONNA BOOGIE ANYWAY EARWIG

28 10 EDDIE TURNER MIRACLES & DEMONS NORTHERN BLUES

29 12 MITCH KASHMAR & THE PONTIAX 100 MILES TO GO DELTA GROOVE

30 26 KAREN LOVELY STILL THE RAIN PRETTY PEAR

31 27 GRADY CHAMPION BACK IN MISSISSIPPI LIVE AT THE 930 BLUES CAFE EARWIG

32 42 JOHN LEE HOOKER JR LIVE IN ISTANBUL TURKEY CC ENT / COPYCATS

33 30 MITCH WOODS GUMBO BLUES CLUB 88 RECORDS

34 0 ALABAMA MIKE TAILOR MADE BLUES JUKEHOUSE

35 32 CEE CEE JAMES SERIOUSLY RAW - LIVE AT SUNBANKS FWG

36 22 ROBERT CRAY COOKIN' IN MOBILE VANGUARD

37 47 VARIOUS ARTIST THIS IS THE BLUES VOLUME THREE EAGLE

38 31 TORONZO CANNON MY WOMAN TA RECORDS

39 43 HARPER STAND TOGETHER BLIND PIG

40 0 JIMMY BOWSKILL LIVE SELF

41 0 VARIOUS ARTIST BIG BLUES EXTRAVAGANZA! - THE BEST OF AUSTIN CITY LIMITS COLUMBIA / LEGACY

42 0 JOHNNY WINTER THE PROGRESSIVE BLUES EXPERIMENT CAPITOL / EMI

43 0 CATHY LEMONS & JOHNNY ACE LEMONACE VIZZTONE

44 35 ARSEN SHOMAKHOV ON THE MOVE BLUES LEAF

45 33 TRAVIS 'MOONCHILD' HADDIX A DOZEN TIMES BENEVOLENT BLUES

46 0 ERIC LINDELL BETWEEN MOTION AND REST SPARCO

47 45 RON HACKER AND THE HACKSAWS BURNIN' BLUE SKUNK

48 0 BLIND WILLY WILLING TO CRAWL SPEC

49 0 KID AND NIC SHOW GOIN' DOWNTOWN SELF

50 0 ROOT WHAT I LIKE ROOTETOOT

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CD Review - Still Going Strong - Juke Joint Soul

Sandy Mack

Still Going Strong Blues Leaf Records Run Time: 58:10

Mark Hummel, Rick Estrin, Dennis Gruenling, Steve Guyger, Bill Lupkin. Now add Sandy Mack to that list amongst some of the best contemporary harp players. This album is a completely fun affair. It'll make you want to get up and dance without a care in the world. The lyrics and the atmosphere it creates something you don't have to think about to enjoy. Kid Ramos joins in on six tracks and smokes as always behind Mack's swinging harmonica and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. A poor man's Estrin when it comes to cheeky lyrics, Mack dips and jives between swing, blues, loungy jazz, shuffles, and boogie-woogie rock to help keep you in the mood for toe-tapping enjoyment. Mack's harp produces some delicious tones that puts him in the aforementioned good company because he doesn't overplay and he phrases himself to fit the song and not blow it over. His drunken jazz singer delivery (think of a trashed Dean Martin without the smooth vibratto) and masculine bravado, Mack's got a sure fire charm for singing. This one is a good Saturday night dance around your house affair that's sure to leave you smiling by disc's end.[less]

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CD Review - Stripped Down at the Bang Palace - Blues Wax

BluesWax Rating: 8 Reader Rating: 7 Wolfe, Todd Stripped Down At The Bang Palace Blues Leaf Records Hear It! Rate It! Buy It! Passion Drenched Blues Rock, (02/11/10)

This is Todd Wolfe's sixth album and second on Blues Leaf. His last album Borrowed Time was a well produced studio recording. I've often stated that whenever I listen to Wolfe I feel as if I'm listening to an old, forgotten and rediscovered rock album. He is an exciting guitarist who does not overplay and, as a seasoned bandleader, he has always surrounded himself with able sidemen to produce a total band sound. The rhythm section consists of bass player Suavek Zaniesienko and Roger Voss on drums. Stripped Down is a huge surprise exceeding my expectations. It is a live recording which captures Wolfe at his most passionate. I have never heard him sing like this.

Opening with "Wing of a Dove," Wolfe plays a National Steel on this acoustic version originally written and recorded on Wolf released in 2002. "Roll Over" and "Light of Day" are two more songs reprised from that first album. He also does a fantastic acoustic version of Mountain's "Mississippi Queen."

"Stranger Blues" is the Elmore James classic included on Wolfe's 2004 Delaware Crossing. He also covers Muddy Waters' "She's Nineteen Years Old," B.B. King's "Three O'clock Blues," Willie Dixon's "Evil," Eddie Taylor's "Bad Boy," Howlin' Wolf's "Wreck My Life,"and performs a duet with Sarah Ayers on Robert Johnson's "Come in My Kitchen." Wolfe's vocal and slide guitar on Bobby Womack's "It's All Over Now" make it another highlight on this very good set of songs.

Although these old chestnuts have been recorded many times, Wolfe's passion shines through as he makes them sound fresh again. There are many Blues/rock artists that pale in comparison. Give this a listen.

Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor to BluesWax.Richard can be reached at www.blueswax@visnat.com.[less]

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