Monday, January 9, 2012

Live From The Long Island Blues Warehouse reviewed by Rick Davis

Live From The Long Island Blues Warehouse
The Sean Chambers Band
Blue Heat Records
www.sean
chambers.com
10 Tracks

If white hot blues are your passion, you must put The Sean Chambers Band on your list to experience. Working and learning guitar from one of the masters of Delta Blues, Hubert Sumlin, Sean has taken the art of blues guitar to a whole new level.
He has paid his dues by sharing the stage with blues guitar legends B.B. King, Robin Trower, Bo Diddley, Leslie West, Robert Cray as well as other noteworthy blues figures like Koko Taylor, Kim Wilson, Greg Allman, Little Milton, James Cotton and Pinetop Perkins.

Their new live album is the follow up to the previous studio CDs Ten Till Midnight, Strong Temptation, and Humble Spirits. The last CD, Ten Til Midnight, spent three months on The Living Blues Charts as well as reaching #5 on the XM/Sirius B.B. King Bluesville Charts and #6 on The House of Blues Radio Charts. This CD received airplay throughout the entire world.  Their new CD, Live From The Long Island Blues Warehouse, is the first real live collection of Sean's style of raw blues guitar that has earned him the title, according to Guitarist Magazine, as one of the Top 50 blues guitarists of the last century. It is predicted to exceed Ten Till Midnight. Backing Chambers on this live session are Paul Broderick on drums, Tim Blair on bass, and Gary Keith on blues harp.  It opens with a pair of tunes written by Chambers himself "Dixie 45" (instrumental) and "Love Can Find a Way" demonstrating the lightning speed of his guitar expertise. These tunes set the pace for the remainder of this high powered performance. The live show continues with the tune written by James/Lindsey, "Full Moon On Main Street," done earlier by Fred James, The Kinsey Report, and Omar and Howlers. This live version by Chambers is an explosive guitar version with Sean's own gritty vocals throughout the song. His rhythm and lead guitar on the next self-penned tune "Strong Temptation" would rival SRV himself. He continues with the Elmore James tune "Dust My Broom" combining his interpretation with Delta and Chicago blues flavor that you have never heard before! His slide guitar is indeed quite a tribute to the King of slide guitar. His blues guitar style and vocals are perfect for the Bill McLess tune "Crazy For Loving You." The live show continue with the hard drivin', heart pounding tune "Danger Zone" and Chambers/Blair tune "Too Much Blues" where Sean pulls out all of the stops with his blistering guitar work. The band really rocks the house on the Chambers tune "Hip Shake Boogie" featuring a solo by both Tim Blair and Paul Broderick. They conclude the show with an electrifying 11 minute version of the Chambers blues tune "In The Winter Time" that echoes throughout the Long Island venue.

My only regret is that I couldn't be in the front row for this one. It will be challenge for the Sean Chamber Band to match this live CD. It is truly a live show any blues fan should hear!

Reviewed by Rick Davis

No comments: