The Blues Fools' third album, "On The Move", includes a well deserved
endorsement from Charlie Musselwhite. Since the release of their
debut ("Fools In The Blues"), they have attracted wide interest, and
appeared at festivals across Europe, but not mainland Britain (yet!). They
sound like an authentic West Coast harp-led band, although they hail from
Hungary.
The opening bars of "Swingin' All Night Long" grab your attention with an
explosive combination of harp and horns. The Blues Fools proceed to swing
their way through a tune that could quite easily have come from the pen of
the late, great William Clarke. In fact, it is the first of 11 (out of 12)
original tracks. They follow it with a more jump blues oriented number
("Fat Mama Boogie") before a real boogie (a la Canned Heat) on "Too Tight
To Tame", where the band's excellent guitarist Laszlo "Jack" Horvath
handles vocals.
Band leader, Matt Pribojszki, is something of a harp maestro, and shows off
his more mellow side on the classy cool jazz of "Coffee Break". After
Toots Thielemans meets jump blues on "Foolin' Around", the horn section are
reintroduced for the album's only cover track, a belting version of Slim
Harpo's "Dynamite".
The album then provides a breather, with the low key piano dominated "Soul
Stealin' Mama". They then shuffle their way through "Bad Things About
You", before the jazz influence resurfaces on "Sharp Dressed Boogie Boy".
Eventually the horns return to round it all off in fine style on "High
Class Baby". It is another real swinger, blending harp and horns in
perfect harmony once more. The band certainly know how to write a catchy
hook line, and this one just leaves you reaching out to punch the replay
button.
With "On The Move" the Blues Fools have moved on to a higher plane. This
time around, the band have broadened their base to include swing and jazz
elements which add to the band's overall sound. The end result is a very
good album, from a very tight unit, that is well worth checking out (try
their web site www.bluesfools.com) They may be from Hungary, but "On The
Move" shows any doubters that the Blues Fools know and can play the blues.
This review is copyright © 2001 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.