The basic style is Chicago Blues but it is difficult to pinpoint a particular style within that general description because each song is different and there is a different feel to each.
This swinging little CD will appeal to music lovers who love the blues, who enjoy a somewhat traditional approach but who love something that moves along.
The material is all original, written by Sunny Fournier.
The musicianship is very good. It is notable that Sunny attracted such a wide pool of talent for this CD. Performers include drum whiz, Maureen Brown (three times winner of Canadian Blues Drummer of the Year award), veteran Sax player Pat Carey (Downchild Blues Band), Bassist Russell Jackson (former BB King Bassist), keyboard player Michael Fonfara (Downchild Blues Band, Rhinoceros) to mention a few.
Because each cut features a different instrument, one can't really say that any instrument dominates the recording. For example, Cut 1, "My Kind of Blues" is a mover and an instrumental shaker featuring sax and trumpet. On Cut 2, "You Don't Love Me", Sunny's own harp playing is front and foremost. Track 5 "Wish You Were Mine" is heavy on bass and guitar.
The vocals are all good. Sunny has a nice voice and great singing style and I really like his way of interpreting the blues. He writes good melodies and lyrics, and the arrangements rendered for each song are interesting.
Things that really stood out for me on this album included the excellent variety of material, and the really good performances by all the participating artists. My favorite tracks were #1 - featuring Pat Carey:(horn arrangement) tenor & baritone sax, Colleen Allen: alto sax, Chris Whiteley: trumpet, and a stunning bass solo from Russell Jackson; I also really like track 5 "Wish You were mine" with some great bass and guitar on it. Overall, what I liked best is that - having had the pleasure of hearing Sunny perform live - I found that Sunny on the CD and Sunny live are indistinguishable.
A little bit of background...A native of Sudbury, Ontario (Canada), Sunny Fournier had been playing the blues in and around his home town and across Canada - even made a few CD's - enjoying moderate success, but nothing extraordinary.
Then one day, he decided that the only way he was going to get anywhere was to get himself to Europe and get into the music scene there. He took a leave of absence from his day job, grabbed a small suitcase, his guitar and harmonicas then headed for Belgium and Holland.
Belgium and Holland loved Sunny. He played on street-corners or anywhere he could get a foot in the door. People loved what they heard. Pretty soon he was invited to play in bigger places, with bigger and bigger crowds throughout Belgium, Holland and Sweden. He got enough money together to make a CD with some European musicians. It was very successful. The following year Sunny was booked for clubs and festivals across Belgium, Holland and Sweden. He played on T.V. in Sweden, and did radio interviews. That was four years ago. Sunny is on his seventh album now. He is the perfect example of a self-made success.
It's my kind of blues, the Sunny Fournier stuff!
The CD is available from Record On Wheels, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada or from
P.O. Box # 632 station B, Sudbury, On. P3E 4P8, Canada ($20.00 CDN + $3.00
shipping.) For more information send email to bluesun09@sympatico.ca.
Louise Peacock
ONYX Canada - Music Publicity, Promotions and Management
email: wezel@wezel.com
email: onyxcan@wezel.com
WEB page: http://www.wezel.com/onyx
This review is copyright © 2001 by Louise Peacock, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, 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.