Over the years, Texas has produced some legendary guitarists beginning with T-Bone Walker in the Thirties and carrying over to modern day artists like Jimmie Vaughan and Anson Funderburgh. Simply put, to be a respectable guitar player in the state of Texas you had better be damn good. Shawn Pittman is damn good. Cutting his teeth on the DFW blues scene, Pittman progressed from the local jams to leading his own band
then landed a recording deal with Cannonball Records where he released two recording before the label folded. Pittman is now back with a new disc on his own label that is even better than either of Pittman's previous Cannonball discs.
The basis of Pittman's sound is his jagged, percussive guitar playing that really ignites a groove and a voice that is really improving as time goes on. Nowhere are these traits more evident than on the opening tune "New King In Town" a good straight ahead blues shuffle. Shawn then turns in a raw cover of Juke Boy Bonner's "Runnin' Shoes" a tune also associated with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Pittman really catches fire on the blues classic "I Smell Trouble" a slow blues masterpiece that sounds as if it were recorded live in the studio. "It's Your Turn" is a blues rock tune with a great hook that should bring Shawn some attention from a more mainstream non-blues audience. The best tune on the album is "Can't Take That Away", a mix of blues and soul that find Pittman delivering an emotionally charged vocal over Riley Osbourn's organ and
fellow Texan Jon Moeller's guitar. Pittman also takes a stab at the piano on a raw take of Bob Dylan's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry."
On Full Circle, the music of Shawn Pittman has taken a giant step forward. He has always been a great guitar player, but is now hitting his stride as a vocalist and a songwriter. Given the success of other young blues based artists such as Johnny Lang and Susan Tedeschi, there is no reason why Shawn Pittman can't appeal to an audience outside of the blues realm. A great album.
Web: www.shawnpittman.com
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This review is copyright © 2002 by Barry Gober, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission.
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