David Rotundo has finally come out with his long-awaited second CD, 'Blues Ignited', which follows in the footsteps of his success with highly acclaimed debut CD, 'Blowin' For Broke'. David's no ordinary harp player - in fact in my estimation he's the finest blues harp player to ever come out of Canada's deep well of blues talent! The raw emotion Rotundo puts into each and every tune he plays, whether live, or very much live-like, as on this CD, and also on 'Blowin' For Broke' - contains more raw blues energy in each and every note and syllable, than most blues CDs do in their entirety. I've seen live Rotundo performances, where he goes out onto the dance floor, blowin' that harp of his for all it's worth -- with girls dancing around him like whirling dirvishes at a pagan festival! That's no lie!
Packed rooms at Toronto's best hotspots for blues, "Chicago's Diner", "Silver Dollar", "Healey's" and elsewhere, have streams of blues fans dancing into the room, just from hearing snippets of Rotundo's blues magic echoing outside.
This, Rotundo's second extremely fine CD, is no exception to the captivating quality that David and his incredible band, The Blue Canadians, exude in every impeccable tune on 'Blues Ignited'. From the very first Rotundo original, "Stranger", with its scorching guitar licks and insightful and thoughtful bass lines -- to the final and very rootsy, "I've Got to Move" -- 'Blues Ignited' is guaranteed to inspire the soul of any and all blues fans to the rare heights of blues ecstasy. The reason for this is that Rotundo puts everything he has into each and every note he plays and sings - CHARISMA - that's it in a nutshell! This guy exudes it on its highest, most pleasurable level. This rare quality Rotundo possesses, combined with his honestly pleasing and friendly demeanor with everyone he meets, endears the man and his music to the souls and memories of all who are lucky enough to cross his path! This is true also, in regards to the rest of David's brilliantly talented band -- from Julian Fauth on keyboards and background vocals, to blues super-star/special guest guitarist/friend Enrico Crivellaro; right down to the down 'n dirty bass playing of Shane Scott, the in-the-pocket percussion perfection of drummer Greg Cooper, added to by the blues depth and great taste in blues, of guitarist Pete Schmidt.
Rotundo and his band can take you to the depths of forlorn blues 'hell' with "Worries & Troubles", 'drinkin' whiskey and smokin' old cigarettes' -- to the heights of happy blues heaven with "Drinking Overtime", "Ball & Chain", and "Wiggle a Little Boogie". David asks, "sometimes I wonder why's the world so cruel? -- I don't lie, steal or murder, break the golden rule" - Crivellaro's guitar leads seemingly cry in the muddle of this very puzzling question to mankind's dilemma, with no answer musically or otherwise, in sight. The exciting anticipation of waiting for something musically great from Rotundo, is felt strongly in the musical atmosphere of the intro to "Wiggle .. ". Tunes like this help me realize that "yes … there is a heaven right here on earth", (and it's in Rotundo's CD)!
Scott's emphatic upright bass lines, are some of the best around - garnered from a fine ear, good taste in blues influences, and a deep respect for bass icons like the immortal and unforgettable Willie Dixon - thus transforming Scott into one too! The wild guitar solos here by Crivellaro and Schmidt echo the finest and most imaginative blues creations around! Fauth's piano riffs really do 'wiggle down the ivories' as only a blues muse like Julian can muster up out of that pure and talented blues soul of his. "Let's Have a Good Time", adds some funk rhythm to the proceedings; but in true Rotundo fashion, stays pure to the blues in its interpretation. It's truly a good-times tune, helped along by Enrico's upbeat guitar riffs, and Scott's bouncin' bass lines. Cooper's bass drumming, adds reliability to the rhythm. Lyrics like "let's have a good time, before it's too late", sums up the urgency to enjoy life. Rotundo's harp playing on "Let's Have …", seemingly guarantee those good times!
"The Sway" really does sway me with Fauth's awesomely incredible piano riffs - there really are no better piano riffs than Julian's - melodic, entrancing, and highly enjoyable to the ear! (It was heart-warming to see him and piano master Johnnie Johnson engrossed in conversation one night at the Silver Dollar in Toronto. Even better when I photographed them together for posterity and fun memories of a special moment in our musical lives!) Crivellaro's guitar riffs scream out their approval, with superb support from Vespaziani's percussion genius - Bob's cymbals sing, and his bass drum booms its appropriate accompaniment - a real class tune - jazz influenced blues at its best, (where Enrico can feel right at home)! Scott's trademark bass lines lend reassuring support to this already impeccable creation.
Then Rotundo makes me go bluesily 'beserk' with every note and vocal in "Sellout or Starve". With lyrics like "I can't lie - I'd rather die!", "I'd rather stop than sell out - I'd rather die than sell my life", echo the deepest feelings I personally have regarding my own existence on this earthly plane of existence. Scott's back-and-forth bass lines drive me wild, right from the beginning of this frenzied blues creation, to its ever-lovin' end! Fauth contributes ecstatic piano input along with Cooper's drumming insight - this tune has it all in every way! When Rotundo gets on harp in "Sellout …", it gets me to thinking (as I often do), that this guy is a blues prophet! I often tell other blues fans, "If Gabriel had a blues harp instead of a horn, he'd be David Rotundo!"
Rotundo gives us all a breather, slowing it right down with "Lonely Nights". His introspective vocals sum it all up with "the woman I was lovin', is lovin' someone else". The atmosphere exuded here, can take the listener on a lonely walk along an imaginary and much-needed bluesy street, for the soulful solace needed to escape these primordial blues crashes life offers! Fauth's forlorn piano riffs on "Lonely…" cry the bluesy soul of loneliness better than any words or tears could! So do Schmidt's guitar licks, while Cooper's drumming offers a friendly percussive 'ear'.
"Drinking Overtime" is a rousing blues tune, in the spirit of the best club-hoppin', rockin' 'n drinkin' good times around. Lyrics like "I'm goin' down to the Baldwin -- Robert says come right in", are right from David's own personal life - not made up in any way! The 'Robert' referred in these lyrics, used to own the Baldwin Café in the Kensington Market area of Toronto, and gave Rotundo-the-blues-icon his harpin' start several years ago, performing there. So we all owe it to Robert for engendering the very beginnings of Rotundo's superlative blues genius, and Fauth's wild 'n forlorn blues 'magic' too! Robert is Rotundo's 'blues muse' -- in much the same inspiring way that iconic blues root himself, Robert Johnson is to Rotundo and other blues masters, who've reached those rarified heights of blues excellence in interpretation and performance!
The final incredible tune on this 'Blues Ignited' masterpiece, is entitled "I've Got to Move". It reunites Rotundo with long-time band mates and friends -- Juno Award winning guitarist, Jack de Keyzer (best blues CD, "6 String Lover", 2003), and de Keyzer drummer Tony Ajo - both class acts, and people! de Keyzer's slithery slide on "I've Got to Move" has Mississippi Delta blues written all over it - with slow, mournful harp playing by Rotundo, kept in line admirably by drummer Ajo's mesmerizing talents on the skins. Rotundo tells us "I heard from Robert Johnson … Howlin' Wolf too, that girl don't love you - I've gotta move outta my neighbourhood!" If that ain't de blues, then what is? More incredible slide and leads from de Keyzer, givin' it all he's got (and that's a lot), along with Rotundo's inspiring and revitalizing harp playing, is some of the finest blues you'll ever want to hear! Scott's upright bass lines (slapping quarter notes in true Willie Dixon fashion) on "I've Got …", provide special meaning, right where the bluesy soul needs it most! I'm sure Dixon would enjoy Scott's interpretation! Scott also produced and recorded this blues masterpiece in his Toronto-based Bassline Studio, (part of Stone Pillar Productions), as he did the Rotundo debut 'Blowin' For Broke' CD in 2001. (Which is also outta this world good!!!)
In my estimation, David Rotundo's new CD, 'Blues Ignited' is one of the finest blues CD's I've ever heard. You can't go wrong with Rotundo - either live, or here, 'almost-live' on this incredible CD. Like the great Rompin' Rocker himself, Ronnie Hawkins has said about David, "He plays the blues the way it's supposed to be played!" -- Can't get any better compliment than that! Gotta believe the Hawk when he says it, 'cause Ronnie don't lie no how - neither does Rotundo's blues - 'dey is de real ting, yes they is'!!! No pun intended - they are the real blues, the way they're supposed to be played … and sung!!!!! And that ain't no lie, no how!!!!!!! David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians with Enrico Crivellaro, ignite my blues soul - I hope they do yours, too!!!!!!
Artist: David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians, with Enrico Crivellaro
Title: 'Blues Ignited'
Label: Stone Pillar Productions # SPP0005
Web: www.davidrotundo.com
Email: drotundo@axxent.ca
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