CD Review
Eddie Martin
Ice Cream
(Blueblood Records BB008)
by Gordon Baxter
Review date: August 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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2004 marks the tenth year of Eddie Martin's recording career. It all
started with "Solo In Soho" in 1995, and Martin's career has been on an
upward spiral ever since, with all of his albums receiving widespread
critical acclaim in the UK and beyond. With a new rhythm section in place
(Marion Dalton, bass, and Michael Wiedrich, drums), the good news is that
his latest album, "Ice Cream," is not about to buck that trend.
The album kicks off in style with the Kimbroughesque trance-like groove of
"Let's Move It On." This one features some down home ringing slide guitar,
which also gets broodingly dark. Martin stays down Mississippi way for the
title track, which tips its hat in the direction of Fred McDowell. Then it
is off north to Chicago as Martin cuts loose with some very sharp soloing
on "Put The Brakes On". On this evidence, Martin would be in with a good
chance of winning any cutting contest. Things remain firmly rooted in
Chicago for "Elmore's Stomp," a cracking slide-guitar dominated
instrumental, albeit with a strong Hawaiian influence.
A slower, more jazzy feel then kicks in for "Love Is Like A River." Martin
adopts a positively mellow mood on this one, sounding in places like Aaron
Neville, and aided and abetted on sax by the excellent Andy Sheppard. The
band then make their way back towards the blues via the funky groove of
"Keep It Natural."
After the chugging Freddie King inspired paean to one of his many guitars,
"Cherry Red (335)," Martin gathers breath during the acoustic band
interlude of "Blues Took Me By The Hand") before setting out on the ten
minute slow burning opus of "Tough But Tender." Gary Baldwin does a great
job on Hammond, but the blistering guitar solo towards the end of the song
just makes you want to stand up and applaud. By way of contrast the album
then closes out with Martin on his own on a very relaxed "Lazy Monday."
"Ice Cream" is yet another first rate blues album from Eddie Martin. The
quality of his playing, singing and songwriting continues to go from
strength to strength. Although the style may vary--Mississippi, Chicago and
Texas--the quality never wavers. It seems somewhat bewildering that Eddie
Martin is not more widely appreciated, given the constant critical acclaim
that he gets for recordings and live performances. DO yourself a favor, go
out and get yourself some "Ice Cream." After all, everybody likes "Ice
Cream," don't they?
www.bluebloodrecords.com
www.eddiemartin.com
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