Anyone who’s ever tried to deal with club owners whose musical vision extends no further than the cash register, and who regard blues as commercial death, will sympathize with bands that drop the word ‘blues’ from their name. Whether that’s the reason or not, Kevin Mark – former leader of Big Mark And The Blues Express – is now working under his own name.
Name change notwithstanding, however, his sound remains big, bold, and brassy. And while Kevin’s debut, ‘Steak And Potatoes’ (recorded after the band won studio time as a promising aggregation) was an accomplished outing, ‘Rolling The Dice’ ups the ante considerably. Kevin’s no longer on the cusp of greatness – he’s clearly arrived, and his sophomore outing is one of the best indie recordings to come down the pipe in a good while.
Kevin’s joined here by a number of friends who also appeared on his earlier release, including the rhythm section of bassist Costa Zafiropoulos (who shares composer credits with Kevin on a pair) and drummer Rob Marchetterre. Also on hand is Frankie Thiffault, whose work on both alto and tenor sax is exemplary throughout. (Thiffault also had a hand in the horn arrangements).
The names may not be familiar to many beyond the band’s stomping grounds – they’re based in Montreal, Canada – but all involved acquit themselves admirably on a program that shows Kevin knows his way around standard blues riffs but isn’t content to simply recycle. He wrote all but two of the tracks here (again with co-writer credit on a pair going to Zafiropoulos), and manages to give familiar themes a fresh sound, often with a humorous twist and a fine sense of wordplay (“I’m so broke I can’t even pay attention!”). His fretwork is invariably inventive, usually with a clean, biting tone that gives even the lighter fare an edge. Yet the tremolo-drenched “Cold Hearted Woman” shows he can also reach deep; this one’s absolutely chilling. Covers include “Murder In The First Degree,” here given more of a jump blues feel than the typical shuffle treatment, and a jazzy “I Want You To Be My Baby” from Jon Hendricks; tricky stops and starts on the latter prove the band’s as tight as a pop star’s pants.
Kevin handles all vocals but one, and while he sounded a little tentative on his earlier outing, here he’s relaxed and confident, his delivery smooth and polished. There’s still a little room for growth but no pressing necessity for it. Guest Linda Fraraccio tackles the swinging “Let’s Do It Again” with an appealing sass that makes one hope we’ll hear more from her.
Sound, too, is top-notch. Given the studio’s reputation, it should suffice merely to mention that sessions took place at Alec Fraser’s Liquid Sound, with Canadian guitar icon Jack de Keyzer handling production duties. Somehow they manage to leave just enough dirt around the edges to keep things real while crafting a spacious soundstage that gives every instrument lots of room.
These days it’s almost ridiculously easy for an indie band to make a recording; many, unfortunately, suffer from a lack of professional polish. But Kevin Mark’s “Rolling The Dice,” while obviously a labour of love, shows care and craft at every turn. Should he choose that path, I’ve little doubt his next outing will also be his major-label debut. He’s more than ready.
A wonderful recording, this one gets my highest recommendation!
Web: www.kevinmark.com
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