CD Review
Scott Holt Band
Chipped Front Tooth
(2003 Gracetone Records #54617-2)
by Robert T. Murphy
Review date: February 2004
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Scott Holt has been kicking around for quite a while, working as a sideman with Buddy Guy for a number of years. His work there has always been excellent and he knows his way around his instrument. This CD is his third solo outing that I'm aware of and it's a solid work of various new and old blues songs. The best thing about this CD is that it was pretty much recorded live in the studio in one day. The only real overdubs were by the guest musicians after the band continuted on its tour. There's not much studio trickery here and shows the quality of musicianship that Scott Holt and his bandmates have. The liner notes say that the songs are full of mistakes (mostly Holts), however, What I hear is a good honest recording of great musicians having an enjoyable time in the studio and certainly excellent music that can be delivered where it counts, live in club.
From the liner notes: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....sometimes it's the little imperfections that make something more beautiful. A beautiflul girl with little laugh lines at the corner of her eyes or maybe even when she smiles she reveals a chipped tooth that somehow makes her more real and more beautiful than if she were "perfect"."
The CD opens up with 'Rockin Daddy', a Chester Burnette song done in a rockin boogie rock style. Texas style riffs tear it up. This sounds like a great bar song. The self penned 'Tick' gets a little shuffle going with a funky rhythm structure. This one doesn't quite flow like the others but it's certainly has some fun with a funky guitar riffs. 'You'd Be A Millionaire' gets into slow blues territory without falling into the overdone 'Texas Flood' style. It has a smooth flowing almost jazz vibe to it. Very musical and a classy feel. 'Live Wire', another self penned song, falls directly into Chuck Berry/50's style rock and roll territory. 'One Day Away' is a slow ballad, which could be easily done solo with one guitar and nothing else. The song has a strong vocal and is certainly not overdone. It has a "unplugged" feel to it, even tho the whole band participates. 'I Don't Know' is a solid shuffle with a solid beat and would be another great bar song. 'Moanin For You Girl' is a rockin tune with a funky Chicago style of blues. 'One Night', a Dave Bartholomew song has a growling vocal, guitar and a beat that leans towards what I would call new country. Again this is a great song that Scott Holt does a great version of it.
Bottom Line: The musicianship and vocals are excellent. Good solid songs with a variety of styles. Scott Holt certainly know the way around his instrument. If you like Robert Cray, Lonnie Brooks, his son Ronnie Baker Brooks or blues/rock guitar blues, then you should like this CD. I give it a solid three out of four stars.
Scott Holt - Guitar & Vocals
Gene Haffner - Keyboards
Richard Sanders - Bass
Marshal Weaver - Drums
Tab Benoit - Accordian, Pedal Steel guitar and Backing Vocals
Janet Kenyon - Backing Vocals
Web sites:
www.scottholt.com
www.gracetonerecords.com
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