This is one of those CDs that there just aren’t words to describe. I like it would be a good start. I here the word eclectic used a lot these days, eclectic would be an understatement here. The first thing that came to my mind when hearing this disc the first time was "what’s next"? There are a lot of twists & turns from track to track. I ended up thinking about all the influences this music has and how they were all blended together at once.
It’s going to be hard to explain this music without you being able to hear it, but here I go……
The title Phat Blues Music seems to fit. Yes the blues are here but blended with soul, jazz, funk and a touch of rap and / or hip-hop at times (I really don’t know which one is which anymore). I know this sounds a bit bizarre but it works well. There’s a bunch of good music on this disc, it’s just a bit different. There are a few "normal" blues tunes on this CD too. My favorite blues pics are "Only One" & "Bluesman" both are pretty straight forward blues tunes that sound great. There’s even a couple acoustic blues numbers, one is a short ditty called "Gibbs Groove" and the other is a real classic done in classic style, "Rollin’ & Tumblin’ " sounds great, just basic guitar and harp.
Kelly’s singing is super and the band thumps out some great grooves, it’s blues Baltimore style. This is the next generation of blues musicians who blend old and new. You will find some surprises hiding in the tracks on this CD, most are a pleasant surprise. There are several tracks where one track is a musical intro to the next. There’s also a couple of talking "skits" that turn out to be intros to the songs that follow. I really enjoy these types of intros, they keep it interesting. Overall I like the Phat Blues, lots of good grooves and music to tap your toes to. I only have one real complaint with one song. I really like the "FBI" song and the intro to it, I think it’s probably my favorite track. My complaint is…. I liked the way it started out, I just don’t like the way it finished (jazzy).
With 19 tracks I would guess that there is something for about anyone here.
There’s regular blues "Bluesman", funky stuff "Say One Thing", modern urban jazzy rap (sounds odd but I like it) "One World", an acappella number "Loosing Myself" and even a smooth love song "Dear Maggie", not to mention many more. If you are bored with traditional old style blues and would like something fresh and different then I think this one may be for you.
You can check out The Kelly Bell Band at www.phatblues.com
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