It is now eighteen months since the untimely death at twenty eight years of age, of the up and coming young bluesman Sean Costello; he was, as many people believe on the cusp of breaking into the big time, possibly he could have had a spectacular and richly rewarding career. Sadly it was not to be but, we do have the material that he has left us.
Sean was born in Philadelphia, in nineteen, seventy-nine, his family later moved to Atlanta where he spent his childhood listening to many forms of music but, he fell in love with the blues, his main focus of attention was the blues guitar and his early influences were players such as; Felix Reynes and Ronnie Earl.
In his youth he attended the North Atlanta School for the Performing Arts and by the age of fifteen, The Beale Street Blues Society had already noted his fast developing guitar skills. he released his first album entitled”Call The Cops,” at the age of seventeen, on the album he demonstrated a fine understanding and a highly skilful playing ability regarding fifties blues guitar.
He soon followed the album with two more for the Landslide label “Cuttin’ In,” in the year two thousand and “Moanin’ For Molasses” in two thousand and two.
His wide ranging and ever expanding guitar skills allowed him to astound with a dexterous and delicately played delta style but also to play smooth swing and jump.
He released in two thousand and five a self titled album on the Ryko label that showed he was not willing to restrict himself to established blues borders, this he did by covering numbers from artists as wide ranging as Dylan and Tommy Johnson, he also displayed a vocal talent that had previously laid hidden, for now, he demonstrated a voice that was robustly roaring as it was rugged.
His last album “We Can Get It Together,” was released by Delta Groove records two months before his death.
This very welcome retrospective is a total of twenty numbers eight of which focus upon his previous releases, whilst the other twelve are from previously unreleased studio sessions and three live recordings; here are the hidden gems that show just what Sean was really capable of when the rough edges still showed and he could flex his musical muscles; all are blasters in their own way especially the live numbers which have you in the groove and in the palm of his hand.
If you have not heard of Sean before this is a wonderful introduction to him and his music, it is also sadly, the only way anybody will hear him live.
Recommended!
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