CD Review
JW Roy & The One Night Band
"Deeper Shades"
(Munich Records MRCD 195)
by Mike Martindale
Review date: December 1999
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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There are these musicians out there, yeah there are, who every now and then not only dazzle and delight but also defy description. Such is JW Roy and The One Night Band, who have taken a break from playing Holland's bars and clubs to lay down "Deeper Shade." It's their second CD and one of those recordings that leans alternately, on country, rock, blues stylings while it's 13 original compositions take listeners on a musical journey to deserted apartments, hotel bars, tumbleweed plains and the highs and lows of the human condition. It's a real Dutch treat and at risk of doing an injustice to the 30-year-old singer-songwriter and his talented bandmates, the influences of some pop musical greats are apparent: "Traveller" reminds one of a Dicky Betts' Allman Brothers song and Roy's heartfelt vocals herald back to Dave Mason's or even some of Eric Clapton's more soulful offerings. And while Roy pens some bittersweet ballads, his words never get in the way of the music. The title song, "Deeper Shades" would fit fine in one of John Hiatt's set lists and "The Right Number" reminded me immediately of Robert Cray's "Strong Persuader" -- both it's vocals and it's blues guitar. And "Amsterdam, Sunday Night" complete with slide guitar, would be right at home in an Amarillo roadhouse any day of the week. I think we'll be hearing more from these guys.
Website: http://utopia.knoware.ni/users/monkeyma
E-mail: monkeyma@knoware.ni
This review is copyright © 1999 by Mike Martindale, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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