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Johnny Carlevale - New England's Own Jump, Swing & Rhythm & Blues!

Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins - That's Life!
(2008)

Johnny Carlevale (USA)
That Ain't No Way To Spend A Friday Night
JC02
© Johnny Carlevale 2006

Johnny Carlevale - vocals/rhythm guitar
Greg Burgess - lead guitar
Jack Hanlon - double bass
Jeremy Kroger - drums
Dick "The Poet" Lourie - sax/trumpet
Rodney Caron - sax
Ryan Hartt - harp
Amy Latka - vocals on track 8

Known for his stint with rockabilly bands (Dana Stewart & The Old Howards & Ace Brown) Johnny Carlevale is also an avid blues and rhythm’n’blues fan (he also wears some of the greatest sideburns I’ve ever seen). After one mini album recorded in 2005, he’s back with a full length which is, paradoxically, more varied
and less repetitive.
Almost all aspects of blues music can be found on this platter. The opening track one of the two covers of the album is a tasty and groovy jump blues ala T Bone Walker with appropriate sax and guitar licks. Also backed by saxes is “You Ain't Puttin' Out Nuthin' But The Lights” – a six minute tour de force with a nod to “Loveless Love” in the sax solo - which brings a bit of New Orleans style. The harmonica led “My Baby Aint Home” is reminiscent of the Chicago Blues style and so is “You Wore Me Out”.
Carlevale’s vocals are always true and never sound fake like many who tries to sing the blues but are only caricature of what they think a bluesman is… this guy is the real deal and he proves it with two Delta Blues influenced acoustic tunes “Alabama Woman Blues” and “The I-80 Blues”.
Both of those songs sure awake the hobo that sleeps in you. “Hi-Tail, Then Boogie” is a jumpin’ boogie with a rockabilly beat perfectly supplied by the slappin bass of Jack Hanlon (The Stumbleweeds) and guitarist Greg Burgess (ex Amazing Royal Crown) literally jumps in his chorus. This guy is really amazing
on songs like “You Talk Too Much”, a fast paced swing tune about a girl who cant stop talking which he illustrates with brilliant and fast guitar licks. And his job on “That Ain’t No Way To Spend A Friday Night” reminded me, not exactly the same style maybe but the same virtuosity, of Little Charlie Baty. Another fine song is “Mean Mean Thing” . Have you heard about Rumba blues? Probably not but I haven’t found any other word to describe this one and I guess you can imagine how it’d sound.
And last but certainly not least, coming from the all girl garage band “Ghouls Night Out”, Amy Latka tries herself at blues singing on “Love me” and she’s more than convincing. A faultless album rounded in a damn fine packaging, who could ask for more? - Fred "Virgil" Turgis - Jumping From 6 To 6 - France

Rate This CD! Rating: After 31 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

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1. Give It Up
2. My Baby Ain't Home
3. Hi-Tail, Then Boogie
4. Mean Mean Thing
5. Tongue Tied
6. Alabama Woman Blues
7. Whiskey Like Water
8. Love Me - featuring Amy Latka on vocals
9. You Wore Me Out
10. You Talk Too Much
11. Put Out The Lights
12. The I-80 Blues
13. That Ain't No Way To Spend A Friday Night
14. You Ain't Puttin' Out Nothin' But The Lights

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