BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO  © AUGUST 2008 

 

 

    This is going to be an absolutely enjoyable and extremely easy review to compose.  Being a good friend of JOEY'S and having seen him perform live at least 100 times, I could easily do this from memory and admiration.  However, because most of the tracks on JOEY GILMORE'S newest disc, "BLUESMAN", are new, I will delve into several of my favorites.

 

    On this project, JOEY GILMORE on Guitar and Vocals, is joined by: GEORGE CALDWELL on Bass, RAUL D. HERNANDEZ on Drums, BOB ABERNATHY on Hammond Organ, Piano and Keyboards and REGI OLIVER on Tenor & Alto Saxophones - all of whom are regular members in his current band.  Additional musicians appearing are: JEAN EZELL on Background Vocals; JOE BEARD, JR. on Rhythm Guitar; BOB "BLUESBOBBY" WEINBERG on Harmonica. 

 

    After a short little intro, "BLUESMAN" opens with "BLUES ALL OVER YOU" - which is sort of the title track.  It's a comparison of how people in various occupations may come home from work.  Whereas the junk man's never clean and the car repair man smells like gasoline, the fireman's face is full of soot and the soldier's got blisters on his foot, when the blues man comes home from work he'll get his blues all over you. 

If enough of the right people get to hear this disc, GRAHAM DROUT may just have himself a "song of the year" nomination for this very well penned track.  The lyrics, the way JOEY delivers them, and some great sax work from REGI make this one of the discs absolute best.

 

    JOEY sings his heart out on "BIT OFF MORE THAN I CAN CHEW", an eight minute scorching and soulful ballad.  It's stuff like this that gives him the credentials to claim, as he did in the previous track, that "I am a bluesman".  More smoking sax from REGI and great keyboards from BOB help make this another impressive track.

 

    When you only wear black shoes, and you're a size ten, finding a pair of size fourteen "WHITE SHOES" in your closet is never a good thing.  Hot rhythm from GEORGE and RAUL, heat this funky JOEY GILMORE original.

 

    Interestingly, one of the best versions of "LAST TWO DOLLARS" that I ever recall hearing was from one of JOEY'S counterparts - another South Florida bluesman named JUNIOR DRINKWATER.  However JOEY, as he pretty much does on covers, nails it on his version.  His intense vocals and blues guitar work, along with steady Hammond and piano plying by BOB, highlight this one.

 

    Hearing JOEY sing "I GOT THE BLUES" makes you want to actually respond by saying "You sure do JOEY, you sure do".  With some good rhythm going on behind him, and some worthy assistance from JEAN on the background vocals, this one's pretty much all JOEY.  Unquestionably, this one features him at discs best on guitar.

 

    Other tracks on  "BLUESMAN" include: "YOU PUT THE RUSH ON ME", "THINGS I USED TO DO", "WISHING WELL", "HOW BLUE CAN YOU GET" and "GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI".

 

    At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I honestly feel that with the knowledge I have of JOEY GILMORE'S music and the many ensembles his bands have consisted of, I can confidently say that this is one of his strongest supporting casts and that "BLUESMAN" is - by far - his best effort yet. 

 

    Ya gotta go to www.joeygilmore.net and pick up a copy.  And while you're there, tell the Bluesman that this Blewzzman sent you.

 

    This review has been complimentary written for your newsletter by Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, a contributing writer for BLUESWAX and the Blues Editor at www.Mary4Music.com where you can read many more CD and live show reviews, view lots of blues photographs and find an abundance of blues material. I can be reached at Blewzzman@aol.com