MORRY SOCHAT & THE SPECIAL
20'S
"SWINGIN', SHUFFLIN',
SMOKIN"
SPECIAL 20
PUBLISHING
BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN"
LAURO © AUGUST 2008
Since
leaving the inner city streets of Brooklyn, NY - at the age of fourteen,
rarely have I ever yearned to leave the suburban lifestyle I've
come to love over these past 45 years. However, every time I hear
another great CD, from another great blues band from Chicago, I can't help
but to ponder how cool it would be to live in that city. The
latest band to arouse that fantasy is MORRY SOCHAT & THE SPECIAL 20'S, and
their new disc, which swings, shuffles and smokes, just so happens to be
called "SWINGIN', SHUFFLIN', SMOKIN".
The SPECIAL 20'S
consist of: MORRY SOCHAT on vocals and harmonica; JIM ST. MARIE and SHOJI
NAITO on guitar; TED BERANIS on electric and upright bass; DAVE ROSS on
piano and organ; NICK KREBS on harmonica; KENNY SMITH on drums. The
recording was produced by a person who has, on several occasions himself, had me
wishing I lived in Chicago - NICK MOSS.
It didn't take
long for this disc to start impressing me. The opening track, an original
titled "1955", instantly had me shaking in my seat.
This shuffle reminisces about the 1955 blues scene in Chicago.
Man what an era that must have been.....Muddy, Buddy, Junior, Willie, Wolf
and so many more. MORRY, NICK and DAVE heat this one up on vocals,
harp and piano.
One of the
several reasons this track is "ROCKING" is because of the
outstanding rhythm. TED and KENNY, on the stand up bass and drums,
are absolutely phenomenal. Your feet and fingers will get a
workout on this one.
His baby's
"MEAN AND EVIL WAYS" seem to be causing MORRY quite a
bit pain. His scorching and emotional vocals will
attest to that. This blues burner features some seriously
slow and low down harp and blues guitar. Being the kind of stuff that
floats my blues boat, this is certainly one of the discs best.
Getcha dancin'
shoes on for this next one, 'cause "DANCE LITTLE MAMA" is gonna fill
the floor. This one had my fingers doing aerobics on the keypad, yet there
was no way I was keeping up. This swinger features a furious rhythm, hot
guitar licks and wild piano playing from DAVE.
On another
outstanding original, "I'M IN LOVE", MORRY'S cool style is
very reminiscent of DUKE ROBILLARD. His suave and assured vocals,
along with TED, KENNY and DAVE heating things up on bass, drums and organ, all
highlight this one.
On "THE
TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN", the guys make it sound more like the trains running
at full throttle. This all out smokin' jam's going so fast I think it
finished the three minutes and forty-two seconds it was supposed to be in two
minutes and thirty seconds. This is some hot stuff right
here. Tell me you sat still through this one and I'll tell you you're
a liar.
Other
swingers, shufflers and smokers on "SWINGIN', SHUFFLIN', SMOKIN"
are: :
"HUMBOLDT SLIDE", "STANDING
AROUND", "SIGNIFYING" (I'M A MAN), "YOUNG FASHIONED WAYS", "CAN'T HOLD ON MUCH
LONGER" and "STRAIGHTEN UP BABY".
Swing on over to
www.special20s.com and pick yourself
up a copy of "SWINGIN', SHUFFLIN', SMOKIN". While your there,
after you tell MORRY that the Blewzzman sent ya, ask him
to please send me the real estate section of the Chicago Tribune.
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