The Rick Welter
Band
"I'm All
Yours"
Bluestopia Records
Peter "Blewzzman"
Lauro � August 2009
Rick Welter is one cool and
very smooth bluesman. Looking at the places he's called home,
one must wonder if those characteristics could have been geographically
acquired? He's a former New Yorker - that, of course would speak for the
coolness, who's lived in Chicago - probably where he honed his blues
skills, who now lives on the west coast - explaining his
smoothness. Now although his picture on the
discs cover represents an expression similar to when "The Fonz" looked
in the mirror on "Happy Days", my description is referring
to his music. "I'm All Yours" is cool, smooth, blues -
musically and vocally - from beginning to end.
Along with Rick, on Guitar & Vocals,
the rest of the cast on "I'm All Yours" are: Tom Royer on Drums &
Back-up Vocals; John Neish on Bass & Back-up Vocals; Steve Lindsay,
also on Bass; Jim Wallace on Harmonica; Bradley Scott on Percussion; Dave Keefer
on Back-up Vocals.
Put on your dancin' shoes when
"Come On" comes on. There'll be no sitting still for this
one. It's a fast one, beat and time wise, that will have you
swingin'. Tom and John will provide you with all the rhythm you'll need
for that. A nice 60 second guitar lead in the middle of this three
minute track is another highlight.
"I'm Sold On You", one of
several Rick Welter originals, is a real smoothie. Along with Rick's
soulful vocals, this one is highlighted by a great rhythm groove led by Tom and
very sharp harp leads by Jim. Too bad he's only on two cuts.
"In The Wee Wee Hours", is a hot one
that might have you thinkin' Chuck Berry. It's just one of those kind
of songs, musically and lyrically.
"It Just Ain't Right" is
another of my favorites. Partly because it's the other track which
features Jim, the very talented harp player, as well as some of Rick's
fanciest, tone changing, guitar work.
If your life's a little hectic and you just don't
have the time for a tropical vacation, then you need a little "Mexicali
Hipshake". Start off by fixing yourself any kind of rum drink
(leaving off the straw umbrella is OK), then put this track on loud
and walk out to your backyard. In no time at all you'll be looking
for something to limbo under. This fun instrumental is all
about great guitar and percussion work.
Other tracks on "I'm All
Yours" include: "Fairchild", "I Had A Talk With My Baby", "Goin'
Uptown", "I'm All Yours", "The Grind", "My Love Is Strong", "Rockin' Man"
and "I'm Gonna Forget About You".
What I found interesting about
this CD is, that when it was over, I realized that although I hadn't heard a
track that compelled me to hit replay, I still wound up replaying the whole
disc several times. As I said earlier, "I'm All Yours"
is cool, smooth, blues - musically and vocally - from beginning
to end.
Picking up a copy of "
I'm All
Yours" is as easy as going to
www.bluestopia.com, and stopping
by
www.myspace.com/rickwelterband will
allow you to say hello to Rick. Of course you'll tell him that the
Blewzzman, another cool new Yorker, sent ya.
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
