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Deep Detroit
is the
kind of blues recording rarely heard any more in these days of
horn sections and synthesizers. What this disc offers is hard
Detroit blues, a harp/guitar/bass/drums lineup that plays slow
burners and stomping workouts descending from the Detroit legends
who helped the then-young California - born harp player hone
his skills - men like Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Burns and the Butler
twins... Through the entire disc, Shah's thick and rich harp
work supports his rough, club-honed vocals. Shah's own lyrics
speak in simple and direct language of the everyday experiences
of people who work for a living... Through it all, guitarist
Glazer plays Eddie Taylor to Shah's Jimmy Reed, providing elegant,
often understated support to Shah's harp leads. Only occasionally
does the guitarist step forward with a searing lead that takes
the fiery styles of men like Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin to new
levels... Listeners who like their blues "straight, no chaser"
will find Deep Detroit to be just the cure for what's
ailing you." "Shah sings
in a declamatory style, and while not pretty, is authentic and
convincing. The same is true of his harp playing... The blues
here is barbed - wire raw, except for Glazer's occasional over-the-top
rock influenced string-bending... I found Deep Detroit
to be an enjoyable romp." "The Detroit,
Michigan area has been home to California native Harmonica Shah
for decades. His unconquerable drive and determination has put
him into every club and festival in the area. His reputation,
additionally, has been growing geographically throughout the
states for years... Working closely with his "chef de guitar"
Howard Glazer, Shah stretches his deep guttural vocals and Little
Walter - styled harp. [Glazer's] work here is timely, well-balanced
with Shah's lead and consistently grinding... From the opening
"Dun Made My Getaway" to the closing "Repo Man,"
the music has a deep Chicago attitude and honky tonkin' Midwest
flavor... Deep Detroit is just that, and all that! Shah
and Glazer have a dynamite package here that should push their
horizons farther." "Here's
one of the best blues albums I've heard in a long time. It's
a rip-snortin' bunch of blisters that make you wanna dim the
lights, crank up the volume and throw some beers back... It's
got that real seedy bar-room atmosphere with a raucus crackling
electricity filled sound that puts me in mind of early Hound
Dog Taylor records and that's good... They've got a drum'n'bass
that'l loosen your window frames, a real lowdown, nasty harmonica
sound and a guitar player who could slice sheet metal... Shah
is influenced by Little Walter and Junior Wells and on this record
he plays a ton of harp - highly expressive and inventive but
never complicated... When Shah's taking the lead Howard slices
in and out of the groove with stabbin' fills and walking basses
but when it is time to solo he gets in there with big fat wedges
of slashing full-toned guitar... Between the two of them they
produce some of the most exciting blues you'll here this year.
Prepare to be blown away." |
California - born, Texas - raised and Detroit
- trained, Harmonica Shah has been a force on the Midwestern
blues scene since the late sixties. Shah has that classic Chicago/Midwestern
- down home/urban style in the spirit of Junior Wells, Little
Walter and Muddy Waters. Shah has appeared with artists such
as Albert Collins, Pinetop Perkins and Big Daddy Kinsley. Shah
was recently granted the "Lifetime Achievement" award
by the Detroit Blues Society. His "partner in crime"
on this release is the well - known Detroit guitarist Howard
Glazer. Glazer has recently received two local awards - Best
Guitarist and Musician Deserving wider Recognition. This CD contains
seven original songs written by Shah and friends. It was origionally
released in the UK by the Bluetrack label. It is being released
in the US by South Side Records and distributed in the US by
City Hall Records.
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