Sonic Blue – Shake The Blues [CD]
Format: CD
Catalogue No.: APMR014
Barcode: 0658556136959
Release Date: 26 Jul 2024
Genre: Blues
Sonic Blue is the band project of southeast London guitarist/singer/songwriter Stephen Brayne, whose pedigree takes in twenty years of playing the Blues circuit in the UK. Most recently appearing at The 100 Club in London in April 2024. He tours with the line up of Richard Marcangelo (also album co-producer), Steve Shone, Matt Withey. Shake The Blues is an album of songs of timely relevance – original and vintage songs which refer to the hard times of recent years - and ‘up’ Blues. Blind Alfred Reed’s song, ‘How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live’, from the Great Depression of 1928, is as relevant today. So to Jimmy Witherspoon’s classic hard-up blues ‘Times Getting Tougher Than Tough’. ‘I Don’t Need To Be Rich’, an original, also deals with the tricky question of money - some have too little, some have too much. Another original ‘Up All Night’, deals with recent tribulations, but takes a brighter look at the future. A stellar supporting cast adds real polish to the tracks. Notably vocalist Sarah Brown (Simple Minds/George Michael/Roxy Music/Simply Red) who positively illuminates the title track and closer ‘Up All Night’. The glorious Hammond is courtesy of Walter Trout sideman Mick Parker; original Climax Blues Band members Richard Jones and Derek Holt (writers of their classic hit ‘Couldn’t Get It Right’) guest on two tracks, Nine Below Zero’s current keyboardist Tom Monks brings some rockin; piano to ‘Rattlesnake’, complimented by slide guitar whiz Geoff Everett. Saxophonist Richard Martin and Trumpet player Dom Clark bring the Daptone vibe, with our own APM artist Mississippi MacDonald flexing his Albert King like fingers across ‘Long Cold Night’, Reviews in Rock n Reel, Blues Matters, Blues In Britain magazine. Radio charts IBBA and Roots Music Report UK.
Track listing: The Sun Is Shining; Long Cold Night; Rattlesnake; How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live; Shake The Blues; I Don’t Need To Be Rich; I Need Her; Times Getting Tougher Than Tough; Strut; Up All Night
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