Blues

Root Doctor - New Attitude (Feat. Freddie Cunningham) (2013)

2016-04-12T15:56:53Z

Root Doctor - New Attitude (Feat. Freddie Cunningham) (2013)


01. Rear View Sight (3:25)
02. Set Me Free (5:23)
03. Bring It Back (3:53)
04. Pay The Rent (5:56)
05. The Other Way (4:19)
06. Louisiana Bound (3:27)
07. You're Gonna Lose (3:49)
08. Baby, You're Bad (5:32)
09. Someone Else Is Steppin' In (4:11)
10. Land Of The Free (4:04)

Freddie Cunningham - lead vocals
James Williams – bass
Mike Skory – Hammond organ, keyboards, vocals
Bill Malone – guitar, vocals
Bobby Gardner – drums, vocals

If this, my first review of 2014, is any indication as to the quality of music I'll be working with this year then bring it on. Since 2006 this is Root Doctor's fifth release, and having all but the very first one, I do believe I'm qualified to say that "New Attitude" could very well be their best.

Although the band has had a few minor changes over the years, vocalist Freddie Cunningham and bassist James Williams seem to be the common denominators on all of the bands recordings. "New Attitude" features both of them along with: Mike Skory on keyboards; Bill Malone on guitar; and Bob Gardner on drums. Additional artist appearing on certain tracks include: Dave Matchette on harmonica; Mike Lynch on accordion; Andy Wilson on trumpet; Len`i Glenn on baritone sax; Jerrick Matthews & Michael Dease on trombone; Chad Bement on tenor sax; R. Gardner on washboard; and Lisa Bonotto & Glenn Brown on additional vocals.

"New Attitude" contains nine original tracks and a cover of a track that those of you who have seen the band live will recognize - Denise LaSalles, "Someone Else Is Steppin' In". "Rear View Sight" is the perfect opening track. It's well sung vocals, sharp rhythm, and outstanding guitar and keyboard leads do a perfect job of introducing the listener to the very talented nucleus of the band. It's also - and from what I'm hearing, I'm somewhat sad to say this - the only track that you get to hear the Dave Matchette's wonderful harp work.

"Pay The Rent" is one of those soft blues numbers that allow the piano and percussion vibes to carry it over into a jazzy mood. It's that perfectly sung, perfectly played attention commanding type of song that other than the music itself, one should be able to hear a pin drop in the room. In spite of everyone putting on a flawless performance, I can't help but feel that it's Mike's piano playing that steals this one. By the way, back in the early nineties, Mike was one of the bands founding members but until returning in 2010, had not appeared on any of their first three releases. Welcome back, Mike!

"The Other Way" is just one of several tracks that establish why "Featuring Freddie Cunningham" deservedly appears after the bands name. If I'm a vocal instructor, this is mandatory listening for my students. Monster rhythm from James, Bob, Mike and the whole horn section and a few scorching sax and guitar leads by Chad and Bill make it a killer musically as well. Play this one LOUD and play this one OFTEN.

It took exactly one note of this track and I knew Root Doctor was "Louisiana Bound". Leading the way on the accordion, with lots of help from Bob on the drums, Mike's got the band in party mode and as soon as you hear it, this Zydeco grooves going to put you into dancing mode.

"Baby You're Bad" is the disc's slowest and truest blues track and that right there makes it one of my favorites. Torch style, soulful and heartfelt vocals, high end piano notes that just tickle your ear drums, slow, gritty guitar leads that make your gut wrench and rhythm that just causes you to settle back into one of those relaxed finger tapping trances. Oh, yeah! It just doesn't get any better than this.

Other outstanding tracks on this superior project include: "Set Me Free", "Bring It Back", "You're Gonna Lose", "Someone Else Is Steppin' In", and "Land Of The Free". With this years Blues Music Awards already in the hands of the voters, I'm going out on a limb and saying that in a year from now, you may very well see this band and this CD on the ballot. I've already noted it as a candidate for the 2014 Blewzzy's.

To get your hands on this must have disc, go see the guys at www.rootdoctorband.com. And you know the drill, you're going to tell them the Blewzzman sent you. ---Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, rootdoctorband.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

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Root Doctor - Live At The Cadillac Club 2008

2016-03-21T17:04:32Z

Root Doctor - Live At The Cadillac Club 2008


1 	Hip Hug Her	6:09 	
2 	Walkin' out on You	5:06 	
3 	Keep Our Business off the Streets	3:35 	
4 	Love Bones	4:04 	
5 	Rainy Night in Georgia	5:20 	
6 	It's Too Late to Try to Do Right		5:48 	
7 	Been a Long Time Coming	4:19 	
8 	Foolish Pride	3:52 	
9 	Reconsider Baby	7:39 	
10 	The Turning Point	4:24

Freddie Cunningham - lead vocals
James Williams – bass
Jim Alfredson - Hammond organ
Greg Nagy – guitar
Rick Bole - drums

Root Doctor, a 2008 Blues Music Awards nominee, has entertained the Midwestern club-circuit for nearly two decades with memorable, high-energy live shows. A sensation wherever they perform, Root Doctor's sound has spread around the scene as they have finally become an internationally acclaimed Soul and Blues band.

Now, with a proof is in the pudding attitude, Root Doctor brings a typical live set to CD. Root Doctor: Live At The Cadillac Club! captures the band in front of an excited capacity crowd at one of Lansing's most unique live music venues.

Live At The Cadillac Club! features 10 prime cuts from Root Doctor's repertoire, each of them crowd favorites. Tracked while the band supported the release of Been A Long Time Coming, the set includes a mixture of songs from the previous two releases and three previously unreleased songs that are staples of Root Doctor's live shows.

The covers songs are especially noteworthy since Root Doctor puts its stamp on everything it touches. And nothing makes that clearer than this turbo-charged live set in front of an enthusiastic and highly supportive audience in Root Doctor's home town.

Michael Cloeren, festival director for The Poconos Blues Festival, described Root Doctor's show as "magical!" Frank Malfitano, former director of The Detroit Interntaional Jazz Festival, emphatically proclaimed that Root Doctor's set was "smokin!" And the Chicago Sun Times said "...Root Doctor fits together hand in glove." Now you can hear Root Doctor live and un-cut for yourself with Live At The Cadillac Club! ---cdbaby.com

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Root Doctor - Change Our Ways (2007)

2016-03-05T16:55:47Z

Root Doctor - Change Our Ways (2007)


01. Blues Will Take Good Care Of You
02. Root Doctor
03. Keep Our Business Off The Streets
04. Give Me Love
05. Lucky One
06. People Say
07. Soul Shine
08. Big Blue Cadillac
09. Change Our Ways
10. I Wish It Would Rain

Jim Alfredson - Horn Arrangements, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Tracking, Vocals
Rick Bole - Drums
Mark Byerly - Trumpet
Freddie Cunningham - Vocals
Lawrence Fratangelo - Percussion
Bobby Jensen - Trumpet
Keith Kaminski - Saxophone
Diana Nagy - Vocals
Greg Nagy - Guitar, Horn Arrangements, Producer, Vocals
Yvette Robinson - Vocals
James Williams - Bass, Vocals

Change Our Ways, the new CD from Root Doctor showed up in my mailbox yesterday afternoon. I've had a chance to listen to it twice, and I'm knocked out.

On paper, Root Doctor shouldn't really flip my switch. I prefer down home blues, and these guys are clearly more "uptown." My taste in R&B leans toward southern soul, while these guys clearly draw a lot from their Michigan predecessors. When it comes to jazz, I prefer the kind that borders on avant garde, while Root Doctor clearly has a fondness for the smoky, blues-based jazz of Jimmy Smith and Big John Patton.

So why do I like this record so much? Because it absolutely bristles with energy and intelligence. The band clearly has huge chops, and they're not afraid to show them off – but never at the expense of the music. The songwriting is strong and varied and the performances are polished but never sterile. There are hints of Albert King and the aforementioned Jimmy Smith, but also Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge and even Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels!

Highlights abound on this beautifully produced and brilliantly programmed record. I'm particularly fond of "Give Me Love," which plays like a rousing R&B barnburner, but has a huge dose of country swagger to it. It's not hard to imagine Willie Nelson and his classic seventies band tackling this one. Another favorite is "Lucky One," co-written by our own Greg Nagy. This beautiful, gospel-drenched ballad would fit perfectly on one of Solomon Burke's recent comeback records. "Big Blue Cadillac" is a slab of deep funk featuring Greg's searing, Funkadelic-inspired guitar work and bruising horn work from the Motor City Horns.

Six of the ten tracks on Change Our Way are originals, but the four covers are no mere filler. Warren Haynes' beautiful "Soul Shine" is given an anthemic arrangement, complete with an Allman-esque intro by Greg. You can practically see the lighters waving in the dark during this one. But to me, the most stunning cover on the record is Root Doctor's goose bump-inducing take on the Temptations classic "I Wish It Would Rain." Its spare, piano-led arrangement is tastefully augmented by mournful cello and violin, while lead singer Freddie Cunningham delivers one of the most soulful vocals this side of Muscle Shoals. Absolutely stunning.

Very highly recommended. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna give this thing a third spin . . . --- Jeff Konkel, organissimo.org

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