Stories For The Blue

The Malcolm Clark Band

review by Tony Engelhart

tengelhart@earthlink.net

Combining shades of Jazz, Latin, and Funk, singer/songwriter Malcolm Clark and his band delivers a top-notch debut of stripped down and totally exposed blues.

Less than three years old, The Malcolm Clark Band are already gaining regional acclaim in their home-town of Tacoma, Washington as well as sister city, Seattle, and have become a essential element on the Northwest festival circuit. Playing a traditional and acoustic style of blues, which is clean and unadulterated, is what sets this band apart from many others in the area.

Comprised of all original material, the record kicks off with the laid back shuffle, ‘Lucille’, which immediately showcases two essential ingredients of the Malcolm Clark Band’s sound. The tasty harmonica playing of Smokin’ Joe Straight and the flowing saxophone of Ernie Perea are both featured throughout this recording. Dipping their toes into the Caribbean on two tunes, ‘Nevy’s Song’ and ‘Gunslinger Jim’, include Ernie on flute amongst Latin beats, indigenous percussion and Clark’s inventive story-telling lyrics. Malcolm’s meticulous finger picking style is introduced on ‘Baby Walks With Me’ and continues throughout the entire disc.

“Not Your Ordinary Blues” is The Malcolm Clark Bands’ self proclaimed motto and this recording is evidence of that. Being rooted in a smooth Chicago Blues style but employing traditional instrumentation to create a distinctive sound is what gives this record merit.

Available at: http://nwblues.com/