WBS CD review

Lick my Soul!

Harmonica Playboy & his Midnight Movers

Reviewed by Brian Lee

It’s been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait! Harmonica Playboy and his Midnight Movers new CD “Lick My Soul” is here and it’s superb. With Mike Lynch on harp and vocals, Tim Sherman on guitar, Conrad Ormsby on drums, Howard Hooper on Bass, and special guest Ron Weinstein on Hammond B3 and Piano, these guys are all at the pinnacle of the Northwest blues scene. With consummate musicianship, excellent material selection, and great feeling throughout, this is a real taste treat. You need this CD!

Mike Lynch has been singing and playing harp since the early seventies and his experience really shows. He has a fine voice and his harp tone is deep and soulful, with refined and tasteful phrasing, impeccable timing and feel. Tim Sherman’s guitar playing is excellent throughout, with great versatility, personality, and style. He conjures a broad range of moods from West Coast Swing to classic Chicago and Texas styles that really fit the tunes while staying true to his own sound. Really fine!

Rhythm doesn’t get any tighter than with Conrad Ormsby and Howard Hooper. These guys are right on it. Whether swinging hard or laying back, they really capture the feel with excellent timing, emphasis, and interplay. Their subtleties really make it happen.

Ron Weinstein’s very fine keyboard/organ fills add body and punch to the arrangements and he also plays really excellent solos that contrast well with Tim and Mike.

Let’s walk through this fine collection of tunes and I’ll touch on some favorites in an attempt to describe the soul of the album.

Lick My Soul kicks off with “Scufflin’”, a very fine instrumental that showcases the full band line up and establishes a very cool groove. Mike and Tim tightly double the signature jazzy swing riff for a big sound to set the stage for fine solos from Tim, Mike and Ron. Tim solos with creativity and flair with a west coast swing groove. Mike’s deep warbling tone and jazzy phrasing is up next, and the tight band interplay accenting his solo lines is the stuff! Following Mike, the band drops it down and Ron launches into a really fine piano solo that starts low and mellow and builds tension while moving up the keys as the band follows suit. We’re then led back to the signature riff and a tight refined ending that leaves you satisfied but wanting more. Tasty, cool, and polished!

Afterglow, (I believe a tune by previous bandmate Tom Boyle) is a cool medium- paced tune with a west coast swing feel and modern lyrics and soloing. This is a really nice arrangement that the guys stretch out on.

With “That’s Alright”, the band takes us back to the straight ahead fifties Chicago sound, blending the Jimmy Rogers’ 1950 hit with harp addition reminiscent of Walter Horton/Little Walter. This is traditional Chicago blues played with great feel, and is a really fine arrangement of a classic tune. Later in the album, the band picks up classic Chicago sounds again with Little Walter’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”, and Eddie Taylor’s “Big Town Playboy”. This is tight ensemble playing with great interplay between the rhythm section and leads. Everyone in the band nails the signature elements of these tunes while making their own musical statement.

“Chicken Heads” (which as best I can recall is a Bobby Rush tune—Mike how about including some credits?) gets funky, with Tim’s deft rhythm playing and Ron’s funky organ stabs driving it along in a greasy groove. Mike lays out horn tones on the harp for a great solo

“Highway is Like a Woman” drops it down to a mellow slow groove with Tim’s soloing taking the Texas route along the lines of Freddy King. The perky “I’m a Lover Not a Fighter” adds some spice, while “Don’t Want No Woman” swings hard throughout with some big B3 sounds from Ron and fine pickin’ from Tim. The modern BB King favorite “Never Make a Move too Soon” adds dimension with a great rhythm feel driven by Howard and Conrad getting funky and fine. “G-Junior Shuffle” takes us out on a cookin’ instrumental groove with Mike really opening it up on his harp. Wailin’ guys!

Go get this record! Great tunes and great arrangements played with taste, style, and compassion by some of the best musicians in the Northwest. It’s a taste treat from beginning to end.

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