Swingin’ the Blues

Powder Blues

The original line-up circa “Thirsty Ears” is still intact and fit to boogie, comprised of ex-Chicago producer/songwriter (for Long John Baldry, Amos Garrett, April Wine) Tom Lavin on lead guitar and lead vocals, Willie MacCalder on boogie-woogie keyboards, who has recently released a solo CD, Broken Down Piano, Adam Drake (Grapes of Wrath, Art Bergman and Holly McNarland) on drums, and renowned jazzmen Bill Runge on bass (former saxophonist for Powder Blues Band and an Alcan National Jazz Award winner), Bill Clark on trumpet, and Jerry Cook (Crash, Guitar Shorty, Pinetop Perkins) on tenor saxophone.

Formed in 1978, this self-made success story is a lesson in hard work, determination and an up-yours attitude that refused to be stymied by the music industry’s obsession with musical categorization. “Swingin’ the Blues” is their eighth release (along with a 1997 recording with Lowell Fulson) and continues their international crusade of “Boppin’ with the Blues”.

Anyone who is into the high-end of the big band/swing era sound will be delighted with this newest effort, although I must admit they are more suited to a dance venue like the Palais Royale than the staid Silver Dollar where it seems somewhat inappropriate to “shake a leg” in other than the conventional jitterbug/jive style of dancing if one is to be so bold to step out on the floor in the first place.

In any case, there was “good rockin’ tonight” (Roy Brown) as the band led off their set with the introductory track from the ankle-swinging, toe-tapping, Swingin’ the Blues and continued the CD promotion with “Further On Up the Road”, a tribute song to Bobby Blue Bland, Louis Jordan’s “Caledonia” and (Joe) Turner/Calhoun’s “Flip, Flop, Fly” (first popularized in Canada by the Downchild Blues Band in 1975 and whose saxophonist, David Woodward, performs on the Power Blues’ CD version of this track).

Not content to merely push the new merchandise, the band accommodated a request by yours truly for “Hear That Guitar Ring” - thanks! They also performed a couple of hits from their Uncut and Thirsty Ears albums, i.e. “Buzzard Luck”, written by Wynonie Harris, Tom’s original “Boppin’ With the Blues”, and “Tore Down” (Steve Thompson), popularized by Freddie King, Eric Clapton, and others. There’s an interesting blurb in the liner notes re the CD track, “Rockchopper”, concerning royalties and songwriting credit issues.

Listening to this top-drawer band play “live” for the first time was a very big treat for me. I would have no hesitation in recommending the purchase of this CD for anyone looking for a non-pharmaceutical “picker-upper”. Hey, I could even get into housework if this one’s on the laser beam!

Also enjoying the show was harmonica ace David Rotundo, who, apart from enjoying his own newly-released Blowin’ for Broke, is on the CD release trail with Jack de Keyzer (another swing-blues emanator) on whose newest CD, Six-String Lover, David is a guest performer. Local bluesboss Kenny Brown (and the Pervaders) was manning the sound board (and doing a great job of it!).