Big Joe Maher and The Dynaflows are back at
it again with their latest release Big Joe and the Dynaflows - You Can't
Keep a Big Man Down, which
combines blues, jazz, Chicago blues, a bit of New Orleans, Texas
blues, and more on this animated release that sings about neighbors, cousins,
troubles, love, and survival.
Big Joe and the
Dynaflows - You Can't Keep a Big Man Down
Big Joe and the Dynaflows - You Can't Keep a Big Man Down:
You Can't Keep a Big Man Down; Bad Case of Love; Evangeline; Property
Line; Whatcha Gonna Do?; Someday; Confessin' The Blues; Face The Facts;
Supercharger; Nothin' But Trouble; I'm To Blame; What the Hell Were You
Thinkin'?
Personnel: Big Joe Maher: Drums, Vocals; Kevin
McKendree: Piano, Organ; Bill Campbell: Bass; Rob McNelley: Guitar; Dennis
Taylor: Saxophone
Big Joe and the Dynaflows - You Can't Keep a Big Man Down
was produced by Big Joe Maher and Kevin McKendree, and released on the Severn Record label. Big Joe may
not be a household name, but with the release of Big Joe and the Dynaflows -
You Can't Keep a Big Man Down that
should be changing, at least for the music lover of blues, jazz, Chicago blues,
the New Orleans sound, Kansas City jump, or Texas blues; he does it all, and he
does it with style. This marks Big Joe's third release on Severn Records,
Inc. and follows his 1998 release I'm Still Swingin', and the 2000
release All Night Long.
The release opens with the title track You Can't Keep a Big Man Down, written by Big Joe, which was
influenced from a severe fall that he took in 2001 that almost took this blues
treasure permanently away. But, he recovered with a fire that is heard in his
drumming and in his powerful and passionate vocals. Drawing on the soul of Chicago blues, the song lets
you know that you are in for a rip-roaring release, so let your inhibitions go.
The release follows with the cover of B. B. King's Bad Case of Love, and with Big Joe's Texas blues arrangement, you have a
rollicking rendition.
Evangeline holds a
special place in Joe's portfolio of songs as he wrote the New Orleans influenced track for his cousin's
daughter; the song has a scintillating swing beat that will keep your
attention. Property Line is another
Big Joe track with a definite blues beat as he tells the story of neighborly
interaction that goes beyond being friendly, "Cause if you cross that line my
friend, that's going to be your behind."
The track Whatcha
Gonna Do? (Billy Wright) is jump blues at its best and the band grabs a hold
of the song with their vibrant arrangement. Someday
(Johnny Green) slows it down, and through Big Joe's deep and reverent vocals, coupled
with the blues, he casts the emotions of despair and loneliness; a touching and
heartbreaking track. The track Confessin' The Blues (Jay McShann) is a
perfect fit for Big Joe's vocal prowess, and along with his drumming, this song
has vibrato, a swagger, and a lot of Kansas
City jump. Face the Facts is all about Big Joe and
the band as they get down and dirty with this blues track that has Joe singing
"Face the facts, yeah brother you gotta face the facts, you gotta face the
facts brother, you got to get up and go." The track Supercharger gets things rocking with a supercharged track that is
led by Big Joe's bigger than life drumming, and the pulsating guitar work of
Rob McNelley. Nothin' But Trouble is
a track about "... trouble, I see nothing but trouble, trouble and me. I see so
much heartache and trouble, how much more can there be," it is the blues at its
best with a bit of arrogance tossed in.
The release also includes the cover I'm to Blame (Jimmy McCraklin), a rousing arrangement where Big Joe
and the band let it loose, and the track What
the Hell Were You Thinkin'? (Delbert McClinton, Kevin McKendree, and Tom
Hambridge), a lively hopping beat lead by the keyboard work of Kevin McKendree.
Websites where you can procure Big Joe and the Dynaflows
- You Can't Keep a Big Man Down are Severn Records, Gallery
of Sound, Amazon,
Yahoo,
and CD
Universe.
© February 2011. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com.
All rights reserved.
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