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BENNY TURNER:
BLUE AND NOT SO BLUE (KING B) KB1001
Right off the bat
you know this is, at the very least, going to be a 'different'
blues album from Freddie King's little brother (yes,
that's right folks - legitimate, real biological brother) when
you read in the liner notes, "As a tribute to his two favorite
guitarists: Freddie King and Mighty Joe Young,
and to show his enormous respect and admiration for them, Benny
intentionally does not use any lead or rhythm guitar on this
CD with the exception of Dr. John playing rhythm guitar
on "Because of You". . ." Now, I've been a fan of Benny Turner
ever since the 1970s when he'd open shows for Freddie and then
Chicago's best road band, Mighty Joe Young's outfit (the Blues
Machine?) with a couple of great vocals and then four hours
of super-solid thundering Fender bass-playing.
But, as this album
proves, I've only just heard and seen the very tip of a big
blue iceberg when it comes to the talents of Benny Turner. I
live for albums like this. Benny has been leading blues diva,
Marva Wright's band in New Orleans for the past several
years and we awarded him "Best Bassist" in our 1997 Real
Blues Awards (U.S.) and I was expecting at least a solid
album from him or perhaps a New Orleans/Texas blues hybrid,
but I got a big huge surprise. What we have here folks, is nothing
short of a blues masterpiece and an epic undertaking.
Benny and co-producer
Sammy Berfect have given the world the best, the biggest
and the most beautiful blues album to come out of New Orleans
in recent memory. As a matter of fact, try as I might, I can't
think of an album to compare this with. This is in a class all
its own. The photo on the cover shows Benny in a sharp thousand-dollar
suit, custom-tailored with a martini in hand and a silver tray
of drinks resting on a beautiful white Rolls Royce (or Bentley?)
with a backdrop of blue satin. Pure elegance is conveyed by
this photo and that's exactly what you get inside this CD. Elegant
blues. Yet, this album never loses sight or touch with its roots
- so, what we have here is the perfect modern blues album. Contemporary
yet totally connected to the sources.
The disc kicks off
with Dr. John's New Orleans cat-house piano leading into "GI
Homesick Blues," "a totally New Orleans ditty with tuba and
banjo (courtesy of Tony "Tuba Fats" Lacen and A. B.
Brown respectively). Glorious and timeless French Quarter
stuff. Then its a swirling string-harp and classical piano backdrop
for an incredible "Remember," a lullaby that'll have you open-mouthed
in awe. The beauty is overwhelming. This is a hit if I ever
heard one! It should be on Black radio from coast to coast.
"Because of You" has a nostalgic feel, evoking memories of the
great songs and singers of the past. Dr. John's guitar is sublime
and Sammy Berfect shows off piano skills that are breath-taking.
I haven't heard production of this caliber since Solomon
Burke's magnificent CD of 1996 "Definition of Soul." The
next track, "I Can't Leave" is low-down, funky and groove-inducing,
while "So Deep" has a gospel feel, thanks to perfect backing
vocals and Charles Brown's blues piano. Spine-tingling.
I'm in heaven listening to this and I've played this CD at least
six times over the course of this review.
Recordings like this
are exceptionally rare events to be heralded for all to hear
about. Given that this is an independent release and a first
release at that by an artist and the label, Benny Turner may
have an uphill battle ahead of him despite the extraordinary
sounds he's produced. That's where independent comes in. Hopefully
we can create enough of a stir to get this CD noticed by the
mainstream media and Benny Turner gets what he deserves which
would be W.C. Handy and Grammy awards. Readers can do their
part by requesting local blues radio play it and play it to
death! 6 bottles for the best independent blues recording
to come out of New Orleans in decades. Bravo Benny Turner. But
what will you do for an encore?
--Andy Grigg-Real Blues Magazine
Look in February's issue of Real
Blues Magazine for its interview with Benny Turner.
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