Slam Allen – This World 3.18.11
Chip Eagle | Mar 17, 2011 | Comments 2
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Slam Allen
This World
SoulWorking Man Records
BluesWax Rating: 8
New York’s Best Kept Secret
Raised in Alabama, Slam Allen has been an integral part of the New York blues scene for decades, often playing at Terra Blues in Greenwich Village. His last CD was 1998’s Things Sho’ Done Changed on Rave On Records.
For about ten years Allen has been the front man for The James Cotton Blues Band, as both lead guitarist and lead vocalist. Allen’s T-Bone Walker-styled guitar and vocal intonation always impress. This is nicely documented on James Cotton’s latest recording, Giant, on the Alligator Records label.
For this project Allen has written eight of the ten tracks, including soul-drenched numbers like “If You Got a Good Woman” and the Bob Marley-sounding “Find The Strength in Your Tears.” “Last One to Know” opens this recording, with a mid-tempo blues that displays Allen’s guitar and crystal-clear vocal. The song reminds me of Kenny Neal. “The World Don’t Stop Turning” is a very good modern blues. Allen’s influences include B.B. King, Albert King, Otis Redding, and Solomon Burke.
Covers include a Caribbean version of Tracy Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You Tonight.” On it Mark Hanza’s organ creates a mood of languid reflection, which is interrupted by Allen’s guitar solo. The rhythm section includes Jeff Anderson on bass and drummer Marko Dior Dievic. Though the words are almost spoken, its emotional intensity is powerful. “Let the Good Times Roll” is the classic popularized by B.B. King and Allen does it justice.
The album closes with the title track, “This World.” Allen is not a flash in the pan, as he has apprenticed with the finest blues artists in the business. He is here to carry on their tradition.
Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor to BluesWax. He welcomes your comments below.
Filed Under: BluesWax Weekly • This Week's BluesWax • Weekly CD Reviews
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Slam is currently appearing aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines EPIC-the 3rd largest liner in the world.
He’s simply phenomenal!!!
The ship has it’s own Jazz and Blues club-Fatcats. It’s a pricy venue-the club is free but you have to pay for a cruise!! slam is the featured artist there. He plays nightly to an eclectic audience of cruisers from all over the world. One night he had a guest drummer jammin’ who was a rock ‘n roller from Texas along withan old guy on the sax who I think was a classically trained musician. slam let them do their thing and make it all work. He is the consummate showman. everyone in the room could relate in some way to him. My wife is not a blues lover and she went back a second night to see him!!
Slam is currently appearing aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines EPIC-the 3rd largest liner in the world.
He’s simply phenomenal!!!
The ship has it’s own Jazz and Blues club-Fatcats. It’s a pricy venue-the club is free but you have to pay for a cruise!! Slam is the featured artist there. He plays nightly to an eclectic audience of cruisers from all over the world. One night he had a guest drummer jammin’ who was a rock ‘n roller from Texas along with an old guy on the sax who I think was a classically trained musician. Slam let them do their thing and make it all work. He is the consummate showman. Everyone in the room could relate in some way to him. My wife is not a blues lover and she went back a second night to see him!!