Reviews

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The Terry B3er 4
"Cold Weather Blues"
Rootetoot Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © June 2011
It's gotten to the point that regardless of where you live, the weather can certainly be a cause for the blues. Everywhere you turn, there's one region or another that's suffering from too much or too little rain, tornados or hurricanes, floods or fires and stifling heat or in this case - as this Canadian band called The Terry B3er 4 would say - "Cold Weather Blues".The Terry B3er 4 consists of; Terry Blankley on vocals and keyboards; Michael Wainright on sax; Doug Swain, Frank Woodcock and John Meydam on drums; Al Matthews, Albert MacDonald, Bobby Watson and Johnny V on guitar; and Al Lerman on sax and harp.

"Cold Weather Blues" features ten tracks, of which eight are originals. And if soulful, gravel voiced vocals - reminiscent of Dr. John, Leon Russell, and Tom Waits - backed up by a blend of blues, funk and jazzy styles of music is your bag, then you're going to love this one.

Although the title track is called "Cold Weather Blues", the weather isn't the only cause for Terry's melancholic mood. You see, the freezing cold in his bones and the chill that he's feeling both came when his woman said goodbye. This ballad is highlighted by incredibly sincere and sorrowful vocals and great background B3 by Terry, along with torrid tenor sax riffs by Al. Very good stuff.

I actually had to wait for this track - "You Got The Heat" - to finish before I could write anything about it. What made that worse was I replayed it about four or five times. You see, each time it started, my eyes closed, my head dipped then bobbed and my feet and fingers started tappin'. You try typing in that condition. A beautiful and beautifully done track featuring soothing rhythm, soft keyboard and sax interludes, and great vocals.
This jazzy version may very well be the best version I've ever heard of "Let Me Go Home Whiskey". Doug's at disc's best on drums, Johnny V's hot on guitar and Terry is amazing on keyboards. As a matter of fact, his left handed bass playing had me looking through the credits thinking I missed the standup bass player. Excellent work right here.

In spite of loving Terry's vocals on this one as well, "Gig Blue" is one of my favorite musical tracks. Bobby and John are outstanding on guitar and drums and the uncredited percussion is awesome.

Other tracks on "Cold Weather Blues" include: "Money Rules", "Poulet Shack", "Lenny", "My Feets Keep Walkin", "Roll On" and "What I Like".

To check Terry Blankley out, and grab yourself a copy of "Cold Weather Blues", just go to www.terryblankley.com. While you're there, tell him his friend the Blewzzman - who is suffering from the "Hot & Humid Blues" - sends his regards.

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
The Blues Foundation's
2011 "Keeping The Blues Alive" Award!

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