CD -"Blues is My Life" – Chris Harper and Sharade Band
This guy was new to me, so I listened to “Blues is My Life” with a completely open mind. What I came away with is a sore hand from finger poppin’…this cat and his band are SMOKIN’ hot…
The opening cut, “Sweet Honey Sunshine” is a nice, jumpin’ tune that gets your attention right off the bat. Chris does not just play a harmonica…he owns it…and he makes you anxious to hear the next cut. “You’ve Got Me Baby” changes direction to a slow, smolderin’, smoky love song that not only has great back up vocals from Kay C. Reed, Mae Koen and Vanessa Homes, but begins to show Chris’s versatility which just continues throughout the CD. Changing directions again, “Groove Machine” pops out a funky groove with Chico Banks on guitar takin’ it to another level. (If this tune don’t make you wanna dance, check yer pulse…) Next up is the first cover on the album, “Help Me” (Bass, Dixon, Williamson). This is one of my two favorites, not only because I adore Alvin Lee’s version but Billy Branch’s harp and vocal also drive this tune perfectly. Another cover, the go-to “Stormy Monday” (Walker), is a sweet, slow beauty with Chick Banks on guitar and vocals. Chris’s harp and Gianluca Barroncelli’s sax make it even more so. This tune adds layer upon layer until you are drawn in completely.
If there was any doubt in my mind, up to this point, that this was not just another wannabe blues band, “Lid, Lie, Lie” put that doubt to rest. It is so good that you are not only enjoying the song, you actually feel bad for the guy…AND his woman. And again, simply beautiful back up vocals…these ladies sing like angels. “Checkin’ Up on My Baby” (Williamson) is an excellent cover that made me think of Junior Wells. I just wish it had been a little longer (2:26). Al Green’s “Sweet Sixteen” is a real sweet, rollin’ funky thang with just the right touch of horns, harp and sweat. The horns kick it up to an R&B classic at the end…like you are on a swayin’ train goin’ down a midnight track. “Deep Blue Sky” is the only instrumental included and it does a real nice job of showcasing the individual band members. It is also the only original that credits The Sharade Band, along with Chris Harper, as being the writers. Nice touch adding this tune.
The title cut, “Blues is My Life,” is my other favorite…nice, up tempo, FUNKY gem with Chico Banks on wah wah rhythm guitar, great horns and those back up singers…damn…did I mention these ladies were angels? I had a real tough time gettin’ past this one.
Harper’s and The Sharade Band’s versatility shine with “Soul Bossa Nova” closing out the CD. It was a real sweet blend of Latin, Blues, R&B and funk. They were very tight, very sweet and very professional. A word about The Sharade Band: When I was looking at the liner notes, I could not help noticing that all the members of the band were Italian…I mean, STONE Italian…Gianluca Baroncelli (sax), Stefano Moruzzi (guitar), Giacomo Lauria (keys), Albano Castrese (bass) and Enrico Cecconi (drums). I am thinkin’, ‘OK, Harper found a bunch of guys from Brooklyn.’ When I was reading the Bio on his website (chrisharper.ch), I found that Chris met The Sharade Band in Zurich in 2004. You guessed it, they are all from Italy. Duh… I would also be remiss if I did not mention Chicago horns members, Bill McFarland on trombone, Kenny Anderson on trumpet and Hank Ford on tenor sax. Tight, tight, tight! Chris Harper credits Sugar Blue with helping him get to this level of harp playing by changing from the lip technique to the tongue block technique. It was something that Sugar Blue picked up from Chicago’s Big Walter…not a bad lineage.
Initially, if I had to find a criticism of this album, I would have said that I thought Harper’s vocals were a little weak. The more that I listen, the more I like it. His voice has a genuine quality about it…and that only adds to the beauty of the music. I could come up with a dozen different ways to praise this CD but I think this one says it all: I’d travel to see Chris Harper and The Sharade Band…they are that good!
- Jim Bartilson
The opening cut, “Sweet Honey Sunshine” is a nice, jumpin’ tune that gets your attention right off the bat. Chris does not just play a harmonica…he owns it…and he makes you anxious to hear the next cut. “You’ve Got Me Baby” changes direction to a slow, smolderin’, smoky love song that not only has great back up vocals from Kay C. Reed, Mae Koen and Vanessa Homes, but begins to show Chris’s versatility which just continues throughout the CD. Changing directions again, “Groove Machine” pops out a funky groove with Chico Banks on guitar takin’ it to another level. (If this tune don’t make you wanna dance, check yer pulse…) Next up is the first cover on the album, “Help Me” (Bass, Dixon, Williamson). This is one of my two favorites, not only because I adore Alvin Lee’s version but Billy Branch’s harp and vocal also drive this tune perfectly. Another cover, the go-to “Stormy Monday” (Walker), is a sweet, slow beauty with Chick Banks on guitar and vocals. Chris’s harp and Gianluca Barroncelli’s sax make it even more so. This tune adds layer upon layer until you are drawn in completely.
If there was any doubt in my mind, up to this point, that this was not just another wannabe blues band, “Lid, Lie, Lie” put that doubt to rest. It is so good that you are not only enjoying the song, you actually feel bad for the guy…AND his woman. And again, simply beautiful back up vocals…these ladies sing like angels. “Checkin’ Up on My Baby” (Williamson) is an excellent cover that made me think of Junior Wells. I just wish it had been a little longer (2:26). Al Green’s “Sweet Sixteen” is a real sweet, rollin’ funky thang with just the right touch of horns, harp and sweat. The horns kick it up to an R&B classic at the end…like you are on a swayin’ train goin’ down a midnight track. “Deep Blue Sky” is the only instrumental included and it does a real nice job of showcasing the individual band members. It is also the only original that credits The Sharade Band, along with Chris Harper, as being the writers. Nice touch adding this tune.
The title cut, “Blues is My Life,” is my other favorite…nice, up tempo, FUNKY gem with Chico Banks on wah wah rhythm guitar, great horns and those back up singers…damn…did I mention these ladies were angels? I had a real tough time gettin’ past this one.
Harper’s and The Sharade Band’s versatility shine with “Soul Bossa Nova” closing out the CD. It was a real sweet blend of Latin, Blues, R&B and funk. They were very tight, very sweet and very professional. A word about The Sharade Band: When I was looking at the liner notes, I could not help noticing that all the members of the band were Italian…I mean, STONE Italian…Gianluca Baroncelli (sax), Stefano Moruzzi (guitar), Giacomo Lauria (keys), Albano Castrese (bass) and Enrico Cecconi (drums). I am thinkin’, ‘OK, Harper found a bunch of guys from Brooklyn.’ When I was reading the Bio on his website (chrisharper.ch), I found that Chris met The Sharade Band in Zurich in 2004. You guessed it, they are all from Italy. Duh… I would also be remiss if I did not mention Chicago horns members, Bill McFarland on trombone, Kenny Anderson on trumpet and Hank Ford on tenor sax. Tight, tight, tight! Chris Harper credits Sugar Blue with helping him get to this level of harp playing by changing from the lip technique to the tongue block technique. It was something that Sugar Blue picked up from Chicago’s Big Walter…not a bad lineage.
Initially, if I had to find a criticism of this album, I would have said that I thought Harper’s vocals were a little weak. The more that I listen, the more I like it. His voice has a genuine quality about it…and that only adds to the beauty of the music. I could come up with a dozen different ways to praise this CD but I think this one says it all: I’d travel to see Chris Harper and The Sharade Band…they are that good!
- Jim Bartilson
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