Bill Stuve
Flyin’ Right
UA CD005
There was a period in time when the blues had a swing to
them. Cool cats in Ray Bans with big, upright basses dominated their spot on the stage,
locking in with the drummer and thumping out a groove so irresistible you had no choice
but to jump up and dance.
When was that? The 1940's? The 50's? How about
the 2000's - right now, in Bill Stuve-land! Those swanky, classy blues are on
Bill's 3rd independent solo CD Flyin' Right.
Released on Stuve's amusingly named "Upright/Allnight Productions" label (what a double entendre!), Flyin'
Right is 12 tracks of pure jump and swing blues joy. World reknowned for his many years as
the bassist for Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers and now with the Candye Kane Band, Bill
proves on this release he's no one trick pony. In addition to playing string bass and
rhythm guitar, he also sings all the songs, served as co producer and wrote 8 of the 12
songs!
All of which are gorgeous in both musical and lyrical
structure. The music is romantically retro; you can close your eyes and picture the
upscale clubs with the clientele dressed to the nines, and the band dressed even sharper.
When a cigarette in one hand and a martini in the other constituted the peak of
sophistication. But listen closely - the lyrics are very today (often with a
tongue-in-cheek amusing twist), making the songs both nostalgic and fresh at the same
time. These songs move and groove - even the slowest paced cut on the disc, the
sultry "Too Late For Tears". makes you sway.
Not a blues-monger but a blues-stylist, Jump Blues is
Stuve's specialty, and with each passing year and every new release, he hones his
talent at it to an ever increasingly sharp edge. Get Flyin' Right and get hip to the
blues!
- Blue Lisa -
Southwest Blues CD Review - December 2007
Current Reviews - 2007 Reviews
