Richard Martinez & the Renown Sound
One Eye Open
At first, One Eye Open, the new offering from Richard Martinez and Renown Sound, is reminiscent of something from the glory days of KKDA. More horns than guitars, more soul and funk than Texas blues, with Dallas drum genius "Popcorn" Louden in the engine room for most of the trip. Richard raps, scats, and, most of all, croons. If you already iPod Tony Bennett, Lyle Lovett's Large Band and the Brian Setzer Orchestra, you can fold this music into the batter. It's the kind of 50's tinged jazz that's just what the doctor ordered while fumbling through your kitchen to mix that Sunday morning Bloody Mary.
Apart from two Muddy Waters chestnuts ("Blow Wind" and "Mojo"), the 14 tracks here are all originals. If you remember the great David Bromberg records from the 1970's, and the pleasure of hearing Peter Ecklund play a trombone solo where a guitar solo ought to be, this disc will give you that old feeling again. The blues here ("Blow Wind", e.g.) are, like Joe Williams' "Every Day I Have the Blues," blues by union musicians at the Venetian Room.
And speaking of first-call union cats, the late, great Marchel Ivery (who died of pneumonia last October at Parkland) is prominently featured on several tracks. Ivery, best known for his recordings with Joey DeFrancesco, receives star treatment here. The sparkling production contrasts perfectly with his famously vocal sax tone.
Unlike most releases featured in SW Blues, One Eye Open is comparatively light on guitar. Danny Sanchez, Matt Woodburn and Todd Parsnow play guitar (individually) with both soul and precision, but they’re used sparingly (on a few tracks, not at all). The horns and vocals carry the day here, not the Fenders and Gibsons. On 10 cuts, Popcorn Louden sounds like he's channeling Sammy Davis Jr.'s arranger, George Rhodes.
Above all, this is Richard Martinez' baby; vocals, lyrics, music, arrangements, trombones and euphonium, and, one imagines, he catered the sessions as well. He sings like a horn player, too, with surefooted melodic instincts and courageous "Outside" timing. His playing and singing are muscular, confident and smooth, By all means, check out the bonus tracks. Freddie Jones blows trumpet on “One Eye Open” as if staging a rematch with the Walls of Jericho.
- Sherman Allen -
Southwest Blues CD Review - August 2008
Current Reviews -
2008 Reviews - available
directly from the artist
