One Dime Band - Live Hustle

Size: 156.3 MB
Time: 67:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

01. Babylon Clouds (Live) (3:50)
02. Mockingbird Way (Live) (3:52)
03. Brooklyn Town (Live) (Feat. Johnny Blue Horn) (4:00)
04. Dr. Shine (Live) (5:40)
05. What You Done? (Live) (Feat. Alizon Lissance) (5:36)
06. Gator In My Pond (Live) (Feat. Rob Ignazio) (8:14)
07. Blackfoot Sun (Live) (Feat. Ilana Katz Katz) (4:57)
08. Backbell (Live) (Feat. Mario Perrett) (6:12)
09. Soul To Keep (Live) (Feat. Robin Hathaway) (5:02)
10. Side Hustle (Live) (Feat. Holly Harris) (4:51)
11. Something Good (Live) (Feat. Jeff Majeau & Steve Wolpe) (4:59)
12. Let Me Love You, Baby (Live) (Feat. Nick "Old Soul" Spencer & Ken Edelman) (9:43)

One Dime Band is a dynamic and talented acoustic duo who have crafted their unique sound and songwriting approach by blending influential styles of Blues, R&B and Soul. They have played in and around the Boston/New England area as a duo and as a 4-piece electric band for many years.

Paul and John’s love of American Roots music started in New York State where they first met in High School, teaching each other Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly songs at the age of fifteen. The next year they formed their first band and began to incorporate Blues numbers into their repertoire.

Musical fate led them to Boston, MA in 1986. Their goal was to write and perform music professionally, so they formed a Blues band called The Roadhouse Sheiks, playing live extensively (even hosting a Blues jam at Jonathan Swift’s in Brighton, MA) into the early nineties. The two eventually went on to pursue separate musical endeavors, ultimately reuniting as a duo in early 2000, focusing on acoustic Blues.
In June of 2017, after more than 2 years of writing, recording, and mixing, they released their debut album of twelve original songs, Gonna Take Sweet Time, on their own label, Toneblanket Records.

Hoodoo & Holy Water, their follow up album, was recorded at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA. Engineered and co-produced by Rob Ignazio, released in February of 2020, it received notable recognition, including Blues Music Fan Radio’s Top 20 albums of the year and Blues Music and Metronome Magazine’s Top 20 lists of 2020.

Winners of the 2022 Boston Blues Society Blues Challenge solo/duo category and the 2023 Granite State Blues Society Challenge. The Duo returned to Memphis and made it to the Semi-Finals at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2024.

On February 9, 2024 they released their 3rd album, “Side Hustle”.

Live Hustle MP3
Live Hustle FLAC

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Ilana Katz Katz - In My Mind

Size: 96.3 MB
Time: 41:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Roots Music
Art: Full

01. In My Mind (4:15)
02. Woman, Play The Blues (4:40)
03. Nine Souls (2:08)
04. Won't Pass Me By (3:23)
05. Time To Go (4:02)
06. Downtown With The Devil (3:13)
07. Ain't No Why (3:48)
08. Bad Child (4:39)
09. Well, Well Blues (4:45)
10. Hangman's Reel (2:44)
11. If (3:21)

It’s like finding another Scarlett Rivera – blues-roots fiddler/singer-songwriter Ilana Katz Katz has gone from Boston’s subway platforms to world stages. While Bob Dylan found Scarlett Rivera in the late 70s walking with her fiddle case in Greenwich Village, he took her off the streets to play gypsy violin on his “Desire” LP. Ilana was plucked from a crowd to play with blues guitarist Ronnie Earl.

One interesting tune “Woman, Play the Blues,” is impressive because I seldom hear the blues played via a dominant fiddle/guitar so well. Ms. Katz’s voice is perfect with a low-down tone that is as much seductive as it is provocative. The song works & most importantly she showcases it in such an original manner. She’s a natural, & a classically trained violinist to boot.

In My Mind is an 11-cut CD produced by Ghost Town Blues Band’s Matt Isbell (guitar/BGV/handclaps/tambourine). Matt recorded these with a haunting tint to the arrangements. Ilana provides sensitivity, & highly imaginative musical sweeps (“Nine Souls”). Amazing stuff.

“Won’t Pass Me By,” is an old-fashioned strut with deep bass tones (Chris Matheos) that follows the lead of Ilana’s fiddle. This tune could’ve been a great one for the late Billie Holiday. Exceptional. The lyrics work within the framework of the vintage circuity of this melody. Nice.

What I appreciate here is what many singers lack today – a signature sound, that’s recognizable as an original. There’s Ricki Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Allison Krauss & if you listen close Ms. Katz has that magical tone – she sounds like no one.

Her voice mixed generously with the bass-bouillon in the musical broth, crisp fiddle sawing, snap of drums, stellar vocalizing, melodies that aren’t old-styled as much as they are simply dipped in nostalgia with a twist. “Time To Go,” is excellent. But “Downtown With the Devil,” is superb. Captivating.
An Appalachian flavored “Hangman’s Reel,” is tastefully performed & this is where Allison Krauss & Ilana cross paths. Simply shimmering.

On this CD Ms. Katz (vocals/fiddle/shaker/porch board/handclaps) is joined also by Johnny Burgin (guitar), Stephen Dougherty (drums), & Kevin Houston (handclaps/BGV/Tympani and produced by Matt Isbell.

Adding some bluesy-jazz tones to “Ain’t No Way,” & far from cliches, Ms. Katz provides all the proof needed that despite her blues roots she is a diversified & versatile artist. “Bad Child,” simmers soulfully. Her intonation on these tracks is irrigated by the blues/soul tradition, her intuition: spot-on. Ms. Katz adds a Stax studio/Steve Cropper feel to “Well, Well Blues,” sings it straight with breathy prestige & warm tonality. In a word, these are all impressively done. I like this. ~John Apice

In My Mind MP3
In My Mind FLAC

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Ilana Katz Katz - Subway Stories (Feat. Barry Levenson)

Size: 109,7 MB
Time: 46:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Dont Forget (2:44)
02. Riley And Spencer (2:49)
03. Subway Blues (5:20)
04. Motherless Child (4:26)
05. Poison Days (4:39)
06. Like A Wino (3:59)
07. Ice Cream Freezer Blues (3:19)
08. Requiem (3:17)
09. Tribute To Slim Harpo (3:36)
10. The Excuse (2:30)
11. Road To Nowhere (4:04)
12. Dont Cross That Line (2:09)
13. John Browns Dreamsubway Light Of Mine (3:50)

Ilana Katz Katz started out playing on the Boston subway (hence the title of the album) before being spotted by Ronnie Earl who championed her playing. Of course if one goes back to the very earliest days of the blues violin was often used but it is fairly rare to hear it these days and Ilana plays well. Ilana wrote most of the material here with assistance from producer and guitarist Barry Levenson, Hank Van Sickle (bass) and Mike Sandberg (drums) making up the rhythm section.

The album was recorded in L.A. though some additional harp and piano was added by Sugar Ray Norcia and Anthony Geraci (recorded at studios in New England). The track that is probably closest to Ilana’s busking roots is “John Brown’s Dream/Subway Light Of Mine” which combines a solo fiddle instrumental with an adaptation of “This Little Light Of Mine”.

A couple of Barry’s instrumental tunes, “The Excuse” and “Requiem” have a light, jazzy feel. Anthony’s piano adds considerably to the tracks on which he appears: “Road To Nowhere” swings terrifically, Barry’s “Like A Wino” is good fun with rock and roll influences and the cover of “Ice Cream Freezer Blues” retains Roosevelt Sykes’ ribald sense of humour in some suggestive lyrics.

Ilana’s vocal style is unusual and may not be to everyone’s taste. Her songs are definitely blues and “Subway Blues” recounts some of her experiences busking. The lyrics to “Tribute To Slim Harpo” give a good flavour of Slim’s work and the playing is excellent with Sugar Ray’s harp capturing his style well. Indeed, there is plenty of good playing, so anyone already comfortable with Ilana’s distinctive vocal style should enjoy this album. ~by John Mitchell

Subway Stories

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