Showing posts with label Jerry Portnoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerry Portnoy. Show all posts

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Jerry Portnoy & The Streamliners - Home Run Hitter

Album: Home Run Hitter
Size: 121,3 MB
Time: 52:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Full

1. Home Run Hitter (3:53)
2. Poison Kisses (3:37)
3. Change It (3:24)
4. Shoulda Coulda Woulda (3:06)
5. Misty (2:29)
6. One Chance (3:43)
7. I Realize (3:34)
8. She Makes Me (5:01)
9. Real Gone Guy (3:13)
10. Black Tear Drops (5:18)
11. Can't Remember To Forget (2:39)
12. You're So Smart (2:51)
13. Runnin' With The Blues (2:46)
14. Lookin' For My Baby (3:29)
15. Blues In A Dream (3:06)

Another ex-Muddy Waters employee, Jerry Portnoy's biting, flailing harmonica style rivals any within contemporary blues circles for fluency, range, or emotional range. His vocals are effective enough, especially when punctuated by his harp accompaniment and solos. Portnoy began his professional musical career as part of Muddy Waters' backing band in the early '70s. Jerry replaced Mojo Buford in 1974 and he stayed with the band for six years. During his tenure with Waters, he appeared on the albums I'm Ready, Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live, and King Bee. In 1980, Portnoy, bassist Calvin Jones, pianist Pinetop Perkins, and drummer Willie Smith all left Muddy to form the Legendary Blues Band.

Throughout the early '80s, Portnoy stayed with the Legendary Blues Band, recording the albums Life of Ease and Red Hot & Blue. In 1986, he left the band and he briefly retired. By the end of 1987, he had returned to the scene, founding the Broadcasters with Ronnie Earl. Two years later, he and Earl had a falling out, causing Jerry to leave the group. Portnoy formed his own band, the Streamliners in 1989. Two years later, the band released their debut, Poison Kisses, on Modern Blues Recordings. Between 1991 and 1993, Portnoy was part of Eric Clapton's All-Star Blues Band. After leaving Clapton's band in 1993, he played a number of concerts, releasing his second album, Home Run Hitter, in 1995. Blues Harmonica Masterclass appeared six years later. /Biography by Ron Wynn, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Friday, December 22, 2017

Al Basile - Blue Ink

Year: 2004
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:56
Size: 131,2 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. I Got To Love And Be Loved (3:42)
2. The Catch-Up (6:40)
3. Just A Heartache (3:47)
4. Stop Knockin' (3:49)
5. Hooray For Me (And To Hell With You) (3:04)
6. Full Time Job (4:51)
7. Annie Get Your Thing On (4:10)
8. Hurt Me (4:05)
9. Lonesome Sun (3:06)
10. School In Hell (5:37)
11. Sugar Shock (3:19)
12. Fifth Of Never (5:08)
13. Say Your Prayers (5:33)

Former Roomful Of Blues member and lyricist Al Basile assembles a winning team to back him on his fourth solo album, Blue Ink, a laid-back collection of blues and R&B, including Roomful Of Blues' founder, Duke Robillard, and legendary harmonica player Jerry Portnoy. The eclectic set covers New Orleans R&B on "Lonesome Sun," Chicago blues on "I Got to Love and Be Loved," and Southern blues on "School in Hell," with Basile's witty and subtle lyrics providing a fresh take on each genre. /Allmusic

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Friday, December 26, 2014

Jerry Portnoy - Down In The Mood Room

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:35
Size: 118.1 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:43] 1. Doodlin'
[3:50] 2. So Slow
[3:34] 3. You Rascal You
[5:02] 4. Canadian Sunset
[2:14] 5. Lullaby Of Birdland
[4:33] 6. Lazy
[1:49] 7. Jug Band Waltz
[3:29] 8. Once Too Often
[4:14] 9. Sentimental Journey
[4:06] 10. Money
[4:52] 11. Stormy Weather
[4:09] 12. Mood Room Boogie
[4:54] 13. Endless Road

Harp master Jerry Portnoy give his blues a vintage swing on Down in the Mood Room, transporting listeners to the smoky jazz joints of a bygone era. This concept album is rewarding from start to finish, if you appreciate sultry jazz and blues played on the harp. Its classy retro tones will be a welcome change of pace for blues harp enthusiasts who like to mellow down easy. Producer Duke Robillard gives the album a wonderful vintage sound. Portnoy also proves he's no jazz slouch. On standards like "Lullaby of Birdland," "Canadian Sunset," "Sentimental Journey," and "Stormy Weather," his clarity of tone and sense of melody are remarkable, rivaling the original jazz harp impresario, Toots Thielemans. He doesn't just honk, he truly sings on this record. His harmonic and tonal gymnastics will amaze as well, as he jumps from a whisper to a wail in a single breath. The record's material is refreshingly diverse, while still common in theme. Beyond nostalgic ballads and blues, Portnoy cuts it up on a swinging rendition of Horace Silver's "Doodlin'" and several raucous originals. Highlights include his "Mood Room Boogie" and "Once Too Often." His noir-ish "Endless Road" is also a bona fide classic. Another nice surprise: Portnoy and Robillard's campy yet cool vocals, reminiscent of Cab Calloway. Robillard's reading of "You Rascal You" is priceless. This is jazz and blues in their pure form from two greats. ~William Meyer

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