Review: Kilborn Alley Blues Band's new CD

Subject: Review: Kilborn Alley Blues Band's new CD
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 01:37 AM

The Kilborn Alley Blues Band has been rockin' the Chicago blues scene with their exciting performances of classic Chicago electric blues. Their first CD, "Put It In The Alley," released in 2006, introduced them to a national audience of blues fans. As it say's on that CD, "The Kilborn Alley Blues Band does gritty Chicago blues and Southern fried soul for all the generations of blues lovers." And do they ever. That CD was nominated for the Blues Music Award as "best new artist debut." The band itself is inter-generational, and their music both honors classic electric Chicago blues, and brings their own virtuosity, vitality and songwriting skills to every track. This is no "tribute band." They're the real thing.

"Tear Chicago Down,'" released this past October, is their excellent second CD. Nick Moss (of "Nick Moss and the Fliptops") produces their recordings, and joins them on guitar on several tracks.

Here's what I find special about this band and this CD: Some bands revolve around and focus on one or two lead players/singers. Some bands focus on an ensemble sound. Kilborn Alley straddles both worlds. They focus on ensemble, with no super-long solos by any one bandmember, but when they do take a short instrumental break, it is obvious that each one is a musician of very high calibre, not to mention the strong and soulful vocals by lead singer and songwriter Andrew Duncanson. Their overall sound is large, exciting and soulful. At this writing, my favorites on the CD are track 10, "Lay It Down," which has a similar sound and feel to the classic Willie Dixon number, "Mellow Down Easy," and the title track, "Tear Chicago Down." As with many albums, I'm sure my favorites will expand, as this fine album will surely grow on me more and more. I've yet to see them live, but understand they might be touring come summer '08. They deserve a wide following.

They are:
Andrew Duncanson, vocals and guitar
Josh Stimmel, guitar
Joe Asselin, harmonica
Chris Breen, bass
Ed O'Hara, drums

Guests on several tracks are:
Nick Moss, guitar
Gerry Hundt, organ
Dave Fauble, sax (track 8)
Abraham Johnson, vocals (track 8)

A great band deserves great recording production and CD graphic design, and this they get on Nick and Kate Moss's label, Blue Bella Records. Kate moss does the graphic design, including the photography, and both Kilborn Alley's CD's beautiful designs harken back to classic 60's blues albums, even having the whimsical touch of putting "stereo" at the top of the front covers.


If you love the blues, or if you are more inclined to rock music, or are eclectic in your musical passions, give Kilborn Alley, and for that matter, all the artists in the Blue Bella stable a listen. This label produces honest, blues-on-the-sleeve music.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Review: Kilborn Alley Blues Band's new CD
From: GUEST,blues lover
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 11:35 AM

Glad to see this review here. Blue Bella Records is a great independent label for blues musicians and bands. Kilborn Alley is an excellent group. The CD cover, incidentally, features a photo of a door on Maxwell Street from an old photo archive. You mentioned guest musicians Nick Moss and Gerry Hundt: they are from "Nick Moss and the Flip-Tops," another excellent, old-school Chicago blues band.

Subject: RE: Review: Kilborn Alley Blues Band's new CD
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 03:23 PM

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