Customer Reviews

Bring It on Home

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4 star:		(2)
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The first James Montgomery CD in many years. A very cool selection of tunes ranging from straight-forward porch-stomping tunes (with the legendary James Cotton guesting on a few tracks!) to spaghetti western atmospheres like the their version of Hank Williams' "Ramblin Man". Bo Diddley's "Mona" rocks a la Bloomfield. "The Sleeper" grooves like a Los Lobos track. This is a very modern, yet tasteful take on traditional blues. It sounds both classic and contemporary at the same time. The vibey production really sets the stage for James. Great guitar work. Some of James' strongest singing and of course some killer harp. Plenty to love.

James still brings it with the best. This collection is the ideal selection of songs for both those with a passing interest and blues fanatics. Paying homage to his mentors, he's chosen songs that represent his experiences playing with Junior Wells, James Cotton (who plays on this recording), John Lee Hooker, and others who carved out reputations in Detroit's Hastings Street venues, James shows that he's always had what it takes to play the very highest quality blues. Produced by Marc Copley, who plays an incredibly rich guitar on the recordings, this is one for the collectors as well as the casual listeners. For those fortunate enough to have seen the JMB on a regular basis as they developed a huge following playing around Boston, South, and North Shores in the 1970s, this is a gift from the past. We always knew we were listening to something special in their Crow Point-based days, but we were also enjoying it too much to contemplate where these guys actually stood in the scheme of blues history. Now we know!!! Buy this CD only if you want to be thrilled with some of the finest blues and harp playing you've heard in years.

Montgomery is a hard blowin' harpist out of Boston. On this disc, Montgomery pays his respect to the Detroit musicians that influenced him including John Lee Hooker and various visiting musicians from Chicago like Junior Wells and Paul Butterfield. Montgomery also has James Cotton join him on two cuts, "Smokin Blue", an acoustic number and on Junior Well's hard edged "Junior's Jump". Guitarist Marc Copely, keyboardist Tom West, bassist David Hall and drummer Marty Richards provide the back beat for Montgomery's Texas tinged vocals and harp playing. The harp playing is exceptional and the rest of the band is very tight. The CD could have gotten by without Hooker's "Dimples", but that is a minor critisim for a surprisingly good disc.

James Montgomery and his band have been staples of the Boston blues scene for years, giving great high-energy shows and, in the studio, moving back and forth between classic blues arrangements and more pop forays, like his early eighties' recording of "Brickyard Blues," which might have been a breakout hit for him had Three Dog Night not released an inferior (but better marketed) version just weeks before - alas!

On this one, Montgomery is completely in the classic blues side of things, traveling the metaphoric journey back to his own Detroit roots, honoring one of motown's greats, John Lee Hooker, with a great cover, and slimming down his band's sound to the core gritty essence. And it works. His band is tight, his solos are massive (there are moments when he seems to be channeling Little Walter), and the interplay with guitarist Marc Copley and guest (and fellow harpist and mentor) James Cotton is raw and vibrant.

Montgomery is a hard blowin' harpist out of Boston. On this disc, Montgomery pays his respect to the Detroit musicians that influenced him including John Lee Hooker and various visiting musicians from Chicago like Junior Wells and Paul Butterfield. Montgomery also has James Cotton join him on two cuts, "Smokin Blue", an acoustic number and on Junior Well's hard edged "Junior's Jump". Guitarist Marc Copely, keyboardist Tom West, bassist David Hall and drummer Marty Richards provide the back beat for Montgomery's Texas tinged vocals and harp playing. The harp playing is exceptional and the rest of the band is very tight. The CD could have gotten by without Hooker's "Dimples", but that is a minor critisim for a surprisingly good disc.

GREAT!!!!!! BEST CD PUT OUT BY JAMES MONTGOMERY BLUES BAND.