Customer Reviews

Great Unknown

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whether you are "sittin'on a mountain," in a "love funk," or wake up on the "wrong side of love" you will find yourself "opening the door" for Deanna Bogart's latest CD--"THE GREAT UNKNOWN." Walking down Duval street in Key West one Friday night after midnight I heard this "goood" music and had to discover what it was. I happened upon Deanna Bogart and untimately, the Great Unknown. If you drink from her cup, you will never be the same again. Her music overflows with richness, with spirit, with life. I like jazz. I like the piano of Jerry Lee Lewis. Deanna Bogart has the energy of Jerry Lee Lewis, but with a smoothness and style that is only Deanna Bogart. She attacks the keyboard with a crispness and flare that is captivating. Her music is well-written with content and with meaning that one can relate to. The talent of her entire band is evident. Eric Scott's voice really complements Deanna's. Kajun Kelly on guitar and Mike Aubin on drums are also true artists. If you like country, jazz, or blues, I would recommend "The Great Unknown." You can't stop yourself from falling for Deanna Bogart! Bravo Deanna!

I have seen very few musicians that have the fire and stage presence of Deanna Bogart. The Great Unknown does a marvelous job of capturing her charisma in studio form. Though Deanna is often associated with the blues genre, I found that this CD is more soulful and funky than bluesy. All songs were well written and recorded and display the great talents of not only Deanna, but the other band members as well. The songs on The Great Unknown have really hot, but appropriate, guitar, piano and/or sax riffs. I was especially impressed with the beautiful ballad "But You Know", which is a nice change of pace from all the other high-flying tracks. "Wrong Side of Love" is the best track on the CD for showcasing the band's talent. It has a great guitar lead from Kajun Kelley and a hot piano burn from Deanna. The bass and drums also make their presence felt on the "Wrong Side of Love". Every song on this CD is a great band effort. The music is very high quality and will never get old. Overall, it's a great CD to have for fans of any music loving genre.

Saw Deanna live last weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE, when she played and sang many of the tunes on this CD. Fabulous is the word for her. Bought her CD immediately and have been playing it all week in the car! Wonderfully inventive, exciting music for anyone of any age - I'm 63. Jim

This is a sonic delight. Deanna is high energy performer with a great gift of piano talent to boot. I loved the mix, which allows me to stresslessly hear the great lyrics. This CD is very easy to listen to repeatedly. Her performance is only topped by her live performances.

My wife and I first heard Deanna at Margaritaville in Key West. We went back every night we were there--for the music, not the margaritas! The Great Unknown is her latest and best. Every cut is excellent, and I have a handful of favorites. She has great energy and her keyboard work is wonderful. I just love the beat of the entire CD. I cannot wait until her next album is released. My only 'complaint' is that she doesn't have more of her music out on the market!

This release is the one to have if you want to check out this talented artist. It has a very clean sound and the lyrics are easily heard. Great guitar from Kajun Kelley complements Deanna's piano and sax work. I like every song on this recording and the way it covers various genre(s) to make it a unique sound. You'll hear R&B, blues, boogie-woogie, jazz and rock blended together. Deanna's vocals have a raspy and gutsy edge to them that is appealing and she plays a pretty good tenor sax. If you like Bonnie Riatt or Christie McVie (Fleetwood Mac) you will hear a few similarities here. The band behind her is very tight and Kajun's guitar work is excellent. I guess the closest that I can come to describing it is part Jeff Beck, part Stevie Ray Vaughan and maybe a lttle Santana. With the many choices out there, one could hardly go wrong with this CD. It has something for everyone but it's all good music!!

I'll take just a moment to add my kudos to the rest. Deanna and her band are an outstanding combination. Their exceptional, collective talent is obvious on this, her best CD release yet. I was lucky enough to speak with her about this particular CD. They put extra emphasis on generating as much energy in the studio recordings as they do at a live performance. The result is their best sounding, upbeat effort to date. It captures much more of their real presence than past efforts. Deanna can do it all; sing, write, play the Sax, Piano, Organ and she is real genuine good person too. Her band consists of a group of incredibly fine musicians. This is a polished, well put together CD. If you like Blues with a little boogey, a touch of Jazz, a dash of soul and a pinch of old fashion rock and roll then this is for you. What else is there?

Deanna Bogart (et al) break down the boundaries of tradition with this brilliant release. They prove that 'the blues' are a safe place for innovative and compelling musicianship. Sure we hear many of the common themes, (loneliness and happiness) but they are presented with a freshness uncommon to most traditionalists. She brings hope, and a cheerful attitude to a genre preoccupied with despair. Musically, Deanna is a powerhouse - a joy to watch, and a dream to listen to. She does double-duty on this outing - tickling the ivories, and providing some mighty nifty Sax work. Kajun Kelley goes where no blues guitarist has gone before. His hypnotic accuracy and masterful approach on cuts like "Love Funk" will make your head spin. My favorite tunes are the ones that showcase Deanna's intense emotion - "The Great Unknown" and "But You Know". With those songs, one can only hope to experience the love that's somewhere out there. "Peephole" and "O.K. I'll Play The Blues" are excellent pieces of musical craftsmanship that will make you glad to be alive. And if you ask this guy, being alive is what the Blues is all about.

I challenge anyone to listen to this album and keep still! Deanna Bogart is a gifted and true musician who very naturally and effortlessly makes that piano sing as an extention of herself. Combine her with a consummate corp of professionals behind her and you get a very tight and confident arrangment that gets your feet tapping at the very least. Her lyrics ring of genuine sincerity, and invite you in to share her most private emotions. Buy this album and be surprised, and don't miss an opportunity to catch her live.

Each of her previous 3 CDs kept getting better, but this one has taken a leap forward to a new level. My favorite song on the CD is "Wrong Side of Love". The instrumental ending is terrific and demonstrates her astounding keyboard abilities. If you like boogie woogie this is definitely the album for you. But there is also something for everybody here: blues, rock, country and jazz feel also. Listen to the lyrics of "OK I'll Play the Blues" and you understand where she is coming from. All her lyrics are excellent and go way beyond silly love songs. Her play on words equals the best of tin pan alley. The band is also great. Kajun Kelley's guitar style beautifully complements her playing. If you can, see them live. She's a little firecracker and they put on a total entertainment show.