Customer Reviews

Power of the Pontchartrain

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every time you buy a Tab Benoit's CD you can be sure that you will not be disappointed. And, as always, the brand new "Power of the Pontchartrain" confirms that rule. Excellent material played extremely well by Tab and the accompanying band. This time the "Louisiana's Leroux" are the supporting band and this is not irrelevant to the great final result. In fact the band spent several years, as explained in the linear notes, with one of the greatest Louisiana blues player of all time Mr. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. The album is really very good and I would take the risk to say that from my point of view this is Tab's best effort so far. Tab's voice sounds great as always and the guitar playing is absolutely fantastic throughout the entire CD. The excellent and clean production and sound of Telarc Blues deserve a mention too. All the eleven songs in the menu are very strong and you will not be tempted to use the skip bottom of your CD player at any time, however I believe that a special mention is deserved by the great cover of the Stephen Stills' classic "For what it's worth", by the deep blues "Midnight and lonesome" that for me is the best cut of the bunch, and by the two mid tempo "Somebody got to go" and "Addicted". Very highly recommended for all the blues lovers.

Once again Tab Benoit has outdone himself! His artistry shines on this album like never before! Gritty, haunting blues in Midnight And Lonesome, High steppin, foot tappin sounds in Sac Au Lait Fishing, and heartfelt pain in I'm Guilty of Lovin You. I have been a diehard fan of Tab Benoit for many years and must say this is one of his best efforts yet. I can hardly wait to see him live on stage again!

I never worry when I buy a Tab Benoit CD because his material is consistently good and his style doesn't change much over time. He is a superb rhythm guitarist and songwriter and a great live performer. His Louisiana style of blues is on display again with Power of the Pontchartrain. Besides the title cut, my favorite tune is Sac-Au-Lait Fishing, which makes you want to get up and dance. I also like One Foot in the Bayou. All in all, a great CD if you like a New Orleans style blues band.

Popped this into my CD player in the car the minute I got it and 5 minutes later was actually saying "Holy Smokes!!" outloud. Like all his music this CD is a knock your socks off collection of music. We saw him in person this summer and he is fabulous. Got called back for 2 encores and the crowd was screaming for more. He's the greatest guitar player I've heard since Stevie Ray Vaughn and he sings too!!

Folks, if you haven't had the opportunity to hear and/or see Tab Benoit, then you're missing one of the greatest blues guitarist's in today's world. This man has IT! His music is as infectious as his love for the bayous of Louisiana and the blues greats he has played with and learned from. Treat yourself to some great music when you sit back and crank it up listening to Tab sing and just wear out that Fender of his that's shown on the allbum cover. Enjoy!!

If you like the blues, Tab Benoit's project "Power of the Pontchartrain" is destined to become a permanent fixture in your CD player and mp3 playlists. From the opening guitar riff on "Don't Make No Sense" to the groovin' shuffle of "One Foot In The Bayou", this wonderful piece of earcandy will keep your toes a tappin'.

Pay particular attention to Tab's covers of Buddy Miller's "Shelter Me" and the Buffalo Springfield classic "For What It's Worth". Knowing the passion Tab has for his beloved Louisiana you can feel the desperation and angst still present in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

The band on this project "Louisiana's Leroux" is exactly the right ingredient to make this recipe work. Their craftmanship takes the listener on a journey of multiple grooves and feels that makes the music seamless and fun. If you're looking for something that moves you "Power Of The Pontchartrain" is what the Dr. ordered.

Brett Zion
General Manager
The Solid Rock Radio
www.officialsolidrockradio.com

After hearing the theme song to "Sons of Guns" and then seeing a video online of Tad doing it live, I wanted to hear more. I fell in love with his sound. Reminds me of John Fogerty and I love this kind of music. I am pleased with the purchase and will most likely be purchasing more of his albums. The fact that Tad is doing work to help the environment that has taken a beating in recent years down in Louisianna, speaks volumes about his character as well.

Louisiana blues ace Tab Benoit recorded this album using another Louisiana legend Leroux as his back up band for the album. The title track tackles the subject of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and it's effect on the city of New Orleans. Tab is in fine form throughout this album. His guitar playing is crisp and clean and his voice is as gruff and soulful as ever. Benoit has been churning out his special brand of Cajun blues for well over a decade now and it is a formula that he continues to improve on . Highlights include "Don't Make No Sense", "Power Of The Pontchartrain", "Midnight And Lonesome", "Sac-Au-Lait Fishing", and "One Foot In The Bayou". Tab also covers a cool version of Stephen Still's "For What It's Worth" with lyrics as fitting today as when they were written 40 years ago. This is yet another solid release from Benoit that follows in the tradition of his earlier albums.

I bought this CD for one song, track 3, Shelter Me. To my surprise and pleasure all the tracks are good but track 3 is still the stand-out.

Excellent Blues cd with a strong dose of Cajun from a very talented artist! I had never heard of Tab Benoit before I found him here on Amazon, but after hearing this wonderful cd, I'm anxious to get more of his work! I'm a true fan now!