Customer Reviews

Rocket Number 9

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In May 2007 I went to see the legendary Buddy Guy in concert in San Jose. There were probably 6-8 opening acts scheduled that were basically unheard of. My son, and my friend and I, were in the beer garden which was cordoned off about 50-60 yards from the stage having a few "brewskies" in order to get fired up for Buddy, when I heard some musical sounds wafting my way that caught my attention. The first "cooking" sounds I heard were of a wailing "harp" being blown. Before I even focused on the stage I said: "Man! That sounds like the "Paul Butterfield Blues Band"! Then the whole band kicked in and it was vintage Paul Butterfield material. I said who the hell are these guys? Well, the answer to that question was, "Jason Ricci & New Blood". It was early afternoon and Jason shook the crowd out of its mid-day slumber with rocking-bluesy-stomping savagery, with his uninhibited harp shaking the crowd like the Pied Piper shook the rats! With each passing song Jason talked more "smack" to the crowd. I don't know if he had a late night the previous evening, but by the end you couldn't make any sense of what he was proselytizing about, but you sure didn't need an interpreter for his "harp".

I went up to buy a CD but he said they didn't have any, but to look on Amazon. I got home and checked Amazon and they didn't have anything with samples. Then last week I saw the release of this CD and bought it. Wow! 12 songs totaling 74 minutes. His "harp-blowing" on this CD transcends a full spectrum of diversity, from hard rocking blues, to sounds of what can only be described as a harmonica crying. What unbridled talent this young man has, and his band gets to highlight their talents on a number of songs also. On some instrumentals Jason sounds exactly like Paul Butterfield, and on others he sounds like the 13 year old Stevie Wonder blowing "harp" on "Ebb Tide".

Even more important than Jason's music, I'd like to congratulate him on his being "clean and sober" for more than 9 years now! Look forward to seeing you down the road brother!

I checked out this CD after reading an interview with Ricci in Blues Revue magazine. All I can write is wow! Great harp playing and a tight band as well.This is not your run of the mill blues, and Ricci and his band really push the envelope on this one - in a good way. In the magazine Ricci talks about his addictions, which he beat, and his coming out and worried what affect it would have on his career. Enlightened, educated people buy music based on whether they like it or not, not if the person is gay, straight, black, white, tall, short, etc, etc,, so Ricci shouldn't worry. He should spend his time making more of this great music.

This is it!
Harmonica at it's best.
I never knew anyone could play so many notes.
Jason Ricci write the hottest blues.
He demonstrates all styles of harp.
His band is very tight always with him.
Get this if you would like to own a hot CD.

Rocket Number 9 I knew from YouTube that Jason Ricci could play harmonica like nobody else but didn't know how well he could sing or that his guitar player was also incredible until I took a chance on this CD. Great playing and great tunes. And there's a lot more than just the blues here. This thing rocks. And for you tender hearts there's a beautiful melodic tribute to the guitar player's mom that even the most jaded rocker would have to admit is brilliant (c'mon, even Ozzie slows it down sometimes). I think you'll be as glad as I am to have this in your music collection.

Want to listen to a mixture of rock and blues till you drop? Then get Jason's album, it is that good! All the songs are winners. I have it on my Iphone, my computer, and in my head. He is the new generation of harp players that is raw talent. Jason has true mastery of the harp. You wouldn't be sorry.

Heard Jason Ricci and New Blood for the first time at the 2008 Johnstown Folk Festival (2008) and was amazed. Even my 12 year old daughter was loving the performance (which is great since she's into Jesse McCartney, Taylor Swift, and all those tween bands). I'm a definite fan and this CD is a great introduction to a world class player and band. If you like blues and harmonica in particular this is a must buy.

Having seen Jason Ricci and New Blood twice in 2007, I was really lookjing forward to this CD. It was definetly worth the wait. Jason is to the Harp as Jimi was to the Guitar.

Even if you have to skip a meal, sell some other cd's to pay for Rocket Number 9-DO IT!!! you will not be sorry.

This album smokes from start to finish. As a longtime fans of this band's live work, I wondered how it would translate to a "real" studio album. No worries. Producer John Porter somehow managed to capture the sound and the energy of this whirlwind and distill it onto CD. Every member of the band steps up their game and really kicks. And what's cool about it is that it's not just about the harp, it's about the songs, and the band, and that unique place in jam space they inhabit.

It's too hard to describe these guys to someone who hasn't heard them (especially live). Just go ahead and buy this album, and catch their tour, and listen to them blow your mind into next Thursday.

Jason Ricci is an absolutely amazing harmonica player using it to do things that you really never hear other harp players do. He plays it like a horn, pulls recognizeable guitar scales out and other techniques that make his sound quite distinguishable.

His band has a smoking hot guitarist throwing out all types of styles that transcend out of the blues realm. Lastly, his bass player is a repressed funkster and that instrument is just waiting to start popping.

They are a blues band yet they have no problem leaving that genre to pursue funk, swing, jazz, avante garde, hard rock, psychedelia or whatever else they feel like playing. Listening to their songs, Ricci, through his harp licks, throws out hommages to various artists. You can tell that he is quite educated in all forms of music.

They are a fantastic live act since Jason Ricci is a very emotional and animated front man.

This work does not capture their live vibe but, instead, evokes a more sophisticated side that is not readily apparent when they perform. All the songs are excellent on this work. The attraction to the listener will simply be dependent on what style of music you like the most. My favorite is the lengthy "Loving Eyes" since the long songs allows the band time to really flesh out.

Jason Ricci is a fantastic artist that (from what I heard) has some personal demons that, unfortunately, interfere with his ability to continously tour. That's a shame since this guy really has a special gift!

First saw Jason at the Wheeling (WV) Heritage Blues Festival in August 2007 (a fabulous annual festival in an ampitheater on the Ohio River).

Here it was, a 90 degree, sticky, breezeless summer afternoon, and Jason was jamming on that harp with all the energy of a hurricane.

I regretted not getting a CD that day.

A few weeks ago, the band played at a local Parkersburg WV venue, and once again Jason's virtuoso performances, energy, and showmanship just blew everyone away. Guitarist Shawn Starsky was named one of the Top 10 new performers by Guitar Magazine recently, and he truly deserves it.

Jason and New Blood make the songs they cover their own. If you're familiar with LouAnn Barton's "Hip Shake", you'll be amazed by Jason's rendition. "The Sky Is Crying" takes a whole new dimension.

Using an array of harmonicas, Jason mimics a whole orchestra, including guitar, violin and saxophone, all the while rocking hard.

Jason's powerful performances are so consistent, they create a phenomenon: by the second set, you just EXPECT to be wowed, and take it for granted!!

I really like this CD and recommend it to anyone who loves the harp. My only complaint is that the harp is slightly muffled in comparison to the crispness of the guitar on a few of the tracks.

BUY IT! You won't be sorry. Even better, see him live and prepare to be awed!