Customer Reviews

Tough & Tender

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

 

 

I first heard Rod and Honey Piazza and Rick Holmes in San Francisco, and became an instant fan. Theirs is a style of blues music that is unique. Rod's harmonica sounds like an organ, and there is simply NOT a better boogey woogey pianist than Honey. Add L.A. Holmes' guitar and you have a foot stomping, lip whistling, rocking style of blues that grabs you and won't let go. I guarantee you will play this one over and over and over and over.......

PIANO AND BASS BOOGIE DON'T COME ANY BETTER THAN THIS. IT KEEPS ALL PARTS OF YOUR BODY MOVING FROM START TO FINISH. THIS IS THE BEST OF ROD'S WORKS AND HONEY MAKES THE MOST OF IT.

Some of the great harmonica players have passed on like Junior Wells and Little Walter. We are fortunate to have a legend that's living - Rod Piazza. Along with his band The Mighty Flyers, they deliver on "Tough And Tender" equalling their great live reputation in the studio. "The Flyers" general approach to the Blues is positive,fun and with a feeling and you get all that on this disc. The eleven songs are all original with the added spark coming from guitarist Rick Holmstrom, especially on "Quicksand". I also recommend searching out Piazza's session work on the Michelle Shocked song "Graffiti Limbo", you won't be disappointed.

Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers preform a solid set of west coast blues. If you like toe tappin, finger poppin dance blues, this is it. Honey Piazza plays the boggie woogie piano like she has an extra set of hands. Her sure to be a classic "Hang Ten Boogie" is as good as it gets in paino solos. Rick Holmsroms fat body guitar work is flawless as is the rest of the band. If you get a chance to see this group in a club, get in, get close, and get down.

I especially like the songs Tough and Tender, Blues and Trouble..