Search - Doc Powell :: Inner City Blues

First release, and his best.

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 08/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are two fine guitarists I like a lot that came up at the same time and released their albums also almost simultaneously, until one of them passed away. I am refering to Zachary Breaux and Doc Powell.Doc's first album is an EXTRAORDINARY one ! First of all, it shows how talented this man is with his guitar. The opening track ("Bahamma Momma"), "new day" or "On the other side" are good examples of virtuosity (sharp and rapid playing). Second, the album is intelligently balanced : instrumentals, vocal contributions, tribute (to Eric Gale), cover version...without being pasty or cheesy or sounding overproduced, a very common thing in this genre, you will agree. Third, the contribution of invited artists is one of the best I've ever seen : Philip Bailey (EWF), Jeffrey Osborne, Siedah Garrett and Howard Hewett (Shalamar) are PERFECT on vocals. Kirk Whalum on sax, Ronnie Laws on sax, Ronnie Foster on organ, Bob James on piano, Patrice Rushen also on piano... AND, all of these artists on different tracks, of equal quality. Some think that just having a great lineup of artists that just play two notes is a guarantee by itself that the album is going to a) be great, b) sell more. On this album, everyone really does something. Who can give more ? Fourth, the cover of Marvin's "Inner city blues" is a great one, and you know as well as I do that many cover versions are often flavourless, thus don't mean much, or are literally ridiculous. I could go on with several other reasons, but why don't you get this cd instead ? You like the vocalists featured on the album ? You like great sounds ? Then you must have this one.The album is from 1994, and I still enjoy listening to it today. That might be a final clue..."