ROOMFUL OF BLUES

45 Live

Alligator Records

14 tracks/64:34

by Mark Thompson

It is rare for any band to stick around for more than four decades – and it’s an even greater accomplishment when that band continues to turn out compelling music. While the current version of Roomful of Blues may only have one member from the formative years – tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille – the eight-member little big band is still rocking and swinging the blues with a contagious enthusiasm that will send you running for your dancing shoes!

To celebrate their 45^th anniversary, the band recorded three nights at The Ocean Mist club in Matunuck, RI in March of this year. In their home state in front of long-time fans, Roomful tears through tunes that represent highlights from their various recordings, with one song recorded for the first time. Guitarist Chris Vachon remains the band leader and producer with John Turner on bass, Chris Rivelli on drums and Rusty Scott on keyboards. In addition to Lataille, the superb horn section consists of Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on baritone & tenor sax. Phil Pemberton has been the lead vocalist for several years. His powerful voice can shake the rafters, riding the full weight of the band with ease.

They hit it right from the start, making a statement with a swaggering take of “Just Keep on Rockin’” that they live up to on all fourteen tracks. Pemberton’s soulful tone is a perfect fit for the hard-driving “It All Went Down the Drain” and Vachon delivers a fine tremolo-laden solo on the tune cut in 1988 for their Earl King project. An electrifying run-through of “That’s Right” features a stirring tenor solo from Earley before the band dusts off another title track from one of their recordings, “Dressed Up to Get Messed Up”. You’d never know that the song had been on the shelf for more than twenty years after hearing the booming sax solo over the band’s sultry, finger-snapping strut. There’s a harder edge on a third title track, “Turn It On, Turn It Up”, with Scott riding the organ behind the blasts from the horn section.

Pemberton is at his best on a slow-burning rendition of Magic Sam’s “Easy Baby”, his chilling lament showcasing his impressive vocal range. Vachon gets down and dirty on a solo that steadily builds in intensity until he finishes it off with a dramatic flurry of cutting licks. Another highlight occurs on “I Left My Baby”, originally done by the Count Basie Band with Jimmy Rushing on the vocal. This time Pemberton’s soulful singing rides the slow-drag rhythm with Early and Scott adding memorable solos.

Lataille’s “Straight Jacquet” is an instrumental tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet, giving the three horn players plenty of room to stretch out. Scott’s rollicking piano takes the lead on “Crawdad Hole”, a track they recorded with Big Joe Turner. “Somebody’s Got to Go” makes its first appearance on a Roomful recording -- even though they played the song on a regular basis when they were backing Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson -- sparked by Pemberton’s robust vocal, a gripping solo from Lataille on alto and some closing high note blasts from Woolverton’s trumpet. While the band lays down a sprightly take of “Jambalaya” with Lataille on clarinet, this well-worn classic seems a bit out of place.

To close the set, the band jumps the blues on “Flip Flap Jack”, giving the muscular horn section one more opportunity to demonstrate their collective talents. It provides a rousing climax to an outstanding recording which proves that, even after 45 years, Roomful of Blues remains a vital link to musical styles that otherwise are in danger of disappearing from the modern blues scene. They swing the blues like nobody else. Pick up a copy of this highly recommended disc and join in on the celebration. Let the dancing begin!

For more info, visit: www.roomful.com or www.alligator.com