[Harp-L] Subject: Review of Jason Ricci & New Blood's Rocket No. 9 from Blueswax Ezine

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Here's an interesting review from BluesWax Ezine of Jason Ricci & New  
Blood's brand new CD "Rocket No. 9".  Notice the two other high  profile harp-l list 
members mentioned in the article: Michael Peloquin  and Adam Gussow.
 
     
"Birth Of A Rockstar, (11/14/07)
When Eclecto Groove  signed Jason Ricci everyone expected sparks to fly, and 
they do.  But instead of Ricci exploring new shades of the Blues, he has put  
together a Rock band that knows how to jam. This is a band effort with  Ricci 
playing harp, singing, and composing with guitarist Shawn  Starsky, bassist 
Todd Edmunds, and new drummer Ron  Sutton.  
On "The Rocker" the band sounds like Blues Traveler, but with  more tone. 
It's about "the paranoia and love/hate relationship an  addict feels," and it 
rocks hard. "I'm a New Man" gets more  interesting with its rhythmic changes and 
modulation. Then comes the  Byrds-like "Loving Eyes," an eleven-minute opus; 
on it Ricci sounds  like Roger McGuinn. This "trip" is my favorite track.  
Shawn Starsky's "Dodecahedron" is a funky instrumental with saxophone  by 
Michael Peloquin and it sounds as if it might have been  influenced by Frank 
Zappa. Shawn Starsky's guitar solo is  outstanding, as is the drum beating of Ron 
Sutton. "Mr. Satan" is a  tribute to Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee  of the duo 
Satan and  Adam. The harp solo is influenced by Adam Gussow, an early  mentor of 
Ricci's.  
"Deliver Us" is a post-9/11 prayer. "The Blow Zone Layer" is one of  Ricci's 
signature harp instrumentals. "The Way I Hurt Myself" is a slow  Blues. "The 
Eternal Is," written by Shawn Starsky, is an instrumental  featuring Ricci's 
harp until Starsky takes over with a commanding guitar  solo. Bassist Todd 
Edmunds also adds a nice solo. "Snowflakes and Horses,"  practically a Jason Ricci 
standard, is reprised again. "Sonja" is a  peaceful duet between Ricci's harp 
and Starsky's guitar. "Rocket Number 9"  is from Sun Ra, it is avant garde and 
it works surprising well.  
The album is well produced by John Porter. It should garner  Jason Ricci a 
new bunch of fans and could help expose a whole new  generation to Blues-based 
music. If Blues Traveler is half and half,  New Blood is heavy cream."  
Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor at BluesWax  
"This review originally ran in BluesWax.com, the world's largest Blues  
publication. Subscribe today (it's free!) at _www.blueswax.com_ 
(http://www.blueswax.com/) ."  
(Permission to post the article in its entirety given in writing  by: Steve 
Sloan, Editor, BluesWax) 
BTW, BluesWax covers many other blues and roots artists perhaps of  interest 
to list members. 
Elizabeth




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