Soul Shaker

by

Tommy Castro

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I just saw the TCB in Annapolis at the infamous "Rams Head" where he shared the bill with Tinsley Ellis (an amazing guitarist in his own right) and Tommy and the band kept the house a smokin' on a Wednesday night with lots of old TCB songs and some from the new Soul Shaker CD.

We east coasters don't often get to see Blues like this in one package.....some deep soul, some bluesy/jazz, some hard rock and some ballads all in that wonderful TC voice and that clean ,clear, crisp, well worn Fender guitar.

Honestly this is a solid and refreshing album of original material featuring some brilliant sax work by veteran Crossan (and Fleugelhorn by a sideman) and powerful Bass lines by a guy who must be the best in the business....Randy McDonald. His bass work is simply unparalleled.

I also have come to love it when TCB does a cover or two and an album and look forward to a "live session" album. On tour, the TCB suffers only from the absence of Jim Pugh on the Hammond B-3 to fill out the sound!

Another review equates his voice with Seger and Mellencamp and Southside Johnny.

I think they sound not nearly as good as Tommy.

Whether you like this or not will largely depend upon what your expectations are from TC. For me, I like TC's blues music with a touch of soul, bordering on James Brown. My expectations were met with the Grammy award winning Right as Rain. But this is not it and for me the CD is merely all right. On this disc Castro leans towards the sixty's R&B music and the songs bring to mind the Temptations and the Supremes rather than Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker. Like Jonny Lang on his latest release, Castro tries to spread out to a broader group and, in my opinion, falls a little short. Castro is best seen live and maybe in that setting can do these songs some justice. Some times it is best just to stick to the formula and fan base that got you there. Castro is a little off the path.