CD Review of Black And White
by Ashwyn Smyth on www.digitalblues.co.uk
It is always good to
catch up with an artist that you have seen a number of times over the years
and whose career you have followed and so it was with Danny Bryant at the
Club on Thursday. He was celebrating 10 years on the circuit and promoting
his 6th CD, the very well received 'Black and White'.
I believe I first saw
him play some 6 or 7 years ago and each time I have seen him since he has
simply got better, improving like a fine wine!
As ever, Thursday saw
him attract a good sized and very enthusiastic audience who would have had
him play on all night if they could! The Danny I saw on Thursday was a long
way from the young man I recall from way back. He has a strong stage
presence, is relaxed and very comfortable playing to and with the audience.
His playing now features a great deal more texture and variety, it was
wonderful to hear him play a couple of acoustic numbers, particularly the
solo title track from his latest CD. Danny's guitar playing is very exciting
and still shows signs of his influences, particularly Walter Trout, but I
would far rather listen to and watch Danny!
Whether his guitar is
raging and spitting fire or it is singing like the sweetest and most
delicate songbird, his playing is measured and controlled, the tone always
appropriate as he runs the whole range in one number as exemplified in one
of my favourites, his excellent cover of Dylan's 'Girl from the North
Country' which is just gorgeous.
Danny's vocal delivery
compliments his guitar playing and he is the master of the emotion dripping
and passion filled rock blues ballad, many of which are his own compositions
and which demonstrate a good way with words. But he also plays blues
standards with a feel that displays most clearly where his roots are.
On the basis of
Thursday's gig it is easy to see why Danny is so popular and packs them in
clubs and venues throughout Europe being as at home in front of 50 people as
he is in front of 5,000. Long may he continue to do so.
Ashwyn Smyth - www.digitalblues.co.uk
