Live

CD Review of "Live"

by Al Kaplan of Bluesrockers web site

In my reviews of the last two Danny Bryant CDs, I stated that a live CD would be most welcome. That CD is now available and completely lives up to its promise. As excellent as all his previous releases are, he is meant to be heard in a live setting where he gets to perform extended versions of his songs and spread out his soloing. In my reviews of his previous CDs I perhaps used up all my superlatives to describe his guitar playing and vocals. I will not repeat them all here except to say that the live setting serves to put them all front and center for the listener to appreciate.

The set list includes three songs not on his previous CDs. The first of these is Slow Blues/Sweet Little Angel which is over 9 minutes of searing guitar playing. Bryant plays rapid fire notes in a slow blues setting while still maintaining the melody of the song. In this respect, he is reminiscent of both Walter Trout and Alvin Lee. The second new song is Hideaway/Bring Your Fine Self Home which is short on vocals but replete with jaw-dropping solos. The third new song is Good Time Woman, a Bryant original that leans to the rock side of the blues/rock spectrum.

The CD opener is Heartbreaker, from the first CD, which hits like an express train and includes a fine wah-wah solo. A fine choice for an opening song in that it sets the stage for Bryant’s excellent playing and vocals. Girl from the North Country is a Bob Dylan song that has also been covered by Walter Trout and Bryant’s version here does both Dylan and Trout proud. Play to Win, Born to Lose is an up-tempo, danceable, beer drinking inducing song with another fine wah-wah solo mid way through. Last Man Standing slows the pace of the concert but not the intensity. This Is the Blues, a song about possible misperceptions over what it takes to play the blues, merely proves that Bryant certainly has what it takes to place himself firmly among the best bluesmen. Always with Me, dedicated to Bryant’s wife, is, for me, the highlight of the CD. At over nine minutes, it is about three minutes longer than the studio version. A ballad, it includes perhaps the best vocals on the CD, full of emotion. It is also a perfect example of the intensity, fluidity, and superb tone of Bryant’s guitar playing.

Bryant is ably supported by his father, Ken Bryant, on bass and Dave Raeburn on drums. Their empathetic yet solid backing on this wonderful CD cannot be ignored. I must also say that, as a lover of the wah-wah pedal effect, I was thankful that Bryant uses wah-wah on the majority of the songs.

This CD is certainly an early contender for the best of 2007 and we are only in the first month of the year. Other artists will be hard pressed to do better. On this, their fifth CD, the band is on a new label, Rounder Europe. Hopefully, this will result in better distribution of the CD. I can’t think of a band more deserving of wider recognition. Highly recommended and well worth your money.