The Memphis blues community has long been waiting for the debut release from Brandon Santini (former harpist/vocalist/head man of the renowned Delta Highway)... and it's doubtful that Memphis and all points beyond will be disappointed. This is a solid solo debut that incorporates many facets of Santini's virtuosity - on harp, as a vocalist and as a fine songwriter.
Throughout the album, Santini's harp leads are as good as we've come to expect from him; he's known as one of the brighter new stars on the blues harmonica horizon. His playing is heavily influenced by John Popper, but Santini incorporates a lot of elements from both country and Chicago stylings as well. He's a fluid, melodic and instinctual player. Rounding out the core band on the disc are Elliot Sowell on guitar (Sowell has worked extensively with Santini on stage, and the chemistry between the two is obvious), The Evil One on bass (well known as Tinsley Ellis' bassist, and to these ears one of the best in the business) and Joe Meyer on drums (solid as a rock when he needs to be, nicely agile when that's called for).
"You Ruined Poor Me" is a nice, Stax-ish soulful summer romp; it's a good lead-in to the album and feels like it would sound really good on the radio. "She's Sweet Like Honey" slows it down a bit and is a nice showcase for the more Texas-leaning stylings of guitarist Sowell. "What Can I Do?" is a more uptempo boogie number, the first of the album's three tracks to feature some nice piano work from Victor Wainwright; this sounds like a surefire concert fave in the making, and contains one of the album's strongest harp leads. "Beggin' Baby" and "Leaving New York" are a couple of nice slower blues tracks; the latter is a personal favorite of mine with a good, slinky late-night feel as Santini bemons, "I'm leaving New York and I ain't got you..." "Tomcattin'" is an appropriately named instrumental; a good uptempo shuffle that's a lot of fun and seems like it would leave a lot of room for stretching out on stage. "Sweet Maggie" has long been an on stage favorite from Santini, and it's nice to finally have it on disc. Don't let the medium tempo and uplifting melody fool you; this is bittersweet blues at its best. "I Wanna Boogie With You" does just what the title implies - it's possibly the album's best encouragement to get up out of your seat and cut it loose, punctuated by more excellent harp work from Santini. "Down To New Orleans" incorporates a the funkier side of New Orleans influence, ala The Meters. It's another that comes across really well on stage. "Evil Woman" is the last of the album's slow blues; it's a good grinder and again provides a sweet backdrop from Sowell's grittier guitar playing (I really enjoy his contributions to the album throughout). The disc closes with "Ida Lee," a solid Elmore James cop. It's everything you'd want from such an animal - chunky guitar, soulful vocals and good tight playing throughout.
A real point of interest on this disc is the sonic presentation Brandon chose. He went for a very garage-ish, lo-fi sound (hinted at by the "stereo" throwback admonition on the front cover). I'll offer a bit of warning and encouragement here; the sound may take you a little by surprise at first, but give it a chance and you'll see that the presentation is deliberate and adds to the style and spirit of this release. Oh, and the louder you play it, the better it sounds (ask my neighbors how I know)...
Santini has been sort of flying under the big star radar for quite some time now, a too-well-kept secret in the blues world. Songs of Love, Money, and Misery is a fine, fine solo debut, and if there's any justice in the world should be a huge step forward in making Brandon Santini's name as well known as it deserves to be.
Remember Delta Highway ? Power Blues Band of a few years ago, well they went the way of so many promising young blues bands, unfortunately. Yet good things come of break-ups, after all this is the Blues. So that harp player/vocalist, the big guy with the hat, always smiling like he dug it as much as we did, yep him, that dude is – Brandon Santini. This is his aptly titled release ‘Songs of Love, Money and Misery’, and from what I know of him and the last few years he should be right at home in making this presentation to you.
Drawn to the shuffle of ‘She’s Sweet Like Honey’ we get a taste of just how sweet the band can sound when they are hitting on all cylinders. Featuring Elliot Sowell on some sweet guitar work, and Brandon’s matter of fact stated lyrics plus his fine harp playing make this a fun song to listen to.‘Leaving New York’ is a well written (from a NY Point of view) saturnine composition that one seems to have heard before, and works well in a ‘film noir’ sense of time and space. On ‘Tomcattin’ ‘ we are treated to Mr. Santini’s fluid motions on his harp over top of drummer, Joe Meyer’s ‘What I’d Say’ styled percussion. It’s a nice thing to hear the guys just hanging out and playing for the fun of playing.
I must mention that Mr. Victor Wainwright and his guitar player, Greg Gumpel appear on this release to add their own brand of Memphis soul to the release. Remiss I would be, if I did not mention The Evil One playing bass and holding the bottom way down in the alley.
This is a good place for Mr. Santini to re-orient his musical journey. A solid release that’s showcases his growing mastery of the blues harp, both diatonic and chromatic, and reinforces his solid vocal presentations. The band is solid, mature and capable of giving him the support he needs while challenging him to make it even better.
Until next time,
Love, Peace & Chicken Grease,
chefjimi
This is Memphis-based harmonica player and vocalist Brandon Santini’s first release since the break-up of his previous band, Delta Highway. Once again he brings to the table those pulsating sounds that have made his presence an institution on Beale Street. Using his unmistakeable talent for churning Southern blues as it should be done, filled with all of the proper components of good blues music stated right there in the title, Songs of Love, Money, and Misery.
Santini has brought along to the project some very formidable musicians with guitar player Elliot Sowell, Joe Meyer on drums, and the mystery man known only in the liner notes as The Evil One on bass. He also has good friend Victor Wainwright tickling the ivories on three tracks and Vic’s guitarist Greg Gumpel filling in on the song “Evil Woman.” Organ player Chris “Doc Fangaz” Stephenson adds taste to the opening track “You Ruined Poor Me.”
As for the selections themselves, Santini delivers his clever lyrics that go perfect with a shot of Jack or one of those “Big Ass” beers they sell on Beale (though in his own case, Santini would much prefer a Diet Coke these days). Those smoky rooms with their drinks pouring and girls dancing in front of the stage set the atmosphere for the feel behind his words and music that comes across so well here. But he also shows a varied approach with his new blues, not relying on the standards of the past that might’ve followed basic progressions, or the usual bread and butter routine so many musicians fall into. Take “You Ruined Poor Me” for example; he blows that harp so hard you’d almost swear it was a full horn section leading off as he sings through his harp mic which flows into the backbeat followed by a brilliant harp solo and tasty guitar fills from Sowell. In “She’s Sweet Like Honey” the guitar-harp set-up at the start compliments each other quite well, following that with a very Blasters-like tune with “What Can I Do?” There is a lot of fun and frivolity in the instrumental “Tomcattin’.” “I Wanna Boogie With You” makes it hard to stay seated; you just want to dance to this one. “Down To New Orleans” brings a little rhumba beat reminiscent of the title city. And “Ida Lee” offers some nice Elmore James influenced licks from Sowell. All of Santini’s harmonica work on the album is first-class, but I have to lean toward his chromatic playing on “Leaving New York” as my favorite cut.
It may not be Delta Highway, his Blues Music Award nominated former unit, but Brandon Santini has successfully moved on from the demise of that band and created an artist to keep your eyes on and ears open to for future good music that’ll continue to push this bluesman higher. This is definitely a fine opening in that direction.
It's name might not be Delta, but the highway Brandon Santini is traveling with 'Songs of Love, Money, and Misery' is filled with tasty harmonica, trademark Brandon Santini blues vocals, and collaboration with some of the finest young guns in Memphis. To say 'Songs of Love, Money, and Misery' will announce Santini's talents to the blues world would dismiss his earlier works, which would be a mistake, but this album brings us a different side of the bluesman and it should attract the wider attention he so richly deserves!