Been A Long Time Coming
The Blues is alive and well and Root Doctor has been carrying the torch in Lansing, Michigan. In fact they've been named "Best Blues Band" four years in a row there. Been A Long Time is an impressive showcase for Freddie Cunningham's rich baritone and a crack band that effortlessly swings from 12-bar blues shuffles ( Me And My Wife ) to horn-fueled soul ( The Turning Point ) to Staxy R&B ( Respect Yourself ) to acoustic Delta Blues ( Mississippi Blues ). There's even a Van Morrison-inspired number sung by keyboardist Jim Alfredson. Speaking of Alfredson, he also impresses on the Hammond B-3 during My Foolish Pride , one of 5 originals here. Though the band nails the 7 cover tunes (including Last Two Dollars, Rainy Night In Georgia , and Love Bones , featuring the Sofa King Horns), the new songs stand out best. On the soulful ballad Hold On , Cunningham delivers a vocal in the league of one Lou Pride and guitarist Greg Nagy shreds on the funky Michigan Roads . Hope these guys tour out West real soon.
Blue Critic Encinitas, CA - www.bluescritic.com