Been A Long Time Coming
Every once in awhile a recording will come out of nowhere, grab hold of you and not let go. That's exactly what happened with this release from a band based out of Lansing, Michigan. Root Doctor includes Jim Alfredson on keyboards and Hammond B3 organ, Greg Nagy on guitar, James Williams on bass, and Matt Hayes on drums. Freddie Cunningham handles the lead vocals on ten tracks. There is a real four piece horn section on three cuts.
Cunningham is one of the strengths of the group. He has one of those lived-in voices that ooze soul, belting out the lyrics on the up-tempo blues track “Me And My Wife” or tenderly caressing his way through an outstanding cover of “Rainy Night In Georgia”. He is able to project the world-weary resignation found in “Last Two Dollars”, a classic hit by Johnnie Taylor.
Alfredson is the band's secret weapon. His Hammond organ anchors many of the arrangements, playing inventive lines that push the band or fill spaces. Listen to his pumping opening to “Love Bones” or high energy solo on a cover of the Staple Singers' “Respect Yourself”. He handles the lead vocal on the title track, a piece he wrote that sports a trombone solo.
And you certainly can't overlook the contributions of guitarist Greg Nagy. He has an old school style – play what the song needs and not a note more. This point is clearly demonstrated on “Too Late To Try To Do Right” when, in the middle of his solo, Nagy bends and holds a note for five seconds as the band drops out except for drummer Hayes. In that brief sequence, Nagy creates and releases tension while lifting the cut to a higher level.
This is one disc I keep coming back to even with all the other discs I have to listen to. Root Doctor is a collection of quality musicians who work to support the songs and each other, not to show off their individual talents with endless solos. The powerhouse vocal talent of Freddie Cunningham elevates them out of the mainstream. And with a solid package of five originals and seven well-chosen covers, their latest release should bring them plenty of national attention. I already bought another copy to give to a good friend on his birthday. Don't let this one slip by – check it out at www.cdbaby.com .
Mark Thompson, Rockford IL
Crossroads Blues Society Newsletter, Sept. – Oct. 2006
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