Richard Ray Farrell
Bohemian Life
Blue Beet 100001
2002
(53'37")

This a totally different CD by Richard Ray Farrell. Because here, Farrell goes for the whole electric band with not only a different tone, but also a different approach of the blues. One won't be surprised to find Jerry Portnoy, David Evans and Mark Wenner from the Nighthawks sing Farrell's praises after they heard the album. 16 original compositions pay their due to Chicago blues (Fine Little Number) Memphis sound (Cold Heart), jazzy blues (Lawfully Wedded Wife, somewhere between Johnny Adams and Charles Brown's styles, with a mood both heavy and subtle, thanks to Benjie Porecki's Hammond organ), or New Orleans (School Of Hard Knocks in which Farrell also demonstrates his talented slide guitar playing).
The artist hired a great band to back him up, for if he sings and plays guitar (with the same frank and clear attaq as on his acoustic album, even if with a totally different technic) and harmonica except for Fine Little Number, Blues All In My Home and Mean Case Of The Blues where Jerry Portnoy takes over, by his side, apart from Porecki and Portnoy already mentionned, no less than Steve Gomes on bass, Robb Stupka on drums and Bill Heid on piano can be found. What a great bunch ! Richard Ray also showcases his acoustic skills on a few numbers which are more than just intermissions between two electric tunes, but real songs to be appreciated just as much as the rest of his material. As you must have figured out by now, the man knows his blues and lets the world know. Here's an album that most demanding amateurs shouldn't be ashamed to add to their collection.

René Malines