© Copyright-Leigh Barker (884502785982)
The fourth album from bassist Leigh Barker, 'The New Sheiks' features his favourite Melbourne musicians in combination with the talented young blues singer Heather Stewart on three tracks. There is an excellent mix of some obscure and not so obscure covers, with some new original pieces by Leigh.
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There is certainly an appeal with this old timey jazz blues. It was recorded live without an audience at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club in Melbourne, Australia. The opener "Hot Blues" bounces joyfully with Matt Boden jabbing at the piano before tinkling up and down the keyboard. While much of the set is instrumental, Leigh's wife Heather Stewart sings on "She Ain't No Good" with a Bessie Smith-era blues feel. "Lazy Afternoon" has a dreamy rainy-day feel with Don Stewart's moody trombone in front. Tracks 6 through 8 are titled "Skip James I, II, III." The third of these has a nice upbeat jazz club feel with brass riffing off a strong cymbal beat set by Alastair McGrath-Kerr. Henry Mancini's "Charade" is given a dreamy treatment. Heather Stewart sings on the upbeat blues "Crazy About You." The set concludes with a New Orleans Style version of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender." "The New Sheiks" cuts a retro blues-jazz groove and would be well loved by any fan of Leon Redbone. Enjoy! Read more...