Album Notes

…the saga continues…

When we last left our heroes, Mojo & the Boogieman had just released their debut CD, Keep It In Your Soul. A few years and line-up changes, not to mention hundreds of live performances later, the second release “got mojo?” is now available. In keeping with the Mojo & the Boogieman (MATB) tradition, this is a high-energy record that packs some real punch.

The disc starts off with “Hip Shaker,” a tune designed to pack a dance floor at any party. This is real party music at its finest. Two of the tracks on the disc penned by MATB guitarist, Jon Archambault, “Aint’ Gonna Need You (from now on)” and “Better Than the Rest,” cover both ends of the love spectrum. “Ain’t Gonna Need You” is a look at how a band member’s wife or girlfriend may view the life of a musician, while “Better Than the Rest” is a statement on why he loves his baby. There are two versions of the Mojo tune “Natch’l Soul” on the disc. The first is the band at its funkiest, swinging through this number with some great sax work by band member Leo Dombecki. The second version, and also the record’s bonus track, is an earlier form of the band with bluesman Larry McCray lending his incredible talents on guitar and vocals. “Gonna See My Baby” tells of the mounting enthusiasm any of us feel while getting ready for a big night out with the one we love.

These songs were the main body of the set list Mojo used in the 2003 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Out of field of over 60 bands from around the world, Mojo & the Boogieman were among the top 8.

As of the pressing of this record, the MATB crew included founding members Jon “White Lightning” Archambault on guitar and Bryan “the Boogieman” Fischer on vocals. Followers of the band, and owners of the debut release, Keep It In Your Soul, may remember Charlie “Hipps” Witthoeft on harmonica and Leo “The Swami” Dombecki on sax and keyboards, now full members of the band. In March of 2003, Dombecki left the band to tour with blues and soul great Ike Turner. Leo now lives in sunny California, making music is his business, and business is good. As of 2002, the rhythm section included the talented John “The Saint” Hefty on bass, and James “Big Beat” Hunt on drums. Former members Gary Dannecker (bass) and Don Heinz III (drums) appear on the bonus version of “Natch’l Soul.”

got mojo? is a record for partying and having fun, just like every MATB show. This disc is full of great musicianship by one of the top unsigned blues bands in the world. Do you “got mojo?”