Album Notes

“There are few better bands performing urban blues and classic R&B today than the Phantom Blues Band” - Living Blues

“If you are looking for an adventurous spirited album with gifted musicians,
you need look no further.” – Blues Wax

“Taj Mahal’s backing band steps out on its own to cook up a horn-swaddled,
contemporary blues gumbo for your booty.” – Goldmine Magazine

“Savvy veterans, they deliver a smooth, polished, soulful set from start to finish.” – Blues Revue Magazine

Last year the Phantom Blues Band stepped “Out of the Shadows” from behind their longtime employer and musical leader Taj Mahal to deliver their Delta Groove debut which Goldmine Magazine described as “…a horn swaddled, contemporary blues gumbo for your booty.” Critics and fans rejoiced as their CD was met with overflowing enthusiasm for its sheer quality and high caliber of musicianship.

Although individual members have remained in high demand (Mike Finnigan was recruited for Joe Cocker’s recent tour, Denny Freeman is now employed by Bob Dylan, and Johnny Lee Schell, Joe Sublett, Darrell Leonard and Tony Braunagel have been playing dates with the Blues Brothers featuring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi), the band still found the time to come together in the studio and cook up another inspired and soulful recording. The resulting effort is an all new platter that serves up a savory and zesty blend of Gospel, R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Jazz and Blues.

With a proven track record that includes two Grammys and a W.C. Handy Award for their previous work with Taj Mahal, as well as countless appearances by individual members on recordings and in concert by such heavyweight artists as Bonnie Raitt, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Andrew Tosh, Eric Burdon, Smokey Robinson, Buddy Guy and the Rolling Stones, you can expect the Phantom Blues Band to continue to follow in the “Footprints” of sleeping giants and leave their own impressions behind for the world to discover.

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IN THE BEGINNING WE ALL JUST CAME TO PLAY, WE WERE MOVED BY THE SEXY AND SOMETIMES SANCTIFIED SOUNDS WE HEARD ON THE RADIO. FROM BORDER RADIO TO TERRITORIAL BANDS TO BLUES, JAZZ, R&B, CARIBBEAN AND ROCK AND ROLL RECORDS, WE DEVELOPED OUR CHOPS. IN THE END THE MUSIC IS WHAT MADE US STAY. PAINFUL TRAVEL, SEEDY MOTELS AND LOW PAYING GIGS SOMETIMES MADE US WANT TO QUIT, BUT WHEN THERE IS ONLY MUSIC...THERE IT IS. WHEN YOU DON’T HEAR WHAT YOU LOVE ON THE RADIO, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE PEOPLE. SO, AS THE MAN SAID, PUT ON YOUR BLACK SLACKS AND COOL SHOES AND GET TO WORK. ‘ IN THE FOOTPRINTS OF SLEEPING GIANTS, BELONGING TO THE PAST, NEVER REACHING THE FINISH LINE, BUT MOVING THERE FAST, OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE LIGHT, TRAVELING MANY ROADS, OUR JOURNEY NEVER ENDS, SEARCHING FOR THE SEEDS WE SOWED.’