Album Notes

Silent Witness, Ratso's breakout recording, captures his dynamic live playing for the first time on a studio production.

Featuring ten original songs. SILENT WITNESS is Ratso's second CD on the independent Riff Rat Records(tm) label with guest appearences by David Spinozza on guitars and Ritchie Crooks on drums on the title tracks co-produced by Ratso and Joe Boerst.

SILENT WITNESS delivers on the promise of Ratso's firest independent release, WHATEVER IT TAKES, co-produced by Bob Greenlee of King Snake Records. Based on the rhythm and blues style shaped by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix and B.B.King. Ratso's contemporary sound shines through on tunes like Bright Diamonds, Looking at You, and Ode to Stevie Ray.

Joining Ratso on SILENT WITNESS are a host of prominent session and touring musicians: Spinozza on electric and classical guitars; Roy Rodriques on Hammond organ and piano; Don Harris on trumpets and flugal horn; Bill Harris on saxxophones; Al DiMarco on accordian; Greg Fiellin and the Simms Brothers' Shimmy Maki on bass; Fonda Feingold on piano and backgroung vocals; and Rodney Howard, Andy LaDue and Crooks on drums.

A veteran of New York City clubs(CBGB's The Bitter End, Manny's Car Wash, Lone Star Cafe', Dowtime, Le Bar Bat, The Ritz and The China Club)and of Connecticut's legendary Toad's Place and Arcadia Ballroom, as well as the Westport(Ct)Levitt Pavilion, the Norwalk(Ct) Oyster Festival and the Sono Arts Festival Norwalk(Ct),Ratso has performed on bills with Eric Johnson,Al Kooper, Duke Robillard, David Johansen,Zebra, The Fixx and Jimmy Vivino(of Max Weinberg 7). Ratso has also been a session player for legendary performers such as Diana Ross, Lester Chambers, Vincent Lyn (BMG), and Larry Lunt(BMG).

In 1999, Ratso was the featured performer at Greenwich, Connecticut's Bruce Museum international photo exhibit opening of Linda McCartney's book, Linda McCartney's Sixties:Portrait of an Era, which went on to tour the United States.

Presently Ratso endorses: Mesa Boogie Ltd.,Seymour Duncan pick ups, Calzone Case Company and Main Strap Connection.

Here's what they're saying:

"Silent Witness is soul with an Americana songwritting vision" Gutsy Blues"
-Blues Revue

"Sizzling six string against a backdrop of funky Stax-style foundation, genuinely heartfelt"
-Stamford Advocate

"Ratso combines with skill and taste the positive Bruce Springsteen vision of music with the blusey flavour of Stevie Ray Vauhghan. It's good."
-LaHora Del Blues Barcelona Spain

"Ratso's got some tsty chops"
-Blues Access

"Silent Witness is chock full of blistering blues licks, funky horn arrangements played over strong original lyrics and melodies.
-Intermixx magazine