A Tasty Blues Barbecue
author: Seth Rogovoy
The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, MA Friday February 16 1996
A Tasty Blues Barbecue
by Seth Rogovoy -
WILLIAMSTOWN This Sunday night at 9, the Reverend Tor Band - comprised of members of the East Creek Band and Xavier - will celebrate the release of ``In Search of Ecstasy'' (Smelly Dog), a new recording of 11 original compositions by Tor Krautter, at La Cocina in Pittsfield.
Best known in this area as a member of East Creek, Krautter showcases his own tunes and vocals on the new album, which was recorded at Derek Studios in Dalton.
Besides vocalist/guitarist Krautter, the core band on the album features Xavier's Jason Webster on guitar and keyboards, East Creek's Dan Broad on bass, and Dooley Austin's Rick Leab on drums. The cast of supporting musicians includes Dawn Fulvi, Rick Tiven, Paul Kleinwald, Abe Guthrie, Steve Ide, Jeff Stevens and Charlie Tokarz - a veritable who's who of the Berkshire music scene.
The well-paced album sets down in various styles and tempos, but overall the feel is akin to the sort of funky, rootsy, harmony-laden, grab-bag approach of such '70s stalwarts as Little Feat, Traffic and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Krautter's evocative vocals are put to the test on the Robert Cray-like kickoff, ``Never Cry When the Wolf Comes'', a loping, contemporary blues-funk number, and the achingly soulful ballad ``Stumble,'' on which Krautter's snakelike guitar coils around his Otis Redding-influenced vocals while Jason Webster's Booker T. Jones-patented organ slithers underneath.
``Foot In My Face Blues'' goes for broke, featuring a big-band R&B arrangement, including horns and a genre-bending bluegrass break showcasing Rick Tiven's mandolin and Paul Kleinwald's banjo.
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From Veteran audio engineer, Gary Kiffel. CBS-TV, New York 1996
author: Gary Kiffel
"Tor Krautter is a singer and musician who knows where he's been, as well as where he's going. On In Search of Ecstasy, he travels to a place where the listener learns what churns within the musician's soul. Inclusions like Never Cry When the Wolf Comes and Stumble are powerful and haunting glimpses into the eye of the artist. Hear this new voice."
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To New To Be Known
author: Mick Skidmore, Relix Magazine
Relix Magazine
Vol 25 No.2
To New To Be Known
By Mick Skidmore -
The Reverend Tor Band is a western Massachusetts based outfit that is the brainchild of Tor Krautter. In fact, it's only release to date [as of April '98], In Search of Ecstasy (Smelly Dog) was put out under Krautter's name a couple of years ago. The album is a real gem that jumps across musical boundaries with ease and imagination. The songs draw on a variety of influences such asm funky, Little Feat-like rock with more elaborate harmonies, blues and even a little reggae. On the bluesy soul of "Stumble," Krautter comes over like a cross between Steve Winwood and Robert Cray. Other high points are the jaunty reggae-ish "She Knew My Name" and the bluesy funk of "Get Your Own Road," which encourages one to think independently.
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