As one reviewer mused: "Be careful, or Tom Principato could easily topple one of your current guitar heroes from their lofty pedestal...", after 38+ years and a career that boasts over 15 albums, 23 "Wammie" awards in numerous categories from the Washington, DC Music Assoc. and over 5,000 gigs which includes over 50 tours of Europe, Tom Principato has been taking his Indie infused eclectic roots mixture of Rock, Funk, Blues and Latin Sounds all over the World----all along the way leaving audiences wowed and slack jawed with his virtuoso talent. One look at Tom's road worn Fender guitars and it's easy to see: Tom Principato plays the hell out of the guitar.
PressQuotes-"Raising The Roof!"
Principato has long been known as a fine guitar player, but here production and vocals take him to a new level.There's plenty of the stuff you expect from Principato, including funky New Orleans-style rock like "Lock and Key," with horns, organ and precise chording; Fender heaven on the solos. The good news is, with releases like this one, Tom's bringing new and varied music to that realm. -John Heidt Vintage Guitar Magazine
...Principato is sure talented enough and he's been leaving mouths agape with his classy yet searing guitar pyrotechnics over the United States and Europe for the better part of four decades. A solid new album, appropriately titled "Raising The Roof!", might help spread the word, but he's most at home when peeling the paint from Blind Willie's walls with his slashing solos. Hal Horowitz-Atlanta Creative Loafing
Tom Principato is one of a few naturally gifted guitarists who just plain know how to sing via the instrument – Beck, Clapton, Hendrix, Santana, and Vaughn are others who quickly come to mind. And a little ways into this disc, you know why he named it Raising the Roof. If your tastes turn to masterful R&B with strong jazz, funk, and New Orleans accents, don’t let Raising the Roof pass you by. David J. Cantor Soundstage
All hail the blue Wammy king. And king he is, as Washington D.C.'s longstanding blues fixture. Tom Principato has garnered a truckload of those local WAMA awards in recognition of excellence for everything from "Best Instrumentalist" and "Best Blues Vocalist" to "Best Blues Album" and "Best Blues Group". To date, it's a dynasty built on 22 so-called Wammies--but there's always room for more on the mantle. So all you Capital area bands, beware--consider Raising The Roof! as a current nomination package. Dennis Rozanski Baltimore Blues Society-Bluesrag
Ask any successful blues guitarist to identify his or her favorite peers, and Tom Principato’s name will likely get mentioned. Principato has many fans in Europe, and at 55, he's the rare artist whose musicianship, singing and songwriting continue to improve with age. Raising the Roof! is one of the best recordings yet from the guitarist-vocalist. Ed Kopp Jazziz Magazine
On his latest release, Principato continues to demonstrate his versatility, with a well-rounded set of nine tracks that showcase his fluid playing and vocals. Whether he is laying down Latin rhythms on the catchy Santana-like instrumental cut Bo Bo's Groove featuring absolutely mesmerizing soaring solos, or re-working a jump blues classic such as Louis Jordan's Saturday Night Fish Fry, Principato hits the mark repeatedly. Raising The Roof! is another in a long line of solid efforts from Principato, an artist deserving of far greater recognition. Dave Ruthenberg Living Blues magazine April 2008
DC based bluesman Tom Principato comes out swinging straight from note 1. The band is on fire and burning as they crank out blues tinged funk, jazz rock and straight blues. They jam like Jeff Beck and Elvin Bishop and Principato can unleash Latin spice like Santana. Everything they do is done with a tasty flair and that includes a moving tribute to NOLA called “Fish Fry” and his equally feeling tribute to LA women in “Lock and Key.” Hoo-hah, this Washington legend belts one past the Beltway in a home run. 9 snaves Doctor Blues – Long Island Blues Society – March 24, 2008
Tom Principato is one of the most exciting guitarists on the contemporary scene today. Hailing from Washington, DC, he has won just about every award given out by the Washington Area Music Association, and he's played with the likes of Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy Thackery, and Danny Gatton. His Powerhouse Records release of "Raising The Roof" is an adventurous romp thru nine cuts, (six originals) of a gorgeous gumbo of blues, soul, funk, reggae, and general good times a-rollin'! Get your copy today and ENJOY!!! Sheryl and Don Crow. Music City Blues Soc. newsletter
Don’t be surprised if "Raising the Roof!" also raises the number of Wammie Awards that blues guitarist Tom Principato has collected over the years -- more than a dozen at last count. Principato's new album is a rocking, grooving session featuring Hammond B-3 organist Tommy Lepson. -- Mike Joyce The Washington Post
Principato, a long-established guitarist in the Washington, DC area, works off a diverse musical palette with blues, and complements of funk, jazz, latin rock and New Orleans R&B. To his credit he projects ease of delivery and gives shape and logic to even his most fierce playing. The former Powerhouse bandleader locates the joy in songs from J.J. Cale, Louis Jordan, and Jimmy Smith, respectively. Frank-John Hadley Down Beat magazine May, 2008
PressQuotes: Past reviews:
"Principato plays with pristine beauty and riveting emotional power; he's quite remarkable, and his meaty blend of blues, R&B, and rock will restore your soul." Dave Richards Erie,Pa. Times
..."Excellent! He has an enormous talent at telling stories in his solos, he doesn't play only 'standard'licks." Guitarist Pat Metheny in an interview with"Guitarist" Magazine (Paris, France) upon hearing"In The Clouds".
"In The Clouds" contains large helpings of Principato's patented rocking blues numbers, but there is much more, just as there is to the guitarists talents. More than half the selections are instrumental, and all are more than a little impressive...New fans may well be amazed at the depth and diversity of Principato's guitar mastery." MichaelPoint-Austin American Statesman
"His instrumental voice is original, as he juxtaposes exciting chording with sharp,sometimes gleefully wild and winding single note runs that always offer surprises. And, unlike most blues players, he can play a lyric line." Michael Drexler The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio
"At his best, Tom Principato is a terror, a master of touch and tone, equal parts craftsman and creator. Principato is at his best throughout most of Really Blue, a versatile effort that showcases the guitarist's facility for blues, jazz, rock and more....there are more fresh, original ideas on Really Blue than one is likely to hear in an entire stack of new releases by most contemporary artists. Play on Mr. Principato!" BryanPowell Blues Access Mag.
"Upon an initial listen, D.C.-based guitarist and vocalist Tom Principato seems to fit nicely into the powerbooster blues-rock niche of fellow fingermen like one time-bandmate Jimmy Thackery or Tinsley Ellis. But a closer inspection reveals a subtle melodicism, a half-heard fill note or understated trill that marks a craftsman. Principato's instrumental work remains mesmerizing, his control and taste meld effortlessly." Greg Land Atlanta Creative Loafing
"After over 20 records, either solo or band projects, Tom Principato remains one of America's most gifted guitarists and a member of my top ten of all time. Be careful, or he could easily topple one of your current guitar heroes from their lofty pedestal." Beardo BlueswaxE-zine
"Tom Principato invests "Tip Of The Iceberg" with a tremendous swell of enthusiasm that marks his fifth effort as one of the high spots of blues-based guitar rock this decade or last. ...his solos are models of emotional clarity and purposeful facility even as they skyrocket into dizzying realms." Frank John Hadley Down Beat Magazine June, 1993
"He works harder for the music he loves than anyone I know...and if you've never heard him, Tom Principato is a more amazing guitar player than you can imagine." Bob Margolin Blues Review Mag.
"Let me tell you what I felt. Exhilaration!Exuberation! I sat wide eyed and slack jawed as Tom enchanted me with his talent and his fine, fine playing. What impressed me most about Tom's performance was the level of emotion his guitar playing and singing were infused with. "Virtuoso" is a word too easily applied to the undeserving theses days, but it's a word that fits this guitar master perfectly. I'm willing to say that Tom Principatois destined to achieve legend status." Layla Ferrante The Musicians Exchange
"It's a pleasure to hear a guitarist with such formidable ability play with true grace and style; using his most stinging licks sparingly and with maximum effect." Dave Clingan Blues Notes Portland, Oregon
"He's an excellent note bender and a concise, gritty player with an experienced ear for building to multiple climaxes in his solos." Dave Hiltbrand People Magazine
"Covering the breadth of ensemble blues styles, he's smarter and more entertaining and honor-bound than the general lot of blues-oriented guitarists active today." Frank John Hadley (4 stars) Down Beat Magazine May 2005
"With Blue Lights he pushes all the right buttons before digging in with some seriously gritty and impassioned playing. He gets such a beautiful distillation of the blues essence you're left wondering,"Haven't I heard that before?" The answer is "no" because this is not a copy of anything else, and "yes" if you've ever traveled to the heart of the collective blues unconscious." Cary Wolfson Blues Access 2001
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