Nat Dove and The Neo-Classic Blues Ensemble
Real Texas Piano Blues
© 2006 Tri-Clef Music/Nat Dove (724101882920)
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Real Texas Piano Blues
Nat Dove and The Neo-Classic Blues Ensemble
Nat Dove’s music career has been eclectic, vast and has spanned over five decades, in many areas of music and geographic areas as well. From his first recording as a pianist and music arranger in Hollywood, on the hit recording of the original “Part time Love” by Little Johnnie Taylor, in 1963 to “Who’ Been Talking?” and “Too Many Cooks” by Robert Cray. Nat spent many years playing piano in the Original Hound Dog Band, with Big Mama Thornton. Dove also recorded as a session musician and arranger-composer with many of the greats of all time, such as Freddie King, George Smith, Johnnie Shines, Lonesome Sundown, Sam Cooke, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson and Big Joe Turner, ETC.
In the 1970s Nat relocated to Paris, France, where he was appointed Composer-in-Residence at the American Cultural Center. During this period he co-authored books with the great Memphis Slim and Mickey Baker. Nat composed many Free Jazz compositions for the Noah Howard Quartet, Bobby Few Trio and also lots of music scores for theatrical stage, such as “Sail to Everest”. Nat has also composed music for many television and radio commercials. His movie compositions include the 1977 hit “Petey Wheatstraw”
Nat has also, lived and performed in concert and taught Blues music workshops and clinics in Japan for many years. After which he returned to the United States and became the director of the Bakersfield Blues Preservation Society and professor of Blues Music, History and Culture at the University of California, Bakersfield.
This CD is not meant to sound bluesy or Blues influenced. It is real Blues from the source. Nat Dove’s credentials as a veteran and a neo-traditionalist are indeed intact. Nat has performed with the great Blues people of the past and also the modern blues people as well.
Real Texas Piano Blues is a unique mix of modern piano blues selections presented in neo-traditional styles. The subjects are eclectic, and run the gamut from ecology to personal motivation.
The first song “ Don’t Mess With Texas” is a Rock- Blues that espouses the machismo of Texas pride. This admonishment is a well known creed of Texas.
“Dressin’ Trashy” is a modern Texas guitar shuffle. Nat readily admits he got the idea from an interview he saw on television in which Dolly Parton describes her attire and intentions.
The main lyric line in: “Rockin and Moaning at Midnight”: it aint that I lied pretty baby, There just was no truth to tell- was actually inspired by a novel written by Ernest Hemmingway.
Has The World Gone Mad? A poignant rhetorical question asked, based on the observation of human destruction of the earth, its beauty and bounty. What will humans do when everything else on earth has been destroyed?
If Your Ship Don’t Come, If your life is not what you want it to be, then you have to take control and become the master of your own fate. Which mean you have to change. You should not continue to do the same things, over and over expecting a different result. Any changes in your life, has to begin with you.
Lie To me is a song where a guy knows his woman is lying, but he is so much in love that he helps her to deceive him. Ironically humorous.
Welfare System explains how and why this system destroys the family and home structure.
Wad of Money tells a story of the uselessness of money, in the affairs of the heart.
Leave It Where It’s At, Boy meets girl, and refuses the girls advances. Even though he is attracted to her. He virtuously yielding not to the temptation.
Play Them Blues, offers everybody an opportunity to play and sing their own Blues. Because Blues is one of life’s many episodes. Everybody has had the Blues at one time or another.
I’m Coming Home, This is story of a musician, on the road, avoiding the temptations of touring, but missing home and his woman.
A Song The Bluesman Sings, A man offers his love to his woman, only to be given reasons to sing the Blues.
1. Don’t Mess With Texas 2:58
2. Rockin’ and Moanin’ At Midnight 4:39
3. If Your Ship Don’t Come In 3:10
4. Has The World Gone Mad? 6:42
5. Dressin’ Trashy 3:55
6. Lie To Me 3:49
7. Welfare System 3:27
8. Wad Of Money 4:59
9. Leave It Where its At 2:18
10. Play Them Blues 2:51
11. I’m Coming Home 3:17
12. The Song A Bluesman Sings 3:12
reviews
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- author: Bl;ues & Rhythm Magazine: Norman Darwen
Don’t Mess With Texas/ Rockin’ And Moanin’ At Midnight/ If Your Ship Don’t Come In/ Has The World Gone Mad?/ Dressin’ Trashy/ Lie To Me/ Welfare System/ Wad Of Money/ Leave It Where It’s At/ Play Them Blues/ I’m Coming Home/ The Song A Bluesman Sings Neo-Classic? Wasn’t Nat involved with free jazz in France? How come he describes the opening number as ‘rock-blues’? And just what is he doing quoting Ernest Hemingway? OK, OK, don’t worry – this is the Nat Dove who was the subject of an absolutely fascinating interview in ‘Blues Unlimited’ around 30 years ago, who played piano on Little Johnny Taylor’s ‘Part Time Love’ and has in the intervening years worked with the likes of Big Mama Thornton, Freddy King, George Smith, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Turner, Robert Cray, Lonesome Sundown and many, many others, including Phillip Walker with whom he has toured the UK. The Neo-Classic Blues Ensemble comprises Johnny Dyer on harp, guitarist Charlie Tichenor, bassist Tim Jones (replaced by Ernie Tichenor on one number) and Johnny Tucker on drums – so no complaints on that score. The aforementioned ‘rock-blues’ opener starts with some loud guitar but quickly evolves into a joyously rocking, breezily boastful bluesy theme song with some lovely piano work and a strong vocal performance from Nat himself. Hemingway is the inspiration for a line in the second number, not that anyone would know if Nat himself hadn’t told us; this is a powerful down-home blues that could have been recorded at any time in the last 55 years or so. As the CD progresses, it continues to produce the goods in fine fashion. Try ‘Has The World Gone Mad?’, the kind of slow, doomy number that George Smith would have tackled to wonderful effect, and the lyric content is certainly ecologically sound. ‘Dressin’ Trashy’ is a jaunty Texas shuffle with plenty of real blues guitar and lyrics that were inspired by seeing Dolly Parton interviewed on television, ‘Lie To Me’ is a mid-tempo, piano and rhythm blues with another strong vocal and some excellent rolling playing from Nat, ‘Welfare System’ is a short, punchy blues detailing how bureaucracy is breaking up Nat’s family, and ‘Wad Of Money’ reminds me strongly of Memphis Slim in down-home mode, even down to the spoken introduction. ‘Leave It Where It’s At’ is a jaunty shuffle based around the traditional ‘the blacker the berry…’ couplet, whereas ‘Play Them Blues’ is really an excuse for Charlie and Johnny Dyer to show off their licks, ‘I’m Coming Home’ is a mid tempo ‘on the road’ blues and then this excellent CD draws to a close with a fine, tough slab of down home sounds. This may not be the ‘real Texas blues piano’ of say, a Buster Pickens, but as there is so little newly-recorded piano blues material around these days, this is worthy of your attention. The fact that this is such an accomplished and enjoyable CD as well makes it even more so.
- author: jade royal
This is an excellent album of well crafted and well written blues material. It is well worth adding to your collection. One item the other reviews have overlooked is the masterful guitar work of blues prodigy Charlie Tichenor. Only 16 years old when this CD was recorded, his playing, as the Bakersfield Californian noted, has "dropped the jaws of area musicians thrice his age." The CD is analogous in some ways to John Mayall's "Blues Breakers featuring Eric Clapton". The musicianship throughout is superb.
Actually, Dove has made his mark as a sideman, working with many great traditona
author: Living Blues MagazineDove brings an uncommon wit to his lyrics, addressing ecological issues on " Has The World Gone Mad? " and social engineering on " Welfare System" as well as the more usual matters of the heart. He admits that the lyrics of " Dressin' Trashy " came from seeing Dolly Parton on TV. and " Rockin' And Moaning At Midnight " boasts the Hemingway-inspired line: " It aint that I lied, pretty baby. There just was no truth to Tell". Just because Dove is an academic and calls his band " The Neo-Classic Blues Ensemble " don't think for a minute that there's anything stilted or percious about his music. This album rocks from start to finish, with Dove laying down some of the best blues piano since Otis Spann. Some tracks also feature the Great Johnny Dyer on Blues Harp. The Fantastic Johnny Tucker as usual lays down The best Blues Drums, you have ever heard.
a top blues classic album
author: albert from francethis cd got new songs in the old fashioned ways a must for all blues fans. maybe the most talented piano player of the not so new generation
Nat Dove has a lot to say.With this album, the message should serve as our presc
author: Southland Blues MagazineThe session drives hard with the help from Dove's lively band, which includes Tim Jones on bass and Johnnie Tucker on drums. Together, they get a big sound out of each blues piece. "Rockin' and Moaning at Midnight" features Johnnie Dyer. The singer/pianist and his band rocks the blues with authority