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Let’s start where we left off last week, with BB & The Bullets.
The blues-rock trio has released their debut album ‘High Tide’, recorded at the Whanganui studio singer-songwriter-guitarist Brian Baker built when he moved there. A Kiwi by birth, he had spent 40-odd years playing in Australia as a solo artist and in bands, including The Makers with Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner.
‘High Tide’ is old school. Defiantly old school. It is a solid intelligent blues-rock album setting seven original songs, often with distinctive local themes, alongside four blues standards and one Beatles song. No gimmicks; no sneaky hip-hop beats or samples. A guitar trio.
BB & The Bullets. Photo / Supplied
I don’t mean any disrespect when I say this album could be from 1970, the days of Ten Years After et al. Even the ‘covers’ would fit. I’m not suggesting it sounds like it was made then; the recording is modern and immaculate.
It’s interesting that despite unimpeachable musicianship – Baker is a fantastic guitarist and fine, unaffected singer; the rhythm section are solid as a rock – this isn’t presented as a “guitar hero” album, emphasised when the Albert King classic ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ fades after a mere two minutes and 45 seconds. It’s a refreshing take, downplaying the famous riff for something more song-oriented.
Three videos
The band has also taken an old school approach to this release: three videos, all different, all classical, no AI here; and relentless touring, bombing round the country playing anywhere and everywhere from record stores to half-empty pubs to festivals.
I’m fascinated because this is how bands used to do it. In the 1980s and 1990s. How bands like The Warratahs or even, locally, Kokomo got noticed. But that was long ago. Popular wisdom is it can’t be done now, it’s all online presence and influencers and collaborations and Tik-Tok dances. I hope BB & The Bullets can prove it wrong; they play Tauranga next month.
BB & The Bullets. Photo / Supplied
Locally, Federico Daconti and Pablo Cordoba, the keyboard-drum duo who make up Drosan, the modern groove-oriented Latin-influenced jazz outfit often seen around Agave and cool spots at the Mount, has released a self-titled debut album with musical compadres Rodrigo Fessia on bass and guitarist Regan Perry.
Federico Daconti. Photo / Supplied
It comprises six tracks with a short intro, interlude and outro; the pieces all come initially from improvised jams, shaped and then recorded live. You can hear the exuberance and camaraderie of the musicians on tracks such as ‘Stacks’ where the keys and guitar playfully interact as the rhythm slowly builds around them. Nice.
Holly is back
Holly Smith. Photo / Supplied
More jazz: the monthly Tauranga Jazz Society Jam is next Wednesday, September 24, 6.30pm at the Mount Social Club; and after dazzling with his guitar playing at this year’s jazz festival, Lockie Bennett has just released stunning trio album, sure to bring awards – more next week.
Holly Smith. Photo / Supplied
And a heads-up. Holly Smith returns to Totara Street for her final ‘Bones’ performance on October 10. Best to get in early as she usually sells out. Support from Nikau Grace and Sophie-Maude.
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/m8unyrp9