Val Starr And The Blues Rocket
To The Blues And Back Again
Sandwich Factory Records
By Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © May 2024
The latest release by Val Starr And The Blues Rocket is titled To The Blues And Back Again. Interestingly, the timing for this review could not have been more perfect. With Val having just returned from a fun filled (yes, I saw it all on Facebook), and blues filled week at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN, she pretty much was just to the blues and back again.
For this project, the musicians making up The Blues Rocket are: Val Starr on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; John Ellis on bass, lead guitar and backup vocals; Frankie Munz on harmonica; Pamela Charles Arthur on keyboards; Kirk Hooper on drums; and Timothy Brisson on lead guitar. Other Rocketeers, if I may, include: Dave Segal on lead and slide guitar; Stephen Kimball and B. Christopher on lead guitar; Marty Deradoorian and Saxophone Zot on saxophone; and Darrell Lee Echols on drums.
To The Blues And Back Again contains thirteen original tracks of Val’s, and they are a good mix of blues shuffles and ballads; jump and swing tunes; contemporary and rock blues; and some good ol’ Americana. Val is calling this “her deepest and most powerful album to date”. Let’s go listen to some of it…
With powerful lyrics like “No use stopping at the crossroads hashing over troubles you’ve had. No use crying over spilled milk and picking at your scabs”, the title track – “Been To The Blues And Back Again” addresses moving on. All that matters is “You’ve survived it all, and you’re still standing tall”. Musically, the track features the nucleus of the band with John (bass), Kirk (drums) and Pamela (keys) in a tight rhythm groove; Timothy and Frank, respectively shining on sharp guitar and harp leads: and Val is vocally belting out the songs inspiring lyrics.
The thirty second scorching guitar intro by B. Christopher on “Bitter Pill” pretty much told me that this one was going to be a killer slow blues ballad…..and B. didn’t lie. For the tracks’ additional five minutes, I was in slow blues heaven. With her intense organ groove, Pamela led the same rhythm section as above into the perfect slow blues direction; Val sang her heart out with an emotional and compelling vocal performance; and with his only performance on the disc, B. – with no disrespect to any of the other guitarists – continued to lay down the best blues guitar licks on the disc. Wow!
With it’s ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ vibe, this jazzy swinger is titled “If You Don’t Blues It You’ll Lose It” and it’s surely a dance floor filler. Short of saying I may have jumped the gun on the best guitar licks on the disc comment, let me just say that on this one, Timothy is at his personal best on guitar. As long I’m giving out ‘best of the disc’ awards, I gotta tell you, Pamela is absolutely shining on the piano and John and Kirk are indeed laying down some of its most profound rhythm.
I guess the band was enjoying the groove they were in on that last track as much as I was, because other than the title – “Gratitude Is The Best Cure For The Blues” – not a whole lot has changed, it’s all still going on right here. That said, Marty did kick things up a few notches with his wailing sax leads. Anyone who regularly reads my reviews knows that I am a sucker for a female vocalist knocking a blues ballad out of the box. That said, on “The Blues That Move Me”, Val did just that.
She’s also got a keen ear when it comes to picking blues guitarists for particular songs. On his only appearance, Stephen Kimball – one of five lead guitarists – lives up to being picked for this spot with his killer slow blues licks….. Similar thoughts apply to “Bluesin'”. It’s a laid-back shuffle that again features another fabulous guitarist. This time it’s Dave Segal nailing the slide guitar leads.
Although it’s Val’s song, “Worn Down Blues” sounds like something from the songbook of America. It’s one of those kinds of songs that you might hear a folk singer like Joni Mitchell do; a rocker like Bruce Springsteen do; an Americana band like CSNY do; a country artist like Wynonna Judd do; or a genre crossing artist like its writer, Val Starr, do.
Other tracks on what just might very well be Val Starr’s “deepest and most powerful album to date” include: “Take A Stand For Love”; “Ask Me No Questions”; “Patience”; “Move Over Baby”; “Big City Blues (Rescue Me)”; and “Did You Ever Notice?”
To find out more about Val Star & The Blues Rocket, just go to – www.valstarr.com.
“The Blues Is My Passion And Therapy”
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
2011 “Keeping The Blues Alive” Award Recipient
