Bobby Christina’s Caravan
True Blues Brother
The Legacy Of Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy
Nola Blue Records
By Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © June 2024
PREDLUE
From Mark Pucci Media: “After nearly forty years of musical and personal camaraderie, drummer and producer Bob Christina began studio work with Matt “Guitar” Murphy on what would become Murphy’s final project. After Matt passed in June of 2018, the fate of the project was placed in Christina’s hands. He began an outreach to musicians who were friends of Murphy, played with him, or were otherwise influenced by him. The response was overwhelming, with no less than 72 outstanding musicians represented on True Blues Brother: The Legacy of Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy”.
REVIEW
It’s common knowledge that Matt “Guitar” Murphy was not known for his songwriting, however, the first song on each disc of this historic 23-song double album is two of his original instrumentals. Along with one co-written and performed by multi-Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge and Richard Fleming, the rest, of course, are recognizable songs from many very recognizable songwriters.
Disc one opens with the very appropriately titled “Matt’s Boogie”. It may only be a two-and-a-half minute long instrumental, but that may very well be enough time for the dancers to work up a sweat. This smoker features Matt and Ricky “King” Russell on guitar; Bruce Bears on organ; Bob Worthington on bass; and Fran Christina on drums.
Get out the fancy frilled and colorful parasols and let’s get this dance parade down Bourbon Street started. Just as Chuck Berry did on his original recording, with some help from Michelle Brett on background, Dave Howard is rockin’ the vocals on this rendition of “You Never Can Tell”. Additionally, Neal Vitullo on guitar; Richard Reed on keyboard; Tommy Reed on bass; Bob Christina on drums; and The Mitchfest Horns who are: Dave Cafro and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet; and Klem Klimek on tenor sax; are all over the gyrating, umbrella shaking and sing-a-long groove inducing groove.
Along with Brian Templeton soulfully and powerfully belting out the vocals on this Deadric Malone shuffle titled “I Feel Right Again”, this tracks’ highlights are many: Johnny Juxo (keyboard) Tommy Reed (bass) and Bob Christina (drums) are locked into one of those killer rhythm grooves; Nick Adams, along with some stinging notes, is laying down some killer guitar runs; and Collin Tilton and his tenor sax are absolutely on fire.
“Something’s Got A Hold On Me” (P. Woods, E. James, L. Kirkland), and I’m pretty sure it’s the way that Christine Ohlman – a.k.a. The Beehive Queen – is belting the hell out of the vocals very similar to the way Etta did. Musically, the track features Cliff Goodwin and Ricky “King” Russell on guitar, Bob Worthington on bass, and Bob Christina on drums.
Every one of my regular readers knows that it’s an extra treat for me when the disc’s best slow blues song also happens to be its longest. At five-and-a-half minutes, Willie Dixon’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby” is that song. Along with the fabulous gut wrenching, range roving vocals being belted out by Phil Diiorio, the track checks all the killer slow blues boxes: Marty Ballou on bass and Bob Christina are all over the rhythm that drives these kind of tracks; James Montgomery, sometimes soft and slow in the background and other times strong and stinging, is masterful on the harmonica; and Troy Mercy – who I admittedly never heard of – is blowing me away with what in my opinion, is so far the disc’s best guitar work.
So, when I saw the lineup on this one – Ronnie Earl and Nick Adams on guitar, Ron Levy on keyboard, and Jaimoe and Bob Christina on drums – before even listening I knew I’d be saying something about it. As it turned out, “Suffering Soul” (G. Browley, M. Simpkins) was quite an interesting and well done instrumental.
Disc one closes with the song referred to in the opening paragraph. It’s titled “Jack Rabbit Boy”, and once you hear it you’ll understand why I took the liberty of emphasizing the jack rabbit part of its title. It’s an all-out power trio rocker with Tom Hambridge on vocals and drums, Rob McNelley on guitar, and Tommy MacDonald on bass.
Disc Two opens with Matt’s other original, a five-minute-long shuffle also appropriately titled “Matt’s Shuffle”. In addition to Matt showcasing exactly how he earned his middle name, the track also features Bob Worthington (bass) and Bob Christina (drums) banging out a poppin’ rhythm vibe, and killer organ highlights from Bruce Bears. This is the kind of instrumental I could listen to all day long.
Next up is another one of those ‘wow’ ensembles for me. Although it’s a Willie Dixon song titled “Evil”, with Bob Margolin tearing it up on lead and slide guitar, and Jerry Portnoy wailing away on harmonica, its got big ties to Muddy. Throw in two maestros on the piano and drums – Chuck Leavell and Bob Christina – along with Craig Rawding belting out the powerful cautionary vocals, and you could very well have one of disc two’s best tracks right here.
Those Roomful Of Blues alumni appearing on this track have absolutely no need to feel “Lonesome”, there are plenty of them. With Fran Christina on vocals and drums, Duke Robillard on guitar, Greg Piccolo on sax, Al Copely on piano, and Marty Ballou on bass, you should all understand that without saying a word about the song I already told you how dynamite it is.
Interestingly, when I saw a track on disc one titled “Mother Earth”, I immediately thought of the Living With The Animals album by Mother Earth – which was my introduction to the great Tracy Nelson. Now here she is doing a Gospel style rendition of “Same Old Blues” (Don Nix). Backed by the angelic sounding The Refine Singers Choir of Melody Forrest, Roslyn Campbell and Angel Cooper, Tracy and the ladies have me wanting to say they stole this one. However, Chuck Leavell on piano, Tommy Reed on bass, Bob Christina on drums, and Tom Ferraro – reminding me of the version by Freddie King – on guitar, all have something to say about that.
“Tired Of Sleeping Alone” is another of those five-minute-long slow blues ballads which floats my blues boat at high tide. Ricky “King Russell, the songs’ writer and guitarist does a masterful job of holding and stretching the songs melancholic lyrics with a super soulful and emotional presentation. This is how you sing the blues. With Matt, also on guitar, Bob Worthington and Bob Christina again on rhythm, it’s the Mitchfest Horns, this time with Bob Hassen on baritone sax, Paul Lieberman on tenor sax, Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet, and Josh Kane on trombone, that make this one work so well.
Great ensembles are pretty much the common denominator on just about all of these disc’s tracks, but from my perspective, there are some that stand out a bit more than others. Putting together Joe Beard on guitar and vocals, his son Chris Beard on guitar, Billy Boy Arnold on harmonica, Brian Leach on bass and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums on Muddy’s “Let Me Hang Around” is definitely one of them.
Other tracks on disc one include: “Mother Earth” (L. Simpkins, P. Chapman); “I’m Lost Without You” (P. Chapman): a forty-one second take on “Peter Gunn” (H. Mancini); “Think” (A. Franklin, T. White); and “Way Down South” (F. Murphy, M. Murphy).
Other tracks on disc two include: “Rocket 88” (J. Brenston, A. Rachell); “Sugar On The Floor” (P. Matthews); “Give Me Time” (S. Maghett); “Shake A Tailfeather” (V. Rice, O. Hayes, A. Williams); a fifty second take on “Peter Gunn” (H. Mancini); and “You Wasn’t Doin’ Too Good” (Joe Beard).
Back in my days of being on the nominating committee for the Blues Music Awards, “Best Historical Release” was a category that was off limits to the nominators. I’m sure there were many valid reasons why but I always thought the foundation didn’t trust us with such a treasured category . With that said, if that category still exists, I trust that the powers that be will see to it that True Blues Brother: The Legacy of Matt “Guitar” Murphy makes it on the ballot. On a side note, kudos to Debra Clark Graphics for the excellent design work on the product packaging,
Should you like to find out more about Bobby Christina’s Caravan, just go to – www.bobbychristina.com. Remember, wherever you go and whomever you speak with, please tell them their friend the Blewzzman sent you.
“The Blues Is My Passion And Therapy”
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
2011 “Keeping The Blues Alive” Award Recipient
