Andrew Duncanson
California Trap
Featuring Michael Peloquin
Run It Back Records
Publicity: Blind Raccoon
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © March 2025
After over twenty years of fronting various bands – most notably, the Kilborn Alley Blues Band; and most recently, Dig 3 – Andrew Duncanson is about to release California Trap, his first album under his own name. Of the disc’s thirteen tracks, nine are Andrew’s creations.
Joining Andrew Duncanson, on vocals and guitar are: co- producer Kid Andersen on guitar, Fender bass, clavinet, Farfisa organ, Theremin, mini-moog, waterphone, and background vocals; co-producer Michael Peloquin on tenor and baritone saxophones, diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, horn arrangements, and background vocals; Jerry Jemmott on Fender bass; Derrick “D’mar” Martin on drums and percussion; Jim Pugh on Hammond B3, piano, and Wurlitzer; Baxter Robertson on B3, Wurlitzer, and piano; Tia Carroll, Lisa Leuschner-Andersen, Lara Price, and Sons of the Soul Revivers (James, Dwayne & Walter Morgan) on background vocals; Paul Revelli on drums; Mike Rinta on trombone and horn arrangements; Mike Rose and Ed Morrison on trumpet; and Doug Rowan on baritone sax.
As soulful as he was/is with The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, since the band does have the style of music they play right in their name, it was obviously a stretch for Andrew to get a nomination in any of the “Soul Blues” categories. Additionally, back when that band was at its peak, I’m not sure if the “Instrumentalist – Vocals” category was a thing yet. That said, it’s this listeners belief that California Trap could easily garner him nods in several of those categories at next year’s various awards ceremonies.
“When I was a kid, I’d fall and scrape my knee. Never scared to climb the highest tree. I look back, what happened to that kid – and the fearless way he lived?” is Andrew’s way of addressing that once fearlessness he no longer seems to possess. “I got old, got scared of everything. Scared of heights, scared of a little rain. So I’m gonna climb, maybe fall in the dirt – feeling it’s okay to get a little hurt” is his way of saying he intends to once again find that fearlessness by “Relearning To Climb”. This soulful ballad features Andrew doing what he does on every song he performs – singing his heart out – right down to every “bop bop a la la la”. The rhythm, keyboard and horn work are all masterful. Additionally, Tia, Lisa and Lara are fabulous on the background vocals
“Naw, Naw, Naw” is old school R&B as good as it gets. It immediately had me thinking Tyrone Davis. Vocally, Andrew and the ladies are again killing it; Kid, D’Mar, and Baxter are all over the intense rhythm on bass, drums and Hammond organ, respectively; the horn section of Mike Rose on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Doug Rowan on baritone sax, and Michael Peloquin on tenor sax, are absolutely stealing the show.
The title track, “California Trap”, is a three-minute-long song that I easily listened to for twenty-four or more minutes. By now, most of you already know what I mean – it’s the type of stuff I just can never get enough of, killer slow blues at its best. Right out of the gate, Kid’s stinging blues guitar licks had me saying “oh yeah!’ Then, Andrew started soulfully belting out those melancholic slow blues lyrics which put me in my favorite place – slow blues heaven. Of course, ya can’t do this kind of stuff without a slow and tight rhythm and that’s all being taken care of by Kid on the bass, D’mar on the drums and Baxter on the piano with level upping trombone and baritone sax support by Mike Ritna and Michael Peloquin. As the track comes to an end, someone joyfully shouts out what I was thinking all along – “That was good!”
Having hit a rough patch in his life, where things got rocky on the rollin’ seas, Andrew is thankfully “Feelin’ Better Now”. Thanks to Michael, this one is smokin’ harmonica blues at its best – damn that guy can blow. This dance floor filling shuffle also features Kid and D’mar in a roaring rhythm groove; Baxter on rollicking piano leads; and the boss himself, in addition to bellowing out the blues, rockin’ on the guitar.
Lamenting over the sorrows this life has presented to him, this slow blues number has Andrew looking forward to the “Next Life”. As he sees it, and I hope for his sake he’s right, “the next life will be the best”. Musically, Kid is providing Andrew with masterfully mournful guitar leads to accompany his painful vocals; Jerry and D’mar have just the right somber rhythm groove happening on the bass and drums; and along with the full horn section helping out, Jim’s mesmerizing B3 work give the track somewhat of a hymnal vibe.
On “More Lows Than Highs”, Andrew’s attitude exemplifies why, as said above, he just can’t wait for that next life. “Sure as shit – and houseflies, there’s more lows – more lows than highs” pretty much sums it up for him. Musically, it’s an up-tempo smoker with monster rhythm, scorching guitar, and blaring horns – led by some serious baritone sax blowin’ by Doug Rowan.
Other tracks on this must-have, and potential award-winning CD include: “Hold Me Back”; “Town Saint”; “Outer Space”; “What Kind Of Man” (Michael Peloquin); “This Land Is Your Land” (Woody Guthrie & TRO); “It’s A Pleasure” (M. Schermer); and Better Off Now.”
Should like to find out more about Andrew Duncanson, just go to his website – www.andrewduncanson.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
