[Doherty] bends the bass into something rarely heard, but entirely worth the price of admission.
The almighty get down is well represented in this debut recording from Chicago firebomb, Hood Smoke. The 13-track disc is a groove-driven effusion of straight on soul, funky organ jazz and rock-inspired guitar with a straight link to bands of the '70s such as Seawind and Rufus. Bassist Bryan Doherty, a versatile and dynamic mainstay on the Chicago music scene, wrote and produced the CD. His sophisticated, force-of-nature bass lines provide the rhythmic foundation for Sarah Marie Young, winner of the 2011 Montreux Jazz Voice Competition, who blows well beyond her jazz roots to unleash an inner wail that is pristinely articulate yet satisfyingly gritty. The band is solidly rounded out with drummer Michael Caskey, Rob Clearfield on keyboards and Dave Miller on guitar.
1 Thick as Thieves 4:02
2 Can't Tell 3:11
3 Galaxy 4:25
4 Thing 3:51
5 Once More 4:22
6 Two Wrongs 4:20
7 You Drive Me Wild 4:59
8 Tryin' 4:20
9 Milk and Mascara 4:04
10 Leave the Room 5:06
11 Faint Melody 5:49
12 That Color 4:18
13 Milk and Cherries 2:47
Hood Smoke is:
SARAH MARIE YOUNG - vocals
ROB CLEARFIELD - keyboards
DAVE MILLER - guitar
BRYAN DOHERTY - bass, vocals, percussion
MICHAEL CASKEY - drums, percussion
JAVIER SAUME MAZZEI - percussion (3,10,11)
Produced by Bryan Doherty
Recorded by Manny Sanchez at The I.V. Lab, Chicago. IL
Additional engineering by Shane Hendrickson
Mixed by Floyd Reitsma at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA
Mastered by Dan Dean, Dan Dean Prod., Mercer Island, WA
Cover design and layout by John Bishop
Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
Am I hearing young Hawk Wolinski and Chaka Khan echoing in these grooves? A smoking Chicago crew that knows their groove history a well as their local history deliver Grandson of Rufus on this funky for the times set that's driven by their well honed chops. Fun stuff that'll be sure to tell you something good. ...
Bass Musician Magazine (Tim Seisser)
Born in Milwaukee, Bryan started playing bass at the age of twelve. Now in his tenth year based in Chicago, Bryan can be heard playing everything from modern jazz to authentic Latin to funk-dripped soul. Bryan?s versatile bass skills and compositions have brought him national recognition and solidified his reputation as one of music?s brightest sta ...