Music reviews - 11-29-06

This week: Discs by Lonesome Spurs and Mark Egan

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Untitled Document

Lonesome Spurs
Lonesome Spurs
Cleopatra

Stripped-down often equates to raw. The Lonesome Spurs’ debut, self-titled disc is anything but. Somehow this duo lays it on lush with little more than a coupla guitars and a Samsonite suitcase for a kick drum. Guitarist Danny B.Harvey (ex-Rockats, ex-13 Cats) plays slick and clean rockabilly guitar alongside Lynda Kay’s powerful honky-tonkin’ pipes. It’s pure juke joint joy and not the least bit dated despite the Spurs’ obvious preference for the tried ’n’ true side of the classic Americana street. They bust out a coupla standards like Glen Troutman’s “One Cup Of Coffee” but stay original for the most part. Sexy, swingin,’ and fun. A great record for sipping a cold one or dancing with a warm one.

--- Frank De Blase

Mark Egan
As We Speak
Wavetone

As a bassist, Mark Egan is used to playing second fiddle. But the hundreds of projects he’s been part of since the1970s attest to his stature in the field. From his involvement with the fusion group Elements through his stint with the Pat Metheny Group, to his work with Stan Getz, Gil Evans, and Sting, Egan has been among the most in-demand bassists of our time. As We Speak, a two-CD set, finds him in the superb company of drummer Danny Gottlieb and guitarist John Abercrombie. Suffice to say there is not a dull moment over the 16 tracks. Egan’s sound is full-bodied and melodic; comparisons to Joco Pastroius, especially on “Plane To The Trane,” are inevitable. Egan is a formidable composer. The title track and “Shade and Shadows” are instant classics and “Mississippi Nights” is nicely tailored for a bass in the lead. An added bonus: this is the best John Abercrombie album I’ve heard in years.

--- Ron Netsky