Noam Dayan
Corner of Blues and The City
Bandcamp
Super Cool Chicago Blues from Downtown Tel Aviv.
My Israeli friend Yamit has done it again!
Even if I’d been flicking through a record rack I would have picked this album up because of the sleeve. Obviously I’ve made mistakes doing that in the past; but the photography here certainly does point you towards the quality of music on the disc.
That said I was slightly taken aback by the Jazz like cool of opening track Little Place Called Pai. Dayan has an uber-cool singing voice, somewhere between Brook Benton and Chet Baker while his guitar playing sounds like he’s listened to a whole lot of BB King and George Benson; he really is that good.
We all have different tastes of course; but this old-school Rhythm and Blues style is slick, professional and so easy on the ear it feels like you are sipping rum and coke in a Havana Juke Joint between Steve McQueen and Julie Christie in the early 1960’s. Then, n Play The Blues and Be Proud we not only hear some razor sharp guitar licks; but the violinist could easily be a relative of Stephane Grappelli; and don’t get me started about the bongos!
The songs can sometimes get a little bit lost in the luscious arrangements; but after a couple of listens you will find yourself clicking your fingers and singing along to All of You and Keep It Cool; just like I did.
I’m normally a critic of guitarists who get carried away and that could easily have been a problem here as four tracks are in excess of 7 minutes long; but the solos are carefully shared out with the Hammond organ really rocking along with a brass section that Blue Note would have been proud of.
Favourite track? Phew; that’s not easy; but who among us isn’t going to like a track called Keep it Cool? But the howling harmonica that opens Smiles and Cries just about tips it for me; plus Dayan’s Soulful voice sent chills down my spine.
Another Blues Diamond from the Israeli scene; and I for one can’t wait to see this band play live.
Released July 2015
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The Rocking Magpie 