Veteran Lansing, Michigan band Root Doctor ply contemporary electric blues and soul-blues: funky on "Michigan Roads," shuffling on "Me and My Wife," a little soulful on "My Foolish Pride," and downright Sam Cook-meets-'70's- R&B on "Been A Long Time [+]Veteran Lansing, Michigan band Root Doctor ply contemporary electric blues and soul-blues: funky on "Michigan Roads," shuffling on "Me and My Wife," a little soulful on "My Foolish Pride," and downright Sam Cook-meets-'70's- R&B on "Been A Long Time Coming," among the originals, with fine covers of Willie Brown's "Mississippi Blues," Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night In Georgia," Johnnie Taylor's "Last Two Dollars," and Tyrone Davis' "Turning Point." The soulful slant to the set is testimony to the presence of the Sofa King Horns, Freddie Cunningham's powerfully lithe baritone, and the Doctor's refusal to submit to blues-rock pressures. Thumbs up on the the release of Been a Long Time Coming (Big O 2046)
Blues Revue Aug/Sep 2006
Their's is a good sound. Blues on the cusp of funky jazz, with plenty of soul on the side. The vocals (including the harmonies) and the individual players (listen for the B-3) make the arrangements so likable. At times this could be a "bluesed up" take on Motown -a little Stax anyone? Their home base of Lansing, Michigan is just 90 miles from the Motor City (the same distance that Key West is from Cuba), but Root Doctor could just as easily be from the Bay area, East St. Louis or Memphis.
"Michigan Roads" (track 2) is a geography lesson for a state that has known better days. It was once a musican-friendly mecca for migrants with auto industy ambitions from the Delta and other points South. Where it's headed now is anybody's guess. But talent still clings to the terrain.
Top notch singing and playing make this album a contender, and the liner notes are an asset. Root Doctor is Freddie Cunningham (on lead vocals), James Williams (on bass guitar and backing vocals), Jim Alfredson (on Hammond organ, keys, and lead vocals on the title track), Greg Nagy (on guitar, backing vocals, and lead vocals on "Mississippi Blues"), and Matt Hayes on drums. The Sofa King Horns-all four of them-are flanked by three additional trombones, is that impressive or what?
High Points include the guitar work on "Me and My Wife" and "Michigan Roads", the Memphis-like groove that infects, "Love Bones" and "The Turning Point", and two fine covers-- "Respect Yourself" and "Rainy Night in Georgia", brim with soul. Been A Long
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