Dave Specter - Speculatin'
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Free Music Notes for Speculatin'
Free Music Review: Deserves 6 stars, at least
Hit: 5 Stars
Most highly expoobident offering from Dave Specter, who works the considerable common ground of blues, r&b and jazz and expands upon it. Thoroughly great music, no ego showboating, just tasteful & imaginative & groovin' always. If you dig Booker T & MGs, Meters, soul jazz, this is an instant must.Free Music Review: ALL TIME FAVORITE!
Hit: 5 Stars
After almost 2 years, this is still my #1 blues/jazz album. I've turned on many pro players to Dave and own all his albums. My current guitar teacher was just blown away with this album. If you enjoy Ronnie Earl, Then you'll love Speculatin. Its a perfect blend of a B3 with a beautiful clean hot tube amp tone. Can't wait (and it should be time) for his next album, hope Dave keeps the same formula cause it sure working here!Free Music Review: Blues at their baddest.
Hit: 4 Stars
Despite the album's title, there's nothing tentative about the music on "Speculatin'," the recent, all-instrumental release by Chicago blues guitarist, Dave Specter, and his working band. The program is one that will delight the listener who prefers his blues straight and probably put to the test more casual followers of the blues scene. Specter originals, which comprise 8 of the tunes on the album, favor minor keys (which is the exception, at least in the blues repertories of most jazz musicians), and despite the undeniable influence of certain jazz guitarists, the leader's sound and style--raw, slightly distorted, uncompromisingly direct--remains firmly rooted in the language of the blues.Yet, the program is also a testimony to the blues "spectrum"--ranging from jazz funk to 8th-note-feel rock to 4/4 shuffle to R&B swing to boogaloos, cha-chas, and various latin-tinged blues beats. In fact, the sprightly "Hot Cha" is as capable of summoning up soothing South Seas breezes as the down-and-dirty slow-drag number, "Dark Hour Blues," is capable of leading the listener to the edge of the abyss--the valley of unnameable suffering--from whence the blues originally came.
But there's much here to please the jazz listener as well, particularly the ensemble's working out on Dizzy Gillespie's "Birk's Works" and Charles Earland's "Mighty Burner." On the latter number, taken way up-tempo, Rob Waters lays down a pedal bass line that would be a joy to hear in itself were the organist not simultaneously constructing a gem of a solo--beginning with short, percussive riff motifs and then building to a stops-out, block-chorded chorus. Here, as well as during his accompanying, his use of different registrations, tight control of the volume pedal and judicious deployment of Leslie effects, provide enough variety to counteract some of the repetitious elements of the all-blues program.
While there's something here for everyone, this is an album guaranteed to appeal to blues fans and, most certainly, devotees of blues guitar. The mix, in fact, favors the sound of the leader's instrument from beginning to end.
Free Music Review: A Blues/Jazz Organ Combo Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Dave Specter returns with his best offering yet. He dispenses with a vocalist completely for this release and is much the better for it. His playing is excellent as usual. He is equally at home playing a stone blues like "Dark Hour Blues" as he is at playing a jazz tune like "The Mighty Burner" by Charles Earland. He also offers up some funk with a cover of the Meters "Look-Ka Py Py". One minute his playing reminds me of Magic Sam or Freddie King while on other tunes he sounds like Kenny Burrell or Wes Montgomery. His take on Dizzy Gillespie's "Birk's Works" is also interesting. His backing band includes Ken Saydak on keyboards who has played on many blues sessions including some with Johnny Winter. If you are fan of instrumental music, jazzy blues or organ combos you will find much to savor with this release. I am eagerly anticipating his next disc.Free Music Review: Absolutely Good N'Greasy Fun!
Hit: 5 Stars
Took a chance on this CD based on the sound clips on amazon.com. Glad I did. This one mixes blues and jazz (of the soul variety) into a winning mix that's in-your-face fun. This all-instrumental release is a perfect mix of Albert Collins "ice" and Wes Montgomery "smooth". The production is earthy and rich with just the right amount of grit and spit. It reminded me of Steve Cropper's excellent Stax solo albums from the late 1960s. After seeing the "all-flash/no substance" ultra-young generation get all the glory, it's good to recommend this set to people who may have strayed from the blues. Speculatin' is perfect for that "summer loungin' by the BBQ" party. Easily the best blues album I've heard in a long, long time.
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