Powder Blues: Swingin' the Blues    PRESS RELEASE   LINER NOTES    LYRICS    INTERVIEW   REVIEW    WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
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	CD Review Powder Blues Swingin' The Blues (Blue Wave Records), BWR 12001 by Tim Holek Review date: July 2001 1999 KBA Award Winner Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by the Blues Foundation Since the late 70s, Canada's Powder Blues Band has been vibrantly incorporating swing, blues, rock, and R&B into a sound they proudly call their own. They have endlessly toured Canada, the United States and overseas, sharing a music that forces people to smile and dance. The band has won both Juno (Canadian Grammy) and Handy Awards. Unlike their past 10 releases that featured a variety of rhythms, the new CD is composed entirely of big band style tunes. Three originals are included amongst the 11 hoppin' and a boppin' and swangin' tracks. For over 35 years, leader Tom Lavin has been singing and playing guitar as a living. He is credited for writing the band's best-known songs. In addition, the core band includes members on bass, drums and keys. However, no less than 7 brass blasting musicians are featured on sax, trumpet and trombone. These joyous horns are hopping throughout and are sure to convert those who feel the blues can only be played on guitar. The result is a disc that richly delivers happy music to celebrate life. Things get jumping with the initial mighty blast of the horns on "Good Rockin Tonight". The heavy bass of Bill Runge and tingling ivories of Willie MacCalder are prominent on "Further On Up The Road". Its a refreshing, danceable version of a tune that has been long associated with extended guitar solos. "Caledonia" will transport you back to the era of Louis Jordan. If you can't find a partner, you'll be using a wooden chair on this one thanks to Runge's tremendous tenor sax solo. "Flip, Flop And Fly" was a 70s hit for Downchild (another Canadian party blues band). It's difficult not to draw comparisons here especially as Dave Woodward ironically plays tenor sax on both! Tom Lavin's strong and clear vocals are no contest for the original utterance of Hock Walsh. "Boppin With The Blues" is reprised from an earlier Powder Blues release. This time around Tom gets it the way he originally envisioned it. Lyrics such as: 'boppin makes me feel alright' speak volumes for what this band is all about. Your spirits will be soaring as you experience the trumpet, tenor and baritone solos of Bill Clark, Pat Caird and Runge. On the final 2 numbers, Lavin gets to exercise his fingers for some fantastic guitar work. He proves to single-handedly have as much power and triumph as his mighty horn section. Throughout Tom rises to the challenge to ensure his distinctive vocals are not lost in the high energy pumping horns. He does an excellent job as producer and you will also enjoy the exclusive liner notes. This is a lock-tight band with excellent members who anticipate each others moves. The only downfall is at 37 minutes, the disc is far too short in length. If you are looking for a party with the absence of any troubles, you have found it! For CDs, booking and information, contact: Tom Lavin 604 250-5155 E-mail: tlavin@powderblues.net  Website: www.powderblues.net   This review is copyright © 2001 by Tim Holek, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.     Washington Blues Society Swingin’ the Blues Powder Blues Review by Diane Wells CD REVIEW Bluesletter September 2002  Whether you want to consider College & Spadina the “wrong side of town” or not, there’s no denying it’s the hubbub of some of the best blues talent in town. Last week I was lucky enough to scoop up a ride into town to see my long-time swing/blues favourites, the Power Blues Band, from Vancouver. The original line-up circa “Thirsty Ears” is still intact and fit to boogie, comprised of ex-Chicago producer/songwriter (for Long John Baldry, Amos Garrett, April Wine) Tom Lavin on lead guitar and lead vocals, Willie MacCalder on boogie-woogie keyboards, who has recently released a solo CD, Broken Down Piano, Adam Drake (Grapes of Wrath, Art Bergman and Holly McNarland) on drums, and renowned jazzmen Bill Runge on bass (former saxophonist for Powder Blues Band and an Alcan National Jazz Award winner), Bill Clark on trumpet, and Jerry Cook (Crash, Guitar Shorty, Pinetop Perkins) on tenor saxophone. Formed in 1978, this self-made success story is a lesson in hard work, determination and an up-yours attitude that refused to be stymied by the music industry’s obsession with musical categorization. “Swingin’ the Blues” is their eighth release (along with a 1997 recording with Lowell Fulson) and continues their international crusade of “Boppin’ with the Blues”. Anyone who is into the high-end of the big band/swing era sound will be delighted with this newest effort, although I must admit they are more suited to a dance venue like the Palais Royale than the staid Silver Dollar where it seems somewhat inappropriate to “shake a leg” in other than the conventional jitterbug/jive style of dancing if one is to be so bold to step out on the floor in the first place. In any case, there was “good rockin’ tonight” (Roy Brown) as the band led off their set with the introductory track from the ankle-swinging, toe-tapping, Swingin’ the Blues and continued the CD promotion with “Further On Up the Road”, a tribute song to Bobby Blue Bland, Louis Jordan’s “Caledonia” and (Joe) Turner/Calhoun’s “Flip, Flop, Fly” (first popularized in Canada by the Downchild Blues Band in 1975 and whose saxophonist, David Woodward, performs on the Power Blues’ CD version of this track). Not content to merely push the new merchandise, the band accommodated a request by yours truly for “Hear That Guitar Ring” - thanks! They also performed a couple of hits from their Uncut and Thirsty Ears albums, i.e. “Buzzard Luck”, written by Wynonie Harris, Tom’s original “Boppin’ With the Blues”, and “Tore Down” (Steve Thompson), popularized by Freddie King, Eric Clapton, and others. There’s an interesting blurb in the liner notes re the CD track, “Rockchopper”, concerning royalties and songwriting credit issues. Listening to this top-drawer band play “live” for the first time was a very big treat for me. I would have no hesitation in recommending the purchase of this CD for anyone looking for a non-pharmaceutical “picker-upper”. Hey, I could even get into housework if this one’s on the laser beam! Also enjoying the show was harmonica ace David Rotundo, who, apart from enjoying his own newly-released Blowin’ for Broke, is on the CD release trail with Jack de Keyzer (another swing-blues emanator) on whose newest CD, Six-String Lover, David is a guest performer. Local bluesboss Kenny Brown (and the Pervaders) was manning the sound board (and doing a great job of it!).