look: Tom Principato - Guitar Gumbo - Powerhouse 123 - BUY

listen:

Louisiana (Been Callin' Me)

Hey Now Baby

Tipsy

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Throughout Tom Principato's long career (almost 40 years), he's been playing some great guitar & singing everything from Blues, Rock, Country, Roots, R&B, Jazz and who knows what else. This CD covers his love of New Orleans music and it's something that is pre-Katrina. He didn't know what was about to happen to New Orleans; he just plays in that style joyfully. The liner notes were written by Tom in July of 2005, expressing his love of the city. New Orleans food, its music, its wild side (with Tipitina's, Jazzfest, and the partying that we all remember are the Gumbo that he speaks of. Mainly, his love of singing & the guitar is what this CD is all about.

Principato explains that the CD started out as pure NOLA music, but in a couple of ways it got sidetracked to include other tunes. Not to worry; anything as nice as "Tango'd Up In The Blues" doesn't detract from the essence of this music. He includes Sticks McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-dee-o-dee", Chris Kenner's "They Took My Money" and "Jambalaya" by Hank Williams. "Tipsy" is a fine instrumental illustrating Tom's straight-forward approach to the Fender guitar.

Backed by his longtime pals, John Perry on Bass & Vocals, Joe Wells on Drums, Tommy Lepson on Hammond Organ and Kevin McKendree on piano, the group pounds it out all the way through. Also, longtime friend Mark Wenner from the Nighthawks joins the group on "Louisiana's Been Callin' Me". This group blends and backs up so thoroughly that difficult to ever find a let up, in any way.

I also own Tom Principato's all instrumental CD, called "Not One Word". I also highly recommend that, if you love great guitar playing. Both are available at Amazon, as well as his website, www.tomprincipato.com, so be sure to pick them both up. He is a master of the Fender guitar.You will be amazed at the licks on this CD.

(©) 2006, Gary W. Miller
BluesSource.com