Tommy Castro, fresh from his wildly successful CD, "Soul Shaker" has cut a new DVD that highlights his searing Soul renditions from the CD and hosts a band that shakes the rafters and thumps your soul. Not only does Castro prove that he's got the pipes for strong delivery, but his band is fabulous, with great solos from Keith Crossan on Sax and a few sitters-in, like Jimmy Pugh on keyboards, Renee Austin on background vocals, Tom Poole on Trumpet, and Kevin Bowe on guitar.

The most interesting thing about this CD is the interview with Tommy and the band. This is really what it's like to be a musician and it is perfectly apparent that this band knows of whence it came and what it's about on the road and in life. You don't have to be a musician to suddenly understand why these guys give so much of themselves to the music. They have to be demented, but the happiness that they express about what they do is overwhelming. We should all be so lucky in our jobs. It's a HARD road out there, yet there is this agreement among these musicians that this is what you are SUPPOSED to be doing, Thank God, we have people like this in our midst. They help us get through the crap of everyday life, and we could look to them for advice on how to do that. They are happy with the road. Many musicians I have talked to, some over 30 years on the road will tell you that they love the road. Amazing!

This CD is a great introduction to the Soul side of the Blues. It's got that West Coast thing which differentiates this music from the Delta and Chicago. It is another branch of the Blues, which PROVES that Blues isn't just one thing. It has something for every taste. Be open and enjoy!

©Gary W. Miller
BluesSource.com