In Blue
Mike Calzone
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Mike Calzone, founding member of the Grammy Award winning “Dazz Band”, has put together a retrospective collection of music that he has written, sung, and or produced which spans the musical landscape, yet dazzles the listener with it’s overall quality. Covering a variety of genres from blues, funk, and hip-hop, to rock, acoustic, and world, Mike shows his major-label type talent no matter what he touches. Several tunes include collaborations with other artists, with scintillating vocal performances by Cozette Morgan (Pain/revisited, To Love You, Love Thang), rapper Curt Hustle (Ghetto Preacher) and B. Loyd Tayler – of Earth, Wind, and Fire – on Pain. Mike also collaborated with folk legend Alex Bevan on the haunting ballad, “Back Home”, dedicated to the troops overseas. This is a MUST HAVE cd for music lovers who appreciate real talent!
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Bent Outta Shape
The Jack Fords
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American roots-rock music with a fresh energy that gets you rocking! This 4-piece group has been winning rave reviews in the local media with their first release, a live recording that captures the essence of high energy, roots-rock.
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Bloodlines to the Heart
Cletus Black
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Murder. Sex. Revenge. Icy fingers and cold, cold sweat. What happened in Room Seven, Ocean Drive? This combination of stark character sketches with tough rock grooves can only mean that Cletus Black is back, “Bloodlines to the Heart” is the latest offering to feature Cletus Black’s singular style of songwriting. The 2002 Free Times Music Awards winner for Singer/Songwriter, Black is that rare tunesmith who claims not to plumb the depths of “personal experience” for his songs, but creates scenes and characters much like an author of short stories. The listener finds these songs contain tension and conflict beneath the surface. Thus, “Cocaine Trail” is more Raymond Chandler than personal confessional. Is “We Are Hiding” a lullaby, or something more sinister? “Revenge”, often mistakenly related to 9-11, in fact seeks a vengeance far more personal.
Cletus is the first to acknowledge the contributions of Tommy Rich who produced and engineered the disc. “Bloodlines” actually completes a trilogy of recording featuring the Rich/Black team – CLETUS BLACK (1999) and BLACK ICE (2002) – and showcases a stellar cast of musicians, including members of the Cletus Black Revue, Cletus’ live performing unit. The use of horns and keyboards give this disc an R&B flavor to go with Cletus’ trademark vocal growl and bluesy approach. For more information on Cletus Black, visit www.cletusblack.com
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Shades of Black
Cletus Black
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This unique singer/songwriter has put together a striking debut release. Can you imagine Johnny Cash meets Lou Reed? Then you can get the picture. Attitude. Solid musical performances by the top regional session players create the foundation for Black to deliver his story lines.
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Back It Up
Cletus Black
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WOW! This follow-up effort is loaded with great songs. Black is a talented songwriter, influenced by many of the tunesmiths of the '70's. Every song has a distinctive hook and the lyrics are sufficiently mature and esoteric. Standout songs include: "Stage Left", "Throwing Aces", and "Depot Road", but every song is solid. This is a record that baby boomer rockers should embrace.
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The Best of Cletus
Cletus Black
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"These grooves emanate from Cleveland, Ohio via the deep dark Paris nightclubs and/or the dank alleys of New York. Fantastic writing and anatical arrangements gives this a Velvet Underground feel. Raw, deep and powerful blues! Great backup and tighter than tight deliveries! BIG CITY BLUES, Aug./Sept. 1998
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Black Ice
Cletus Black
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When Cletus informed me late in 1999 that he had written 18 new songs, I admit to being surprised. After all, Back It Up (1998) and Cletus Black (1999) comprised an output of original music few local or national artists could match. When I heard the tunes, I was quite literally stunned. The raw emotion of "Holding My Own"; the sly humor of "Mumblin' to Myself"; the all-out romp that is "B.Y.O. Blues"-Cletus had not only managed to maintain his ability to craft catchy and unique rock-n-roll, but had clearly outdone himself. If the previous disc struck you as a series of film-noir style vignettes, the song cycle of Black Ice reads more like a novel. As you experience the confusion, joy, loneliness and ultimately hope embodied in this musical look at relationships, I'm sure you'll agree the man called "Cleveland's lyrical poet" also qualifies him as one of the most prolific as well.
Kevin McCarthy
November 2000
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