AG Weinberger review…June 16, 2016…

AG WEINBERGER

MIGHTY BUSINESS

BIGFOOT RECORDS  BFCD 0072015

BABY PLEASE DON’T GO–TRY TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE REAL–I CAN’T GET ENOUGH–MOTHER BLUES–CISSY STRUT–SWEET LITTLE NUMBER–STANDIN’ AROUND CRYIN’–BILLIE’S BOUNCE–THE BLUES HAD A BABY AND THEY NAMED IT ROCK AND ROLL–AIN’T NOBODY’S BUSINESS–TAKE ME TO THE HIGHWAY

When we think of Transylvania, we are conditioned to see Hollywood’s perception of it–dark, brooding, and sho’ nuff NOT a place where you’d likely find a world-class guitar monster of a bluesman.  But, we’d like to introduce you to one AG Weinberger, likely Transylvania’s best ambassador for the blues.  A bear of a man at six-foot-five and 255 pounds with a voice to match, he’s been the recipient of the President’s Medal–the highest honor in Romania for Arts, Music, and Cultural recognition.

His latest set is a live one, from Bucharest, entitled “Mighty Business.”  The crowd is really into it, and AG turns it up and turns it-a loose over eleven cuts that mix traditional blues and jazz with his own contemporary originals, led by his wailing guitar.

He loves Muddy, as do we, and he shouts out to him on three occasions.  He kicks things off with the ‘lectrified stomp of “Baby Please Don’t Go,” sand comes back a little later for a downright funky read of “The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock And Roll,” cleverly mixing it with the title cut, “the blues is a Mighty Business.”  And, he busts out the slide for a slash-and-burn trip down to the Delta for “Standin’ Around Cryin.”

Showing his flair for the contemporary is his original, “Try To Get To The Middle Of The Real,” which nods to both Jimi and Buddy Guy.  He’s got some jazz in his soul, too, as evidenced by a just-too-dang-short take on The Meters’ “Cissy Strut,” and a solidly-swingin’ “Billie’s Bounce,”  his fluid and smooth guitar lines wrapping themselves around these melodies with ease.

We had two favorites, too.  “I Can’t Get Enough” is a stone slab of Southern rockin’ boogie bemoaning the sorry state of today’s economy, while “Sweet Little Number” is a dance floor ode to those party girls you just can’t help but love!

AG Weinberger is truly a Transylvanian troubadour who is bent on spreading the message of the blues to a world-wide audience.  With a set as strong as “Mighty Business” that’s something you can “count” on!!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.