John Latini review…January 22, 2017….

JOHN LATINI

THE BLUES JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD

SMOKIN SLEDDOG RECORDS

BLACK-EYED BLUES–LORD MADE ME A WEAK MAN–THREE AM–WOODCHUCK BLUES–PULL ME UP–RUTABAGA CHEESECAKE–THE BLUES JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD–BROKEN MAN–MY TOWN’S GOT A RIVER AND A TRAIN–GOTTA HAVE MY BABIES–TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE–HARD WALKIN’ WOMAN–I WILL BE HAUNTING YOU

John Latini is a guitar-playing blues singer with a really incredibly deep, baritone vocal delivery.  He’s a three-time winner of the Detroit Blues Challenge in the Solo category, and he has just released his latest CD, featuring a title to which we can all relate–“The Blues Just Makes Me Feel Good,”  for Michigan-based Smokin’ Sleddog Records.  Comprised of thirteen cuts, eleven of them are John’s originals, and there are two sweet covers.

Aside from that killer vocal style, John also has the guitar chops that we like to call “Johnny B. Goode style.”  His tone is fat, crisp, and clear, and his runs and lines are as clean as that ol’ boy who could play just like ringin’ a bell!

The party starts with a sly-and-sexy ode to a red-hot lover with that innate ability to “stand me up to my full height” as they enjoy those “Black-Eyed Blues!”  The swampy, tremolo-twanged groove of the lover who’s long gone has John begging her to come back and make some more of that “Rutabaga Cheesecake,” while a cool ode to his home state follows that same vibe and is described as “if Michigan is the necklace, then Ypsilanti is the jewel,” on “My Town’s Got A River And A Train.”

Favorites were all over this one.  One of the covers is an all-out slide fest, the tale of Elvis, a big black Olds, and an unfortunate woodchuck and his ultimate revenge, “Woodchuck Blues!”  John and the horn section get their Jimmy Reed groove on with the Chicago-styled blues of a “Hard Walkin’ Woman” who’s “big, but not that tall!”  And, John pays tribute to his many girlfriends and their myriad of attributes in the loping swing of “Gotta Have My Babies, and my babies’ gotta have me!”

John Latini is a true triple threat— an excellent musician, , witty and humorous songwriter,  with a voice that was born to sing the blues.  “The Blues Just Makes Me Feel Good,” and so will you, after listening to this set!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.