TOMISLAV GOLUBAN
CHICAGO RAMBLER
SPONA CD 203
PIGEON SWING–LOCKED HEART–BAG FULL OF TROUBLES (FEAT. JOE FILISKO)–JERRY RICKS ON MY MIND–CAN’T FIND MYSELF–HOME MADE HONEY–ONE WAY TICKET–DO THE RIGHT THING–LITTLE PIGEON (FEAT. JOE FILISKO)–JERRY RICKS ON MY MIND (ACOUSTIC)–SEARCHIN’ FOR MY BABY–I’LL GO TO MY COTTAGE
Fans, the “Croatian Sen-Sa-Shun” is back! Yup, for his tenth studio album, Croatian harmonica man Tomislav Goluban ventured to the hallowed ground of the Windy City to immerse himself in the sounds and history of Chicago to get just the right feel for “Chicago Rambler.” Tomislav wrote all the cuts save for the one traditional Croatian song that closes the set, and he is on vocals and harp throughout. Eric Noden is on guitar, with stalwarts E. G. McDaniel on bass, and Beedy Eyes Smith on drums. Guest Joe Filisko adds harp on two cuts.
Tomislav counts among his influences just about all the greats–Little Walter, Big Walter, Kim Wilson, and a host of others. Now, they call this man the “Little Pigeon,” and he starts this party with an @$$-kickin’ instrumental, aptly-titled “Pigeon Swing,” blowin’ like a reincarnation of both Walters. Joe Filisko joins the party as the fellows get into a cool Junior Wells groove with “Bag Full Of Troubles,” while Eric adds some deep slide guitar on the dark-and-stormy blues of “Can’t Find Myself, on this long and lonesome road.” Joe returns for Tomislav’s “autobiography,” if you will, the swagger-filled braggadocio of “they call me Little Pigeon–I like to strut across the floor!”
We had several favorites. Back in the mid-Nineties, when we were members of the original Music City Blues Society, Philadelphia Jerry Ricks was one of our members, and played around town. He sadly passed in 2007, but he was a major influence on Tomislav, who “taught me what the blues was all about,” and Tomislav returns the favor with the sweet, rhumba-rock of “Philadelphia Jerry Ricks On My Mind,” which appears later in acoustic form. Our other favorite was also an acoustic number, the Delta-fied, call-and-response of :Searchin’ For My Baby.”
Tomislav Goluban is sho’ nuff rockin’ the roads. Right this very minute, he’s down on Beale for the IBC’s, and he’s fulfilled a lifelong dream of recording in the Windy City with “Chicago Rambler!” Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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