Closer To The Bone

Closer to the Bone is Tommy Castros first album in four years. His last LP, the stellar A Bluesman Came to Town, is a concept set tracing the life of an itinerant bluesman. It includes some of the finest originals in Castros long career, including the gospel-blues "Child Dont Go," the title track, and "I Want to Go Back Home." It may initially seem odd that after four years, the guitar slinger and band return with a set that includes only three originals; the remainder are covers written by Castros friends and heroes. It contains the raw, unpolished blues (not blues rock) songs his last albums protagonist would play in roadhouses. The Painkillers remain keyboardist Mike Emerson, bassist/backing vocalist Randy McDonald, and drummer Bowen Brown. The album was produced by Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, who plays numerous instruments. Further, Castro invited a large cast of guests including saxophonist Deanna Bogart, Chris Cain, Rick Estrin, a full horn section, and more. The set opens with "Cant Catch a Break," a choogler that swings as the horns, led by baritone sax and a bumping bassline, frame Castros rough, whiskey-soaked vocals and stinging guitar fills. He follows with a fantastic, steamy read of Jimmy Nolens "The Way You Do." The interplay between the piano, a syncopated, shuffling drum kit, and a walking bassline opens the gate for the guitarist, who offers an economical solo that fits his soulful vocal. Johnny Nitros "One More Night" is an homage to the legendary San Francisco bluesman -- Castro even plays the composers 1966 Fender Stratocaster to underscore out his tribute. Original "Crazy Woman Blues" is a slow, gritty, late-night Chicago blues reminiscent of Luther Allison. Cains "Woke Up and Smelled the Coffee" is another Chicago-styled groover, this time uptempo and rattling with boogie woogie piano, B-3, and a punched-up, dirty guitar sound. Johnny Guitar Watsons "She Moved Me" is an excellent meld of R&B-styled horns, boogie guitar, and a swinging rhythm section behind Bogarts killer sax solo. Castros Ain’t Worth the Heartache" is a classic, using the Bo Diddley beat on guitar, framed by roiling tom-toms and kick drum as Billy Branchs harmonica delivers a wailing solo before Castros. Its followed by an excellent version of Ray Charles soul-blues ballad "A Fool for You." The set closes with three astonishing covers. Hank Pennys jump classic "Bloodshot Eyes" led by roadhouse horns and upright piano, also contains a fine tenor solo from Bogart. Eddie Taylors "Stroll Out West" straddles the Delta-Texas blues divide. Castros singing here is some of the most expressive of his career -- his moaning falsetto is a killer. The final cut is a resonant read of Brownie McGees "Hole in the Wall." With a backing vocal chorus, squalling B-3, cut-time snare shuffle, and a pulsing, single-note bassline, Castros guitar playing goes at the entire maelstrom as his singing claims authority over it all. On Closer to the Bone, the artist is personally influenced by and committed to these covers, and supplements them with originals that carry the same weight. All killer, no filler. ~ Thom Jurek