Anthony Geraci – Tears In My Eyes
11 tracks/48 minutes
Anthony Geraci has played piano for countless other musicians over the years and his own albums are always a delight to listen to. He surrounds himself with a bevy of fine players and singers and gives us another likely award contender with this release.
Geraci plays piano and sings a bit. Sugar Ray Norcia and Barrett Anderson handle the brunt of the vocal tracks; Anderson also plays lead guitar throughout. Paul Loranger is on on bass and drums are shared by Marty Richards on the first four tracks (recorded in Acton, MA) and Kurt Kalker on the rest (recorded in Prague in the Czech Republic). Drew Davies is on sax except for track five with Mario Perrett on the horn.
“Broken Mirror, Broken Mirror” opens the album. It’s a cool, slow blues with Geraci singing emotively and some stinging guitar work along with Geraci’s stalwart piano playing. Sugar Ray Norcia handles the vocals here. Dirty, sublime and cool stuff! “Owl’s Nest” follows, a jumping and swinging instrumental. The sax and piano work were especially impressive. The title track is next with guitarist Paul Anderson fronting the band. It’s a blues rocker of sorts with pretty piano and guitar along with a nice, driving beat.
Another cool instrumental come up next, “Blues For Willie J,” a cut dedicatd to Willie J. Campbell. A slow. Lamentatious piano drives this slow and thoughtful piece that builds and builds. Some great guitar soloing comes in later to make this even more poignant. Sugar Ray returns to lead “Judge Oh Judge,” some sorrowful and slick slow blues about not getting jailed for a murder he did not commit. Sax and piano add to the mood in this cool number. “Oh No” is a jazzy instrumental featuring sax and piano; well done!
Next is “Ooeee” with Geraci singing and setting a bit of a stride on in piano. The sax wails on a big solo and then Geraci follows up on piano. He growls the lead out nicely, too. Another nice instrumental is up next and Anne Harris adds her violin to the mix with piano and violin featured. The repetitious and evolving melody slips and slides along as the instruments slip in and out to good effect here in “Memphis Mist.” “Witchy Ways” follows with Anderson again singing and playing some Dickey Betts-esque slide guitar, giving the cut a nice Southern Blues Rock feel. Geraci adds some well done piano licks, too!
“Now What” brings Norcia back in this slow and delightful blues as he and Geraci’s piano trade off. Then the sax comes in for some delicious soloing; a pretty piece. The album concludes with “Lonely Country Road Blues.” The finale is a somber instrumental with piano and acoustic guitar, another thoughtful and expressive cut.
Geraci’s got another winner here. All the songs are originals and well-crafted. He and the crew joining him do a superb job. I foresee future accolades in this album!
