Brandon Santini – Which Way Do We Go?
Momojo Records
11 Tracks – 43 minutes
Brandon Santini was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and now resides in Springfield, Illinois. But in between, he got his schooling in the blues when he moved to Memphis in 2003. He became a fan favorite on Beale Street with many performances at the Rum Boogie Cafe & Blues Hall Club. His band, Delta Highway, received a Blues Music Award nomination for Best New Artist in 2009. But that group disbanded shortly thereafter, and Brandon launched his solo career. He released his debut album, Songs of Love, Money, and Misery, in 2011. Multiple releases since have resulted in four more Blues Music Award nominations, including for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica and Contemporary Blues Album of the year for his 2013 album, This Time Another Year and in 2016 for Live and Extended.
In 2019, he joined guitarist and vocalist Jeff Jensen for his band and album, Tennessee Redemption. Brandon played harmonica for the group and shared lead vocal responsibilities. When it became time to record this new album, Brandon chose to return to Memphis for the sessions and engaged Jeff to produce the album. Jeff co-wrote one song, “See That Pony”, with Brandon and adds electric and acoustic guitar on three tracks and backing vocals on the opening song. The additional band members are Timo Arthur on guitars, Cliff Moore on bass, and Ron James on drums. Jesse James Davis also provides backing vocals on four tracks.
Let’s just establish up front that every song feature Brandon’s fantastic work on the harp. The title track opens the album with the announcement, “People are dying, my brother, and people are crying, my dear mother. The world keeps turning with or without us. Young hearts yearning, broken chains of trust. What I want to know, brothers and sisters, which way we do we go?” He continues his expression of concern with “The War Ain’t Over” citing “Brothers and sisters, the fight is on”. expressing concern about “gun fire in the night”. On “See That Pony”, he says “Wake up mama, I am Alabama bound, nothing left to lose”. and questions “Who is that person in the picture with you?”
On “Ain’t Turning Back”, he declares “I am a natural born loner” and heading “down that road with danger in hand”. He then proclaims, “if you gonna have to do it, “Do What Comes Naturally”. Timo launches into a terrific guitar riff on this one. On “Mile After Mile” he contemplates “my mind gets worried, and my feet get tired. It’s a never-ending journey, but one worthwhile”. He finds himself “Working on a Mystery” “when I first laid eyes upon her, I knew I was a goner”. “I’m working on a mystery that I can’t seem to understand”. “What a shame I didn’t even catch her name.” Jeff provides a rousing guitar on this song.
Brandon identifies that “your telephone rings, got the devil on the line” and demands “Trouble Stay Away” “from me”. Next, he has got the “Blues So Bad” “I can’t help myself, don’t care about nothing and no one else”. “I ain’t felt so lost since I don’t know when, lost my soul down in New Orleans.” “Baby’s Got Soul” perhaps is identifying his saving from the previous song as he states, “My baby’s got soul in so many ways, reaches her hand out to me, takes me down to the river to wash my troubles away”. He continues that story and ends the album with a very upbeat tune, as he further says, “She Got the Way”. “I want the world to know my baby’s so fine”.
Brandon adds this note to his release information, “These deeply personal songs were written during the pandemic and its aftermath, and the album features the raw power that this band takes with them wherever we go. This is a moment of reckoning. If we don’t find our way with love and compassion, I fear what lies ahead”.
Brandon’s deep, melodious vocals ring with truth and sincerity with tightly written and expressive lyrics delivering his messages and concerns. As stated previously, his harmonica work places him in the current pinnacle of performers of that instrument and his band provides excellent complementary backing to him throughout the album.
