Dan T. and the Crew – Legacy
Plan-iT Records 2024
57 minutes
Largely underground blues musician Dan Treanor, a guitar and harp player for over 60 years, produces honky tonk, country, and funky blues on Legacy (2024), with the help of almost 50 musicians he has shared with the stage with over his career, including his band, The Crew.
While some of the songs fall short or don’t quite hit right, solid vocals permeate the LP, and Dan T and the Crew deliver several excellent funky blues tracks, powered by saucy and solid percussion. If you come for anything, come for the allstar bonanza of blues harp solos.
On “My Blues”, several layers of funky music intermingle, including whaling electric guitar and solid drums, complimented by smoky vocals singing “I’ve got nobody I can call my own. I got no place that I can call a home. I’ve got the blues.” The dark gritty vocals, reminiscent of Lou Reed and Bob Dylan manage to be rugged yet smooth. Dan T plays a delightful harmonica solo, Andras Csapo plays reverberating, soulful organ, and Rod Buncker plays biting fugel horn.
“Brand New Day” opens with rhythmic harmonica. The laid back, hopeful blues tune features Michelle Castillo, singing “Let the good times roll. Chase the blues away”, soft and tenderly, with a touch of soul and splashes of piano, dancing up and down the scale.
Fiery drums and harmonica intermingle on “Hey Babe”, forging a saucy, rhthymic tapestry of sound. Kyle Borthick’s performance on drums demands attention, forming the backbone of the song, aided by Dan T’s flurry of guitar. Dan, with lament, sings “You treat me woman, like a worn out shoe. I don’t even know what you want me to do… You got me running everywhere. Hey baby, what’s on your mind this time?” The song projects an irresistible beat – hip shaking, swinging music.
Perhaps the most unique and strongest musical contribution to the album is “Harpoonin’ The Blues”, a dynamic display of harp prowess from 12 different harmonica players. This gem is for fans of blues harmonica, demonstrating an assortment of harmonica solos traversing the capabilities of the instrument and its unique flavors. The influences of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamsonn, and James Cotton are clearly heard in various interpretations
Ripping harmonica blows open “Black Night”. A balance emerges from the smoky female/male vocals of Merrian Johnson and Rex Peoples, and the song barrels through with high momentum, like the unstoppable tears of a lover abandoned. The organ sounds amazing in this powerhouse of soul as the harp meanders softly, but with soul. Johnson cries out “Black night is falling… All I can do is break down and cry”, while Peoples sings “I’m stepping into the dark… I’m such a fool for losing you.”
Employing the same country roots feel of some of the weaker tracks on the album, “Rollin’ Again”, features Dan T and Frankie DeJoy with raspy voices, full of character, singing in a conversational tone about how they would “dive right in” if the “river was whiskey and we were diving ducks.” The track strays from the blues and lacks the funk and charm of some of the blusier tunes.
“Natural Clown”, as the name may suggest, is jovial good-spirited blues., with a catchy hook. Slow, meandering orchestration backs up Nic Clark’s vocals, as he sings, somewhat surreal, “Oh mama, can it be?.. I can feel it going down. I’m just your natural clown.” Dexter Payne’s clarinet takes up a lot of space, giving a loose, eccentric atmosphere.
“My Life” fails to pack a punch and Dan T forgoes singing, for a monotone voice. The track is slightly redeemed by Lionel Young’s performance on violin, which also aids “Careless Love Redux”, a tasteful melody of strings, harp, and guitar, but led by the violin.
While some tracks lack some gumption or soul, Legacy by Dan T. and The Crew on the whole provides funky, harmonica-driven blues – the artistic accumulation of over 60 years as a blues professional.
