Frank Catalano & Lurrie Bell – Set Me Free
Catalano Music
9 tracks – 48 minutes
Chicago’s Frank Catalano started playing saxophone when he was 7 years old. Over the years, he played with numerous artists across many genres from jazz to the blues and everything in -between. He played with his mentor Von Freeman at age 11, Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson at age 12, and Tony Bennett at age 16. However, at age 16, he was in a horrific car accident that cut off a finger on his hand and left his life in jeopardy. Following reconstructive surgery, he eventually was able to restart his career. At age 18, he toured with Santana. He released his first solo album Cut It Out on Delmark Records in 1988.
Others Frank has performed with over the years include Charles Earland, Kenny Loggins, Jimmy McGriff and David Sanborn. More recently he played at the Chicago Blues festival with Los Lobos and at The Hollywood Bowl with The Smashing Pumpkins. In 2001, he patented a sampling keyboard attachment for the saxophone.
Lurrie Bell, like Frank, is a Chicago native. The son of famed harmonica player Carey Bell has also had a storied career. He started playing guitar at age 6. In his teens he played with Eddy Clearwater, Big Walter Horton, and Eddie Taylor. He then toured with Koko Taylor for four years. His recording debut occurred in 1977 on Carey Bell’s album, Heart ache and Pain. He then formed The Sons of The Blues which featured Billy Branch on harmonica. In 1989, he released his first solo album, Everybody Wants to Win. However, undiagnosed bipolar and schizophrenia put Lurrie in a tailspin that led to periods of homelessness. After a diagnosis and treatment, Lurrie released Can’t Shake This Feeling in 2016, which received a Grammy Award nomination. Lurrie was inducted into the Blue’s Foundation’s Blues Hall of fame in 2024.
Both artists have had to overcome their own adversities to rise to their present heights. In 1995, Bob Koester, the founder of Delmark Records and record producer, had both artists under contract. Now almost thirty years later the two have reunited for a Chicago blues album with a touch of jazz. In addition to their obvious instruments, Lurrie provides all vocals with Tom Vaitsas on piano, Aaron Mitter on bass, and Kurt Lubbe on drums.
The album opens with a cover of “Everyday I Have the Blues”, shown on the album as just “Everyday”. Written by Memphis Slim and previously recorded by numerous artists including B.B. King, their version features smooth vocals and a light guitar from Lurrie backed by Tom’s jazzy piano before Frank’s sax comes sailing in. Next up is Elmore James “The Sky Is Crying”, also famously recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan. The song retains the smooth sound of the previous song with Lurrie’s expressive vocals flowing through.
The title song, “Set Me Free” received an early release as a single and received a 2024 Blues Blast Magazine nomination for Best Video. Lurrie says he “can’t get her out of my head” as Tom’s piano again tears up the scenery on the piano and Frank’s sax jumping in. “Shaking” is a very jazzy instrumental with Lurrie adding punctuating guitar similar to something George Benson might play. A cover of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind”, here just listed as “Georgia” keeps the music and vocals comfortably flowing.
“Tuna Town” features Frank’s sax on an original instrumental with Lurrie providing a guitar solo. Fats Domino’s “I’m Ready” continues in the laid-back mode established throughout the album, but still delivers a punch with the instrumental prowess of the group. “Kicking” is another bouncing instrumental featuring Frank’s sax and Lurrie kicking in a very bluesy guitar run. The album closes with a cover of Etta James’ “At Last”
Frank Catalano produced the album. He established the goal that he wanted a careful blend of jazz and blues that would appeal to people on both sides of those genres. He has certainly successfully produced an album that crosses and comfortably combines both thresholds. He has brought together a talented group of performers in Tom Vaitsas, Aaron Mitter, and Kurt Lubbe. And of course, Frank and Lurrie are each given their own space that delivers an album that clearly demonstrates their love of the music in every note they play.
