Manlio Milazzi & JJ Appleton – North of the Sea | Album Review

Manlio Milazzi & JJ Appleton – North of the Sea

Independent Release

http://www.manliomilazzi.com

12 Tracks – 52 minutes

Manlio Milazzi was born in Trieste, Italy in 1977. As Manlio was growing up in the 1980’s, the city had a prolific blues & jazz scene. He listened to as many of the records of the blues greats that he could find. At age 16, he discovered the harmonica and began listening to some of the great harp players like Sonny Boy Williams II, Slim Harpo and Little Walter. He initially taught himself how to play and performed in some regional bands. But as he listened to more of the recorded harmonica players, he felt he had more to learn. A trip to America introduced him to other major harmonica players including Paul DeLay, Jason Ricci and Carlos del Junco. The latter became a close friend and mentor to the young man and influenced his approach to the instrument. In 2006, he formed Tillamook, a band he based off of the sound of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. In 2008, Tillamook won the Italian Blues Challenge Competition and traveled to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge. In 2013, he won the World Harmonica Championship. He currently fronts Manlio and The Free Kings, who play throughout Europe. He has also played with Bob Margolin.

Jon Jason “JJ” Appleton was born in Norwich, Vermont in 1967. His father was a co-inventor of the Synclavier digital music synthesizer and was professor of electro-acoustic at Dartmouth college. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he became friends with many other musicians. This led him to produce and write music for a diverse group of performers including Darius Rucker, The Back-Eyed Peas and Ashford & Simpson, among many others. He also wrote and performed songs for many tv shows, commercials, and movies including The Sopranos and The Wire. JJ continued to develop his love of the blues and strengthen his playing of the guitar. This led to him playing with Jason Ricci on two albums. Now in 2023, JJ is a nominee for Best Acoustic Guitar in the Blues Blast Magazine’s Awards.

The connector between the two musicians is Jason Ricci. At an industry show in 2015, Jason introduced the two and they became fast friends. JJ traveled to Europe many times and toured with Manlio which ultimately led to the recording of this album. The band is completed with the addition of Simone Serafini on upright bass. Serafini is a very experienced bass player who has performed with many major European musicians.

The album includes three originals written by Manlio, one by Appleton, and eight covers that were recorded as a live studio production during two sessions. The album kicks off in New Orleans with Professor Longhair’s “Tipitina”, which of course is also well-known from Dr. John’s catalog. JJ opens the song with some nice slide work and Manlio’s harmonica kicking alongside of JJ’s vocals which certainly brings remembrance of the good doctor.

“Crazy Head” is the first original from Manlio and offers a smooth acoustic touch. Jimmy Reed’s “Found True Love” comes next as JJ questions that he “cannot believe what condition the world is in” and he found “my true love is in love with somebody else”.  T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday” takes the group into Texas swing. They return to New Orleans for a take on Dr. John’s “Careless Love” in another slow-burn song.

Another Milazzi original, “Heavy Heart Blues”, gets things rocking with Serafini’s bass carrying the line with Manlio’s harmonica and vocals and JJ playing some nice lead slide.  On JJ’s original song, he says he remembers what his momma told him “Stove Cold Ouch” “when am I gonna learn/ Every time I start loving you I get burned.”

James Oden’s “Going Down Slow”, which has been performed by Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles & Johnny Winters has the band put their own unique spin to the song. “One More Parade ” is Manlio’s final original on the album.

Taj Mahals’ “Going Up the Country and Paint My Mailbox Blue” lets Appleton move out in front in a superb interpretation of the song. On John Lee Hooker’s “Shake It Baby” JJ lets the slide take off with a boogie beat from Manlio. The album ends with a version of Los Lobos’ “I Got Loaded.”

The two performer’s vocals are interchangeable throughout and are both warm and comfortable. Acoustic blues is certainly in good hands with this trio. While some of the covers may be familiar to you, the trio adjusts the songs to fit their style and make them fresh.

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