Max Hightower – Nothin’ But The TRUTH
MoMojo Records – 2025
12 tracks; 43 minutes
South Carolina native Max Hightower was a founding member of Mac Arnold’s band Plate Full O’ Blues and this album was recorded at Big Jon Atkinson’s studio in New Orleans. Max had ready a dozen original songs and was able to assemble a strong band for the sessions: Max is on vocals, harp and guitar, Big Jon is on lead guitar, Rob Davis on keys, James Beaumont on saxes, Steadman ‘Fleetwood’ Williams Sr. on bass and Brandon Phelps on drums; Adam Lessneu adds trombone to three tracks and sousaphone to one and one track was recorded with a different band, Brian ‘BC’ Coogan on keys, Tyler Thompson on bass and Nick Solnick on drums.
Max has a gritty vocal style that fits the mainly uptempo material well. His searing harp opens “Double Bubble”, James’ bari sax ‘parping’ beneath the rhythm throughout. “It’s On Me” is the track recorded with the different band and finds Max’s nagging guitar riff underpinning sweeping keyboards as Max attempts to connect with a female; perhaps his fine harp solo will make the difference? “Here She Comes” is one of just three cuts on which Max does not play harp, his jagged rhythm guitar setting the pace throughout. Big Jon takes over guitar duties on “Damned If I Do”, the first tune on the album taken at a slower pace which offers the opportunity to appreciate Max’s vocals and harp all the better, the bari sax again used as part of the bottom end of the rhythm section. “Twitchy Witcha” sounds like a tune influenced by The Crescent City and the addition of trombone and sousaphone alongside the bari sax emphasizes that connection, a tune that is sure to make people move. In contrast “My Baby And Me” is more stripped back with the twinkling piano, Max’s guitar/harp and the rhythm section; Max delivers another fine harp solo on this one. Harp also features strongly on the opening of the catchy “Sweet Gum Tree”, as does the trombone and Big Jon’s clean guitar picking.
No horns on “Too Much Of Not Enough”, Max’s rhythm guitar laying down the foundations over which Big Jon adds the leads, before trombone and sax again team up on “Thick Jello”. “I Ain’t Lyin’” ups the pace pleasantly with excellent piano and James switching to alto sax, giving the tune a lighter, jazzy feel. “Snuggle Bug” is naggingly catchy, Max paying lyrical tribute to someone special, James back on background bari sax, strong harp and piano featured. The album closes with an instrumental with the intriguing title “Assmograph”, Max’s harp leading the way.
Max Hightower demonstrates that he is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist throughout this set.
