Mondo Cortez and The Chicago Blues Angels – Call On Me
Lux Records
13 Tracks – 49 minutes
Mondo Cortez became obsessed with the guitar early in his life, but did not get serious about playing until junior high school. Initially he played in hard rock bands but noted that a lot of the music was stemming from the blues. That led him to explore blues-oriented bands such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Growing up in Chicago also led him to go to concerts featuring the blues legends like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Junior Wells and others. All leading him to want to learn more about the blues.
The late Nick Curran was one of his friends who influenced his move further into the blues. Mondo played with Nick’s band and has also shared the stage with Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Kid Ramos, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson and many others. Mondo formed The Chicago Blues Angels in 1999 to play what he references as “American roots music ranging from rock ‘n’ roll. blues, rockabilly and a whole lotta soul”.
The album was produced by Dave Gonzalez at his Driftwood, Texas studio. Mondo is the lead vocalist and guitarist, and Dave adds guitar on two tracks. Bri Cortez Backman plays drums, Bret Coats plays bass with Chris Crepps substituting with upright bass on two tracks. Henri Hubert plays piano, Andy Fulton plays organ, and Doug James plays tenor and baritone sax. A few guests join on individual tracks as well. The album includes eleven original tracks, one of which was written by Dave, and two covers.
He comes out swinging on the first track with a throwback to rock ‘n’ roll with Jerry Lee Lewis styled piano and effusive sax as Mondo declares “Celosa” is driving me insane”. He moves on into “Mondo’s Jump”, an instrumental obviously featuring jump blues. He says he knows it’s over when she gives him the “Buddyhug”.
He then says, “My baby don’t want me because of my “Automobile”. “She wants the pedal to the floor” but his car “is always broken down”. Henri’s piano again leads alongside Mondo’s guitar and the song adds a bit of doowop with the backing vocals. “Way back yonder on the night we first met, you said you loved me, that much you seem to forget, now you’re leavin'” “But I won’t get mad, “I’ll Get Even”. Kim Wilson guests on harmonica and Kid Ramos joins on slide guitar. Dave Leroy Biller guests on steel guitar on “That Ain’t Right” which moves into rockabilly as he says, “you used to call me every day to tell me you loved me” and now she is breaking up with him.
On “Mamacita”, he asks her to “love me and no one else” in another swinging tune. He tells her to just “Call on Me” in a cover song accredited to G. Jackson. On “Don’t Blame Me Baby” he says, ” I’m sitting here waiting with my arms open wide, I won’t be happy until you are here by my side”. The second cover is Jimmy Reed’s 1957 song, “Honey, Where Are You Going”. Morry Socha adds harmonica on this cut.
He declares “I have been “Praying for Mercy” since I met you”. “First I say yes, but then you say no… someone tell me what to do”. “Lunchbox” is another rockin’ instrumental letting Mongo stretch on his guitar. The album closes with “Chorizo Y Huevo” noting “his baby doesn’t like it when he stays out late”.
If you attend a concert by The Chicago Blues Angels, there is no question that you will see a lot of people up dancing. Every song is high energy driven by Mondo’s guitar and further propelled by Henri’s piano or Doug’s sax on many songs. Most of the songs do have a theme of love sought or love lost and are driven by swing or rock ‘n’ roll rhythms that will get your feet moving and your head nodding.