Pierce Dipner – Goin’ Back
Self Released
10 tracks
Pierce Dipner’s inaugural album features seven originals and three varied covers from this young musician from Pittsburgh, PA. He’s been down to Memphis twice for the International Blues Challenge and formed his own band in 2018. Mixing, blues, rock and soul, Dipner shows diversity in his music and his album has received local and some national recognition.
Dipner handles the vocals and guitar here. Arnold Stagger is ob bass while Joe Munroe handles keys and Blaise Lanzetta plays drums. He’s got a great horn section of Rick Matt on sax, JD Chaisson on trumpet and Reggie Watkins on trombone; Reggie also did the horn arrangements.
The album begins with an inspired original, “Fool’s Gold.” A straight up blues with a solid guitar lead and nice accompaniment, Dipner shows his stuff vocally and on guitar. Piano and organ fill in adds well to the mix, Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” follows. The horns, piano and organ play a big part in the mix. Dipner’s guitar has some interesting fiddle like effects added and the overall feel is cool and well done. “empty Bed Blues” is a traditional Chicago blues with Dipner showing respect for the roots of urban blues with some big guitar and good keyboard support. “Nobody But Myself to Blame” follows, a modern blues with a jazzy sound. An organ and later a big guitar solo are featured here. Slow blues are the order of the day for “Tore Us Apart,” with the organ taking us a little to church as Pierce testifies to us vocally and on guitar.
“Goin’ Back” follows, another Chicago styled blues reminiscent of Howling Wolf. Sean Costello’s “No Half Steppin’” is next, with Dipner singing and playing soulfully. All the instruments play a bog role in selling this one. “We’re Not Leaving” has a bouncing groove and a bit of swing to it for variety. Lots of good piano here to enjoy. “Won’t You Come Home” also has an old time, bouncing feel to it. Guitar and organ are the primary focus here in this driving tune that builds and builds. The album concludes with “Memphis in the Rain,” the final cover tune. This one is from Justin Towne Earle, another talented young musician who left us too early. Dipner does a great job with it, featuring searing guitar and great support all around.
Pierce can hold his head high– this is an excellent debut album by a talented young artist whom I am sure we will hear more from soon!
