Terry Quiett Band – Taking Sides
Lucky Bag Records
13 songs/69 minutes
If you are in search of a blues rocker to savor then look no further. The Terry Quiett Band from Kansas City will fulfill all your needs. This trio of high-energy musicians offers up a dozen original tracks and a cool cover on this super new CD. In addition to Terry on guitar and vocals we have Nathan Johnson on bass and Rodney Baker on drums that form the main part of this hot band.
The album begins with Terry on resonator and guest “Mississippi” Hal Reed on harp. “Come The Morning” gives us some very well appointed slide and Mississippi saxophone that serve well as a statement to the listener that this is going to be a great album. It is a fiery piece that really sets the tone for the rest of the cuts. “Nothing at All” continues that vein, another high energy cut where we get a nice big dose of Scott Williams on keys along with the rest of the band doing it up well. “Cut the Rope” tones things down a bit temp-wise as Quiett applies the wah pedal and sings of a relationship that is fizzling out. The band shuffles nicely with “Wheelhouse Blues” as Terry tells us that he is free from his shackles of a relationship and on a new road with his head back in the game. Quiett slides and Williams testifies on the organ along with him.
The boys switch back to the rocking mode with “Voodoo Queen” where the trio and Willaims give us a hot ride. “Weak Minded Man” gives us some more of Reed’s sweet harp as Quiett sings of a weak minded, indecisive guy with too much pride. More cool slide abounds. “A Fool Should Know” tones things down with a ballad where Quiett sings soulfully and Williams thoughtful taps out the piano accompaniment before switching off to the organ for the choruses. Quiett really bares his soul to the listener here. “Two Hearts” is anther thoughtful shuffle with a great guitar intro and solos.
The horns come out for “Gimme Some,” a rocking soul number with Brad Turgeon on trumpet and Jordan Northerns on trombone and Williams plays a little sax. Quiett gets pretty explicit as he describes, “I been thinking a long time about how good it must feel to have your legs wrapped around my neck, Long slow kisses along those thighs” as the organ moans and backing vocals chant “Gimme some.” The horns stay around for “I Come Running,” a very cool R&B number. “Get Back On” continues in that general direction where the horns and organ support a more rocking soulful song as Quiett goes into another pretty mega guitar solo.
“You Can’t Come Back” concludes the original cuts where we get a little funk added to the mix with the keys stepping it up. Another journey to the guitar stratosphere ensues and then Quiett takes things down a few notches as the soul gets a bit reflective. He then builds things back up into a finale frenzy with stinging guitar licks and a huge organ accompaniment as the backline gives it their all. The CD concludes with Quiett offering a very nice cover of “Let’s Get It On” that would make Marvin Gaye proud. He does not overdo it and offers up very thoughtful vocals as the organ and keys support. The horns also support him well here again, too.
There are no clinkers here – a baker’s dozen of cuts that will take your pulse up a few notches and then take you back down. Beautiful original songs with great lyrics sung emotively and with the songs played with outstanding musicianship. This is an outstanding album by an artist who I think is the real deal; we will be hearing a lot more from this guy! Highly recommended!
