The Bravuras - "Jerry's Blues" -
Mark Records
To order a copy of this CD please send a personal check, money order, or certified bank check for $18.00 made out to John Puccio to John Puccio, 321 Paramount Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223. Please do not send cash. If you would like to pay with your PayPal account click on the paypal logo.
CD Review by Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro August 2009
While I'm sitting here listening to "Jerry's Blues", and reading the attached band information, what I'm hearing isn't quite jelling with what I'm reading. My ears are telling me I'm listening to one hell of a top notch blues band, yet their credentials include the likes of playing at the local Elk's Club and American Legion Post. I get all that.....trust me, I do. And as a member of the American Legion, I appreciate it as well. However, I'm baffled that I'm not seeing places like the Chenango Blues Festival, the New York State Blues Festival, the Mohawk Blues Festival and other top notch venues and clubs on their resume'. C'mon New York, wake up and smell the coffee........better yet, wake up and hear the blues - "Jerry's Blues".
The Bravuras consist of John "J. Bones" Puccio on Lead Vocals, John P. "Huff"ord Sr. on Guitar, Harmonica & Vocals, Felix Mayer on Guitar, George Mort on Bass and Mike Donaghue on Drums. Featured guest on keyboards include John Valby on Piano and Bob Volkman on Organ. They bill themselves as a "traditional old school blues band featuring powerful vocals and guitar", and that's exactly what I'm hearing. The disc consists of thirteen tracks with several band originals.
The band immediately starts living up to their billing on the opening track, "Crawlin' Kingsnake". It opens with a great guitar lead followed by equally great, slow and soulful vocals, with the rhythm guys settled in a nice groove behind it all. Excellent first impression.
It's obvious that J. Bones has, and most likely on more than one occasion, woken up with bullfrogs on his mind. His gritty interpretation of "Bullfrog Blues" will attest to that. This one's highlighted by some awesome drum and harp work by Mike and Huff.
"I've Got A Mind" is another straight up blues smoker. The sobering lyrics are magnified by J. Bones solemn vocal style and they're brought to life by the fierce guitar leads. Meanwhile, it's all held together by Bob's steady and prominent organ. "I Can Tell" that this band knows how to get funky when it wants to. Just one listen to this fast, furious and funk filled track and you'll be able to tell as well. Of course this one is all about George and his bass and Mike and his kit.
Although just about every blues band has claimed to have the "Key To The Highway", I must admit I've never quite heard the song done this way. The Bravuras slowed it down some, countrified it a bit, added some paddle wheel boat style of piano and created a beautiful sound. Nice job guys.
"Dogs On Me" is definitely for the movers and the shakers. This smoker has to fill the dance floor at live shows. It's also a reason that the minds behind The Bravuras might want to think about making John a permanent fixture in the band. He totally tears it up on piano and runs away with this one.
The disc closes out with one of it's best, "Jerry's Blues", the title track. One of my many reasons for liking this one so much is that the vocals, which J. Bones nails, are sung in the style of one of my all time favorite vocalists - the very soulful Darrell Nulisch. It also features some of the disc's best guitar and rhythm work, with Mike working the cymbals with absolute precision. The mournful lyrics on this original track are an obvious, and worthy, tribute to a departed and deeply missed friend - Jerry.
Make the band happy, and yourself as well, by grabbing a copy of "Jerry's Blues". You can contact them at www.myspace.com/thebravuras. Please make sure you tell them that Blewzzman, a fellow Nu Yawker, sends his regards.
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro -
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
http://www.mary4music.com/CD48.html#CDTheBravuras1
The Bravuras - Jerry's Blues - CD Review - By Bob Silvestri - e-mail: bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Hot blues done old school is the best description of the style of music The Bravuras play on their new release Jerry's Blues. Old school blues would refer to the likes of Willie Dixon, Howling Wolf and Jimmy Reed to name a few. The band (John "J. Bones" Puccio-lead vocals, Mike Donaghue-drums, George Mort-bass, Felix Mayer-guitar and John P. Hufford Sr. aka Huff-guitar, are all longtime performers of the local scene having played in various outfits including Big Tobacco, Diane Kalley, Willie May and Taxi. Local legend John Valby lends some fine piano to the tracks "Little Wheel" and "Dogs on Me" while Bob Volkman adds organ to the cut "I've Got a Mind". The Bravuras turn "Key to the Highway" into a slowed down country blues shuffle with Valby lending help with piano on this track as well. The title cut "Jerry's Blues" is another outstanding cut on the disc. The Jerry in the title is Jerry Reen who was a charter member of The Rods and Customs Car Club of Buffalo. His untimely death fifteen years ago was behind the wheel of the 1934 Ford featured on the cover. The car has been restored and now honors Jerry's memory and old school philosophy. For more on Jerry's Blues and The Bravuras go to www.wnyblues.org/links/localbands.php?Id=914
