Chris Duarte Group – Vantage Point (Provogue).
Chris Duarte appeared on the scene in the early 90s and wowed industry insiders at the South X Southwest convention. Since then he, and his band, has built a reputation as one of the best blues rock guitarists around. From his debut album for Silvertone Records to last years commercially and critically acclaimed Blue Velocity, he has consistently raised his standard, album by album. The latest in that line is Vantage point, which opens with the high impact The Best I Can Do and this boogie follows on perfectly from Blue Velocity. Satisfy is another no nonsense blues/boogie with a very deliberate beat. It has a good time feel much in the Dave Edmunds style. The instrumental, Slapstak, has funky guitar and bass peppered by the drums of Jeff Reilly who has replaced Damien Lewis since the last album. The removal of vocal duties allows Duarte to really display his true guitar virtuosity. More Boogie is a title that should be easy to follow and the song itself has no airs and graces. Duarte impresses with his fleet fingered guitar. Troubles On Me is a slow Chicago blues with an explosive solo and is perfect for the power trio format.
They crank up the speed for Let’s Have A Party, another impact boogie but the one disappointment of the album is The End Of Me And You. It’s funky but it just doesn’t really hit the mark although you cannot fault Duarte’s guitar playing. They are back on form with Blow Your Mind, which is a grinding rocker. She Don’t Live Here Anymore is heavy rock and has one of the better vocals too. Pounding drums from Reilly lead to an increase of speed after a couple of minutes and the band lets loose for a good old fashioned rocker. Babylon is a Guns N Roses/Black Crowes amalgam with a little Aerosmith thrown in for good measure. What that produces is an expansive track with top guitar work from Duarte. They close with an instrumental, Woodpecker, and that’s never a good idea in my book. However, this gives Duarte a showcase for his guitar and bassist Joseph Patrick Moore, Dustin Sargent’s replacement, is given a chance to shine. His easy style comes through very well and Duarte’s guitar is as fast as Woody himself at times. There are extended versions of Blow Your Mind and Troubles On Me added as a bonus to finally close things off.
Duarte has continued his streak of ever improving albums.
http://www.thechrisduartegroup.com/
http://www.provoguerecords.com/
David Blue.
Chris Duarte appeared on the scene in the early 90s and wowed industry insiders at the South X Southwest convention. Since then he, and his band, has built a reputation as one of the best blues rock guitarists around. From his debut album for Silvertone Records to last years commercially and critically acclaimed Blue Velocity, he has consistently raised his standard, album by album. The latest in that line is Vantage point, which opens with the high impact The Best I Can Do and this boogie follows on perfectly from Blue Velocity. Satisfy is another no nonsense blues/boogie with a very deliberate beat. It has a good time feel much in the Dave Edmunds style. The instrumental, Slapstak, has funky guitar and bass peppered by the drums of Jeff Reilly who has replaced Damien Lewis since the last album. The removal of vocal duties allows Duarte to really display his true guitar virtuosity. More Boogie is a title that should be easy to follow and the song itself has no airs and graces. Duarte impresses with his fleet fingered guitar. Troubles On Me is a slow Chicago blues with an explosive solo and is perfect for the power trio format.
They crank up the speed for Let’s Have A Party, another impact boogie but the one disappointment of the album is The End Of Me And You. It’s funky but it just doesn’t really hit the mark although you cannot fault Duarte’s guitar playing. They are back on form with Blow Your Mind, which is a grinding rocker. She Don’t Live Here Anymore is heavy rock and has one of the better vocals too. Pounding drums from Reilly lead to an increase of speed after a couple of minutes and the band lets loose for a good old fashioned rocker. Babylon is a Guns N Roses/Black Crowes amalgam with a little Aerosmith thrown in for good measure. What that produces is an expansive track with top guitar work from Duarte. They close with an instrumental, Woodpecker, and that’s never a good idea in my book. However, this gives Duarte a showcase for his guitar and bassist Joseph Patrick Moore, Dustin Sargent’s replacement, is given a chance to shine. His easy style comes through very well and Duarte’s guitar is as fast as Woody himself at times. There are extended versions of Blow Your Mind and Troubles On Me added as a bonus to finally close things off.
Duarte has continued his streak of ever improving albums.
http://www.thechrisduartegroup.com/
http://www.provoguerecords.com/
David Blue.
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