Wednesday, February 24, 2010


Eugene Hideaway Bridges – Live In San Antonio (Armadillo).

It’s about time that Eugene Hideaway Bridges released a live album because his reputation as a live performer was building so much that he couldn’t afford not to. Recorded at Chango’s Havana Club in San Antonio, Texas, it captures the essence of Bridges’ talent. He opens with I Got The Blues, which is an electric performance that sets up the listener for what is to come. Next up is Woke Up This Morning, words often used by blues singers but none to more effect t than here on this energetic blues. Little Boy Blue – is he singing about me? Maybe so, but this is a funky blues which keeps up the energy with such power. Learn How To Let You Go is performed in a Motown style in the vein of The Temptations and brings to the fore his lovely guitar work. Giving Up On Love shows Bridges lightning fingers as he funks it up big time and Real Hero is a Chicago blues with attitude. The horns in the background on the latter, which is an homage to the workers, are superb. Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is classic soul and when you know that it’s written by Sam Cooke then it isn’t any wonder – fantastic.

Won’t Be Your Fool is an up-tempo blues which showcases Bridges’ prodigious guitar work. Sam Cooke’s Movin’ And A Groovin’ is played as a slinky Kansas City style blues and it works so well. This is followed by I Know That You Love Me, which is funky soul with frantic trumpet from Justine M. Miller. I Found It has the horns coming more and more to the fore as his soulful side comes out – superb. Bluesman is a punchy bold blues whereas How Can I Win has a spiritual soulful feel although both are vocally excellent. You’re The One is happy and Jump The Joint is a big finish. This jump blues is energetic, as you would expect. A great way to finish and it shows Bridges to be the consummate artist.

http://www.bluearmadillo.com/


David Blue.

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