JERRY DUGGER
New York Skyline (Free4Music)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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This is ostensibly a solo album by Jerry Dugger, a familiar name on the New York City blues scene, but a peek inside quickly reveals that it's really another step in the evolution of indie impresario Tom Gould's Bossa Nova Beatniks empire. An extremely positive step.

Gould is the producer, engineer, writer and player (bass, guitar and vibes) whose presence will be immediately detected by fans of his eclectic and energetic approach to melodic world pop, but it's a particular mark of his genius that he recruited Dugger to handle the vocal chores.

Dugger's rich baritone may be more accustomed to handling material from the books of, say, Willie Dixon or Ray Charles, but he finds just the right way to frame every one of Gould's offerings, which range from ska to pop ballads to swing to roadhouse blues to, well, there doesn't seem to be anything Gould won't try, and no place he'll go where Dugger can't keep up. They make an irresistible team.

In the notes, Jerry Dugger writes "Tom Gould is cool. The kind of cool you wish you could be." He's right. Almost. No need to wish anymore Jerry. You're cool, too. The kind of cool Tom is. The kind of cool I wish I could be.

Maybe one more spin of this thing will get me there...

Track List:

Papa La Ska * Swingstreet * On Our Moonlit Night * Zantee Misfits * Lighten Up * I Do Love You * Malinda * She's Askin' 'Bout You * Edge Of The World * Bad Little Baby

[Pick this up at CDBaby.]

© 2004 - Shaun Dale