Performing musicians gigging around Europe in the new millennium
are likely to encounter a variety of responses from concert-goers.
The generation raised on MTV may manifest total surprise (“Wow!
So THIS is live music!”) or even puzzlement (“How on earth
do I relate to this?”). And if your material is based on earlier
forms of African-American popular music such as rhythm and blues,
then any informed response will almost certainly be the result of
a familiarity with the music of contemporary ‘blues’ artists
(usually guitarists) such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or
occasionally B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
Imagine the feeling of relief then, when a chance meeting in a bar
in Bonn finds you in conversation with a young man, Christian
Bobbert, who is eagerly anticipating the imminent release
of a Louis Jordon box-set reissue, and, like you, is fascinated by
the music of Ray Charles. Furthermore, it emerges that the guy is
not only a talented pianist/bassist/composer but also has a band –
Dr. B.’s Blues Dropouts. This band, you soon
find out, is not the usual guitar-led ‘Rock-Blues’ outfit,
but features, piano, a punchy horn section, excellent vocals and is
about to make its first recording!
‘Salon Stomp’ is steeped in the tradition
of 40s and 50s’ New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, and Dr
B’s Blues Dropouts have succeeded in conjuring up their
own version of a tasty ‘Second-Line Gumbo’ in which one
may detect just a pinch of Kurt Weill’s Old Berlin! Other ingredients
include a variety of grooves, moods, and tempos, all of which have
been flavoured by the band’s own distinctive personality.
In Dr B’s Blues Dropouts original compositions,
the informed listener can easily detect more than just a passing acquaintance
with a number of classic exponents of the Rhythm and Blues genre,
such as the Buddy Johnson Orchestra and New Orleans trumpeter Dave
Bartholomew. Salon Stomp also features five cover
songs, including a great version of ‘No One’, written
by one of my favourite composers, the late Doc Pomus.
With Salon Stomp, Dr B.’s Blues Dropouts
have succeeded in producing a truly formidable Rhythm and Blues debut
CD.
ANDY PARKER
Andy Parker was the vocalist and saxophonist with
the legendary UK Rhythm and Blues band ‘Supercharge’.
He has an MA in Popular Music Studies from Liverpool University.
1. Hands Off! 2.55. - C.Bobbert / Jukejoint Music
Publishing
Dr B. enters the studio with a piece of paper in his hand and announces
“Dropouts - I’ve got a new song! It’s in the style
of Wynonie Harris but I’ve only got one verse and the chorus!”
One of the class clowns comes up with a second verse and a new old-fashioned
song is born
2. My Baby 3.06. - C. Bobbert / Jukejoint Music
Publishing
Apropos the important things in life. And because they’re so
significant, it’s all the more important to have some fun in
putting them across musically.
3. Bleak City Blues 3.59. - K. Sullivan / Jukejoint
Music Publishing
There’s no place like home, even if it’s Bleak City and
your job in the paper factory stinks in more ways than one. Falling
into the crack between the factory whistle and the door to your apartment
puts a bit of bounce into the trek home.
4. One Foot In The Blues 6.22. - D Penn, J Barnett,
C Whitsett / Dan Penn Music
A number from one of the great scribes in contemporary American popular
music, Dan Penn. According to legend, he was asked to write the lead
song for an album with this title and a week later this song showed
up in the mail.
5. Peruvian Way 2.54. - C. Bobbert / Jukejoint
Music Publishing
Or ‘How Some Kids Travel To Music Events’. If the one-way
trip is 60 miles, then they’ll clock-up 90 by taking the scenic
route. They might not have made it in time to catch the first act,
but getting there was half the fun!
6. Why Did You Lie? 3.45. - D. Scheer / Cooltonic
Music
A true-life number from yet another great band from Boston, Mass.
- The Love Dogs. Music that should make you wanna wag your tail, even
if the words indicate that you should be a sad puppy
7. Love Won’t Stay 4.17. - C. Bobbert
/ Jukejoint Music Publishing
A love ballad from the soul pen of Dr B. The Dropouts were a little
surprised over the shift from jive to schmooze, but more than willing
to embark on a musical adventure that hopefully appeals to romantic
(read ‘female’) souls.
8. That’s How You Got Killed Before 2.25.
- D. Bartholomew / Imperial Records
Why is it that songs such as this early rock and roll etude from Dave
Bartholomew are largely forgotten? The Dropouts have recorded this
number because they want to make a personal contribution to the edification
of the general public – and not because this song is always
so much fun to play!
9. Junkyard Rhumba 4.01. - K. Sullivan / Jukejoint
Music Publishing
Existential problems from the perspective of a person living by the
roadside in a trailer, surrounded by junked cars and scrap metal
10. I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With
Me 4.23. - J. McHugh, C. Gaskill / Milla Music
An Old Fashioned tune for grandma and grandpa, this one from the 1920’s.
It helped launch the career of Billie Holiday, so we’re hoping
that it works for us, too.
11. Mary Jane 3.05. - K. Sullivan / Jukejoint
Music Publishing
A contract job. this song came into being about five minutes after
an astute admirer of the band’s style noticed that the repertoire
lacked any reference to the muse of many a jive musician.
12. No One 4.03. - D. Pomus, M. Shuman/ Unichappell
Music
One last tune for the Dropouts to ‘let it all hang out’.
By two of the greatest American writers of popular song of the past
fifty years
All songs arranged by Dr B (Christian Bobbert) except
for track 8
Produced by Christian Bobbert
Recorded March 28th and 29th, 2003, at Foxmusic Studios, Münster
Engineered by Wolfgang Brammertz
Mixed by Christian Bobbert and Woldgang Brammertz
Mastered by Horst Eul
