Review: Omar Coleman and Eddie Roberts ‘Strange Times’
By Jim Hynes
The emotive, contemporary Chicago blues giant, Omar Coleman returns with guitarist Eddie Roberts, owner of Color Red, on their new effort Strange Times.
Roberts is clearly getting the blues bug as evidenced by his release with the southern rock infused Lucky Strokes just a couple of weeks ago and now backing Coleman on Strange Times. It takes more than sheer serendipity to forge this kind of relationship. Here’s the story–Coleman has long gigged with Chicago musician Neal O’Hara, better known for his stage name Neal Francis. Through O’Hara, Coleman met David Vandenberg, who produced Coleman’s 2017 breakthrough album Westside Soul, a powerful merging of blues, soul, and funk. Vandenberg is also the one who brought the international funk group that’s led by Roberts, The New Mastersounds, to Chicago’s House of Blues opening for Greyboy Allstars.
While in Chicago Vandenberg took Roberts to Rosa’s Lounge where Coleman was playing thereby making the connection which ultimately spawned a session in Denver with fellow Color Red collaborators backing Coleman for the album. So, if you were expecting to see Coleman back on Delmark where he thrived prior to the album Westside Soul, you’ll fine him here here on one of today’s premiere funk labels, Color Red, sounding as powerful as ever.
The groove-driven Coleman typically needs infectious riffs to put a solid song together and that’s the nature of this organic session. On vocals and harmonica, Coleman appears on all tracks alongside Roberts on guitar, bassist Dan Africano, and drummer Carl Sorensen. Guitarist Cole Rudy and keyboardist Chris Spies also join in, along with Adrienne Short (violin, viola) and Kari Clifton (cello) and the twin horns of the funk group Lettuce, trumpeter Eric Bloom and saxophonist Nick Gerlach.
Opener “Chicago” plays to a fierce, stomping beat as Coleman delivers his autobiography in just a few verses punctuated by his wailing blues harp. If you’ve yet to hear Coleman sing, he is a certifiable powerhouse, one of the best contemporary bluesmen. Punchy horns and a steady thump accentuate the commentary of the title track, as Coleman reflects on his neighborhood and the state of the country with his impassioned vocal and blues harp chops. (Yes, “we all live in strange times”).
“Crazy About You” has a filthy bassline underpinning funky horns and one of Coleman’s most inspired harmonica excursions. “Got Good Man” is a relentless, danceable, head bobbing track absent the horns. While contrary to its title, “Slow Down Baby” moves at locomotive speed with blaring horns and harp. Roberts plays the role of groove master throughout, ceding almost all solo breaks to Coleman, though at Coleman’s urging, he does light a fire here.
The age-old blues theme of being wronged comes through with scintillating horn charts Tower of Power-style in the driving “You’ve Been Cheatin’.” The impossibly funky “Old Man Teaser,” sounding faintly like that chestnut, “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” traces directly to the infamous Rosa’s Lounge, and the lady behind the bar who teases the blues musicians, while Roberts inserts some stinging fills of his own to complement Coleman’s stirring vocal.
The funky vibe continues on “Happy Home” while the closing “I Want You to Have My Child” brings a soul ballad revealing that Coleman is more than just a powerhouse; he has plenty of sensitivity and crooning nuances too. It’s an ideal, soothing end to an album that is a riveting mashup of blues, funk, and yes, soul with an exclamation point.
“Strange Times”
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