Review: Anthony Geraci ‘Tears In My Eyes’
By Jim Hynes
We should celebrate Anthony Geraci for his fierce dedication to the real deal blues. He’s absorbed the form and consistently adheres to it when his talents could take him in many directions. Multiple BMA nominee and 2021 BMA Winner, pianist and bandleader Anthony Geraci delivers his second album from Blue Heart Records and his seventh as a leader with Tears In My Eyes. That of course doesn’t count his many stints as a band member of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and The Proven Ones, among others.
Before playing a prominent role in those bands and embarking on a solo career, Geraci has the honor of backing the greats such as Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Jimmy Rogers, and many others and pays tribute to these ‘old masters” on this album with eleven tracks, six with vocals and five instrumentals.
The current edition of the three-time BMA nominated Band of the Year Boston All-stars is guitarist/vocalist Barrett Anderson, drummers Marty Richards and Kurt Kalker, and bassist Paul Loranger. His former bandleader Sugar Ray Norcia takes the lead vocal on three tracks with Anderson on two and even Geraci on one of them. Blues violin champion Anne Harris guests on “Memphis Mist.” Drew Davies is on saxophone on four tracks with Mario Perrett playing sax on “Judge, Oh Judge.”
The album was recorded in two sessions, one in the Boston area for the first four tracks and the other amidst a European tour in Prague, Czech Republic. Seven original tunes were cut in that one day – tracks five through eleven. The major difference in personnel is just the drummer with Richards in Boston and Kalker in the Czech sessions. Otherwise, the core group is consistent throughout. Geraci lays claim to all eleven as originals. The album is sequenced in reverse with the Boston sessions appearing first, although they were recorded late. We’ll begin in Europe.
“Judge, Oh Judge,” reminds this writer topically of David Bromberg’s cover of the late ‘20s blues tune “Send Me to the ’lectric Chair” but musically Geraci’s original is a rolling Charles Brown styled piano ballad sung authoritatively by Norcia, with a gutsy tenor solo from Perrett and crisp piano from the leader. They veer toward soul-jazz, nodding to Les McCann and Eddie Harris in “Oh No” and Geraci sings over his masterful boogie-woogie piano on the playful “Ooeee.” Here the tenor turn goes to Davies, blowing in vintage ‘50s R&B mode. Harris’ violin makes “Memphis Mist” a beautiful, colorful, rather ethereal tune that doesn’t quite fit the rest of the album, save Geraci’s bluesy piano progressions but it’s a keeper due to her stellar, lilting musicianship. “Witchy Ways” has an Allman-esque lead-in and continuing riff with Anderson taking the vocals and searing guitar into Southern Rock territory. Standout “Now What” reveals Geraci’s elegant side with Norcia crooning Sinatra-like in this blues lament.
The Acton, MA sessions feature the old school blues of “Broken Mirror, Broken Mirror” with Norcia demonstrating his veteran blues phrasing with Anderson singing the title track, a departure from the vintage sounding tunes that decorate most of the album. This one seems straight out of the ‘70s blues-rock playbook, even down to Anderson’s spiraling guitar solo. “Blues for Willie J.” is a piano feature, an elegy nodding to the recent passing of Geraci’s bandmate in The Proven Ones, bassist Willie J. Campbell. Anderson’s guitar solo here is poignant, his best spot on the record.
With four decades of music behind him, Geraci is still at heart a traditionalist as reflected in most of the album. He’s always had great piano chops but continues to grow in his songwriting and bandleading, even willing to reveal some contemporary tinges in a few places. Mostly though, he once again shows us how the real blues should go down.
Anthony Geraci website
“Tears In My Eyes”
Leave A Comment