Review: The Texas Horns ‘Everybody Let’s Roll’

By Mike O’Cull

Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award-winning outfit The Texas Horns throws down a hot set of top-shelf blues on the group’s new album Everybody Let’s Roll.

Available now on Blue Heart Records, the record is a high-spirited romp through 13 songs, 11 of them original, that fulfil the promise of American music led by the best horn section working today. Mark ‘Kaz’ Kazanoff (saxophone, harmonica, vocals), John Mills (saxophone), and Al Gomez (trumpet) are three of the finest musicians in contemporary roots music and are respected as both sidemen for hire and as true recording artists in their own right.

The Horns have performed with major artists including Jimmie Vaughan, Marcia Ball, Earl King, John Nemeth, Ronnie Earl, Carolyn Wonderland, Lonnie Brooks, Diunna Greenleaf, Sue Foley, Gary Nicholson, Guy Forsyth, and Curtis Salgado, which has made them highly visible. They have also earned a Grammy nomination with Delbert McClinton for his Live from Austin effort and a Handy Award with guitarist Anson Funderburgh for the album Sins.

Everybody Let’s Roll is The Texas Horns’ third album and shows them to be as charged-up and entertaining as ever. The sound is a sophisticated, kinetic blend of rock, blues, soul, and R&B influences that’s slick and full of power. A ton of special guest artists like Jimmie Vaughan, Mike Flanigin, Carolyn Wonderland, Carmen Bradford, Johnny Moeller, Marcia Ball, Anson Funderburgh, Mike Zito, Guy Forsyth, and Michael Cross raise the fun factor even higher and make this one of the most enjoyable releases of 2022.

The Texas Horns start their party with its title track “Everybody Let’s Go.” It’s a rollicking, wide-open invitation to the best bash in town with the giant-sized lead vocals of Texas talent Carolyn Wonderland on the mic. Anson Funderburgh contributes on lead guitar and helps everyone involved reach the proper temperature. The Horns, themselves, sound amazing whether playing with the band or soloing and the vibes and textures their instruments bring to the arrangement are lowdown and sweet.

The mighty Mike Zito steps up to front the band on the strong R&B track “Why It Always Gotta Be This Way.” It’s a treat to hear Zito sing in the context of this band and his gravelly, fearless presence fits this story of hard luck days perfectly. Bassist Chris Maresh and drummer Tommy Taylor put this one in gear and their cracking groove drives it forward. Listen to this one on the highway to feel its full energy.

“I Ain’t Mad With You” is a stomping jump blues instrumental that shines light on The Horns as a section. Their parts are cool and complex and their playing is beyond sublime. Maresh and Taylor show up big time once again and swing hard but it’s the horns that will make you smile. Johnny Moeller adds his own personal touch on guitar and, for a moment, all’s right with the world.

The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” gets transformed into a horn-loaded, vintage funk instrumental that’s full of mid-tempo magic. You’ve never heard this bit of timeless classic rock done like this before but the song adapts to its new genre well and, of course, the horn work will blow your mind. Don’t miss it.

Guitar star Jimmie Vaughan turns up on the hip-shaking “Too Far Gone.” His guitar and vocals are tight and direct, as is his way, and he sounds wonderful standing in front of this ensemble. Other highlights on the record include “Ready For The Blues Tonight” with Marcia Ball on boogie-woogie piano, “Watcha Got To Lose” featuring Texas-born jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford, and the salsa-tinged “Apocalypso.” Everybody Let’s Roll is a gem from end to end and belongs at the forefront of your late-summer music rotation. Play it, you’ll love it!

“Everybody Let’s Roll”