Search - Greg Piccolo :: Acid Blue

New Genre

George R. Dreher | West Texas | 06/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a new kind of music invented by Greg Piccolo who plays sax, guitar, vocals, and composes his own music, from A-Z. From a moving rendition of Freddie King's "Someday After Awhile" in which his guitar phrasing is pure Piccolo to his original "Tuff Guy" a rousing stomp in the vein of his earlier masterpiece "Dressed Up To Get Messed Up" (1984) this is an exciting style never heard before. Even the latin rhythmed Sonny Stitt sax classic "Cool Mambo" and Illinois Jacquet's "Bottom's Up" puts such new energy into old music you'd think they were written just yesterday, as he also breaths life into Lester Young with an improviseed "Smoothin' with Lester". Piccolo's vocals are signature, a subtle instrument.Obviously he couldn't have made this music in his 25 year gig with Roomful of Blues, though you could hear it coming as far back as 1984. By ramping down to a smaller combo his individual energies can finally surface to define his virtuosity in a new genre known as "Pic Music" though the Fantasy Label called it "Acid Blues".Outstanding cut: Who Do You Think You're Fooling? (Piccolo)"

Starts Right Then Goes A Little Off Track!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 10/11/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Greg Piccolo played for 25 years with the Roomful of Blues band where he was the bandleader, some time singer and tenor sax man. Acid Blue is Piccolo's sophomore CD released in 1995. The disc opens with the jazz infused "Peacock Alley" and then slips into two very nice blues pieces in "Sign Language" and "Always A First Time", the latter hinting at Robben Ford like vocals. "Smoothin' For Lester" slows the tempo down to smooth jazz territory. "Bottoms Up", "Rock Me Baby" and "Cool Mambo" all maintain that jazz feel throughout and are really good. Unfortunately, Piccolo gets a little off track while attempting to pull off a little pop rock with "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'", "I Can Do This All Night Long", "Tuff Guy" and "Keep On Tryin'" while BB King's "Someday After A While" is sloppily covered. Over all 7 fairly excellent tunes and 5 which are mediocre at best."