Rod Piazza Mighty Flyers - Here Now (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

They're "Doin' it to death"....a superb piece of work...

"Joe Lee Bush" (dbush7@bellsouth.n | Atlanta, Georgia | 04/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've known Rod Piazza since 1989..he's most responsible for getting me back in the game after a 25 year layoff. Nobody has ever played 3rd position like him and I've seen'em ALL live! Little Walter in 1953...Big Walter in '71..Cotton when he was in his prime...Junior Wells (before he decided to be James Brown), Jerry Portnoy when he was with Muddy, Musselwhite, Bill Clarke, CareyBell,etc.,etc.,et all. Rod is the boss! It would take me 6 solid months of continuous one nighters to maybe, just maybe, catch up to him and people, believe me...I KNOW what its all about. To top it all off he's one of the finest fellows you'd ever want to meet (unless you're snaking his action or just chasing his sound)...he'll spot it in a minute. Debbie ("Honey") is the same way. Great folks..great performers! Take this advice from an old pro,all you harp blowers,...buy his stuff..learn it..perform it with respect..but for God's sake GIVE HIM CREDIT ON STAGE OVER THE MIKE FOR EACH ONE OF HIS SONGS THAT YOU PLAY..DON'T ACT LIKE ITS "yours"!!! That's the way I do it and we've been friends for years. This CD is a terrific recording..I watched him do most of it here in Atlanta at Blind Willie's Club a coupla' weeks ago..sheer dynamite!!!"

Much better than Tough and Tender

"Joe Lee Bush" (dbush7@bellsouth.n | 04/06/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A much improved CD over the previous release 'Tough and Tender' which despite being a RP fan I can barely listen too other than for a couple of tracks. In Here & Now, you still get one or two of those slightly limp piano-based melodic numbers that he has thrown into some other albums, but which he doesn't really have the voice for. However, the rest is excellent - typical Piazza fare but with a jazzier, even more laid back approach. This is especially evident in his harp playing which is more thoughtful, and more heavily accented and syncopated than heard before. The first time I heard the CD I thought it was 'tired'-sounding. I wasn't playing it loud enough. Crank it up and fill the room to really hear the music. If you enjoy Piazza's blues but were disappointed with the last release then you should still buy this CD. If you want traditional-sounding blues with a blazing harp, then this probably isn't for you - try Harpburn."

Rod Piazza Stands Out!!!

peter krampert | eharmonica.net | 11/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rod piazza has for several decades been one of the best of the keepers of the Chicago Blues harmonica flame. His career began in 1960's with the Dirty Blues Band, then he spent several years working with ex-Muddy Waters harmonica player,George "harmonica" Smith. After Smith died in 1982, Piazza put together his band, The Mighty Flyers, to keep the tradition of Chicago Blues alive on the West Coast. The rest is musical history.The group has recorded over a dozen albums of the finest Rockin' Blues you'll ever hear and this CD is no exception. Backed by a band as tight as a drum, Piazza plays the harmonica and sings as great as any seasoned Blues giant. his harmonica playing is agood as it gets. He never over-does it, he let's the band, including the fabulous Honey Piazza on piano have their own say, then lets it rip with some very tasty harmonica.This is a thoroughly enjoyable album to listen to and I'd definitely suggest that you give it a listen."

Captures for the listener the essence of Rod

crazyeye | Manalapan, NJ USA | 05/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Harmonica virtuoso Rod Piazza, a pillar of the West Coast blues scene since the mid-'60s and winner of the prestigious W.C. Handy award for best blues artist, studied the Chicago and West Coast styles long and hard under former Muddy Waters sidekick, George "Harmonica" Smith. While not a groundbreaking performance, Here and Now is a marked improvement over "Tough and Tender" which borders on the unlistenable. The album is still an extremely sophisticated release and captures for the listener the essence of Rod Piazza's live performances, which is where his true genius lies.Not content to simply rehash old blues standards as too many blues artists tend to do today, Piazza uses his chromatic harp with typical flair, taste, and confidence, enlivening a program made up almost entirely of original songs. The native Californian's vocabulary of slurs, stammers, and bent notes on the slow blues "I Do Believe" has the expressive power of the late master, Little Walter, and his control of tone and phrasing is superlative everywhere else, as on the instrumental stretch-out "Strat-O-Spheric" and the sassy "Somebody's Fool." (I'd break up the previous sentence into two.) The album opens with a Rod and Honey Piazza original, "Brought Together By The Blues," in which we learn that a case of the blues can lead to romance. Jump blues remain a dominant influence in the band's sound and the album is loaded with other slick tunes like "Love Doctor,", "Spit Sunshine,", and "Greasy Foot.". Guitarist Rick Holstrom and Piazza give stellar performances throughout, and the rhythm section of Steve Mugalian and Bill Stuve round out The Mmighty fliers Fliers' strongest studio work since Piazza formed the band back in 1980. Production values are nondescript, with the digital recording providing nice clarity but a surprising lack of stereo imagery. This genre rarely provides a true audiophile experience and this recording doesn't break from the trend. This recording is recommended to those seeking a virtuoso performance on a blues harp, those looking to expand their collection to include west coat blues, and, of course, fans of B.B. King, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Tommy Castro, Duke Rbillard, and Shemekia Copeland."

Blues in the Rain

Glenn Rieker | Pocono Lake, PA USA | 07/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just had the opportunity to listen to Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers at the Poconos Blues Fest yesterday. It was pouring down rain and Rod, Honey and the band kept us dancing in the rain. At the height of the storm where was Rod? Out in the crowd under an umbrella playing one mean rip and Honey? Playing the keyboard with all her heart and a few toes. You talk about taking music to the people.....this group gave the crowd a performance they won't soon forget. I was fortunate to be able to be backstage and meet Rod.....a true gentleman and his music shows the difference between running with the pack and playing with true outstanding passion.....I would recommend this album and his others to anyone. Thanks for the memories guys!"

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