Search - Hiram Bullock :: Give It What U Got

Hiram Bullock needs wider recognition

Tim Withee | Los Angeles, CA | 01/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw Hiram Bullock back in August of 1988 when he was on tour with David Sanborn. The show was scorching hot, believe me and not in small part to the guitar player, a guy I hadn't heard of until then -- named Hiram Bullock. Bullock's fiery playing and stage presence so impressed me that I immediately went out and bought this CD. I wasn't disappointed and neither will you be if you like Hiram's unique style that I can best describe as an overdriven rock-funk-fusion mix combined with a sophisticated melodic sense. I don't know if he still plays the battered sunburst Fender Strat (modified with what appear to be Gibson humbuckers) anymore, but he gets just the right sound to suit his playing style. If you're a guitar player you'll find a lot of material to listen to here. On this album, he is ably supported by a core group of veteran musicians that were on the Sanborn tour -- and later were the house band on Sanborn's "Night Music" music anthology series on NBC. These stalwarts include Sanborn, Don Alias (percussion virtuoso) and Ricky Peterson (keyboards). Will Lee is on bass, Charley Drayton is on drums and on some tracks, you'll hear the Brecker brothers as well. Also of note, Al Jarreau handles the vocal on a fine cover of the great Sam Cooke's "You Send Me." I've been listening to this CD for going on 13 years and I still like it and play it with regularity. In the meantime I've added several hundred other CDs to my collection, so I guess "Give it What U Got," was a good choice. This CD fits into my lifestyle -- you can listen to it alone at home or in the car, with a companion on a romantic evening or put it in the party mix -- you won't be disappointed. One other thing: If you can find "Way Kool," the CD that followed this one, make sure you do. It's out of print, but it picks up where this one leaves off...."

Very underrated guitarist

E. Voorhies | United States | 12/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heartily agree with Tim Withee's review of this CD, and i would like to add my own praise to his.
I have been playing lead guitar for about 30 years now, having played professionally for aout 15 of them. There are many guitarists who have received wide recognition who just don't impress me......e.g.,Carlos Santana,Eric Clapton. When Clapton plays the blues it makes me sleepy. He plays a lot of notes but it just doesn't have that taste and dynamic of real soul-felt blues. Not so with Hiram. Listen to "You send Me" and make up your own mind. It doesnt get any more tasteful than this!..."

This one should please almost everyone.

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 08/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, yes, Hiram Bullock has done better and worse albums in his carreer, but I really think this is a good one.The album starts off with two power plays, with Hiram's characteristic sound on guitar. Aggressive and sharp playing that might you make wonder "Is it a mix of hard rock-blues and jazz ?". Great and genuine way of playing a guitar, in any case. Then comes Sir Al Jarreau on "You send me", a bluesy song that could be on a good Jarreau album, with Hiram Bullock as a special guest. What I mean here is that the association works so well that I am surprised it was never also included on a Jarreau album. The journey continues with "Half life", a very mystical and sultry tune that can also be found on Ricky Peterson's Smile Blue CD. Also noticeable is the closing track, with David Sanborn delivering a poweful blow on sax, which makes you want to repeat the cd all over again. Finally, it would be unfair to forget to mention the cover version of Steely Dan's "Pretzel logic" is a marvellous one, because it is a creative approach of the song, far from the pasty cover versions we hear everyday here and there.Overall, this gives a very well "balanced" album (harder songs are combined with slower ones, and the invited artists make a great contribution) that should satisfy a large portion of good music lovers. And it is one of the fine albums in my collection.I don't know if Hiram Bullock still breaks his guitar on stage after performing live, but YOU should break your money box and get this one... P.s. If you ever get to hear the stunning "Wolfman", on another of his albums, you better have you seatbelt fastened!"