Reviews

June 1999 Southwest Blues Magazine Blues Review

Patrick Vining: Released (JSPCD2124)

This new JSP debut release from Vining and the Blue Sharks has tremendous appeal. The compositions are solid. The vocals are smooth and unique. The spotlights are merited and flawless. Most of this will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with a Jimmy Morello production: he knows what sunds good and he knows how to get an artist to put their best foot forward.

If you want evidence of that vaticination, pop this puppy in the CD player and have a listen to toe-thumping tracks like "One Heartbeat" or "She's So Nice." Vining is a good vocal presence and his ensemble makes the kind of ear pleasing, barn burning, joyful noise that you pay good pesos to hear out in club land.

There's something for everyone here, from big band swing to honey roasted funk to honky tonk blues. The boys handle the mix with style and flavor. All but one of the songs are written by Vining and guitarist Jim Ransone. It's an irenic collaboration that lends itself to the medium. There's some greate guitar work on the tune "Spending Cash" and "I Need Help." And who among us doesn't enjoy great sax when we can get it? There's some fantastic sax on "I Don't Want No Broken Heart."

Tom Mahon turns in a great performance on this disk. I can't say enough good things about Mahon's ivory tickling. I enjoy his work every time I hear it and he is not wasted here. Listen to him tear it up on "Give It Everything You've Got." Morello's meritorious devotion to the overall quality of the work is apparent in each of the eleven tracks. "Good tone" as they say. A text book case of good music.

—Bill Fountain

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