There’s no confusion about the flavor of the new Anthony Geraci album, Tears in My Eyes. The veteran is known for his blues, jazz and soul and this record, like a phonograph needle, sticks tightly into that groove. With his 8th album Geraci offers up traditional, easy-listening blues, heavy on piano and sax, is intermingled with some classic 50s style rock and roll.
The album was created in two sessions, with the first seven tracks being recorded in Prague, Czech Republic with engineer Derek Saxenmeyer while the final four tracks were laid down in Acton, Massachusetts. All songs were written by Geraci.
The multiple Blues Music Award winner pianist and singer Geraci has enlisted some talented friends to help with this recording. Former Bluetones bandmate Sugar Ray Norcia provides some vocals while the much sought-after Anne Harris guest stars on violin. Mario Perrett and Drew Davies provide some pivotal saxophone work. They join The Boston Blues All-Stars: guitarist Barrett Anderson, drummers Marty Richards and Kurt Kalker, and Paul Loranger on bass.
The title track, “Tears in My Eyes,” is an upbeat piece, offering a more modern slice of blues. Geraci contributes both piano and organ, and guitarist Anderson delivers some hot guitar riffs while also stepping up to the mic to deliver the vocals.
Two soulful, traditional blues instrumentals draw the listeners in and one can easily envision an intimate club setting with attentive music-lovers gathered around the piano. “Blues for Willie J” is dedicated to Geraci’s former bandmate, the late Willie J. Campbell. It also features some nice guitar work from Anderson, while “Memphis Mist” adds the impeccable violin work of Harris to Geraci’s emotional piece.
Norcia contributes the vocals to three tracks, the opener “Broken Mirror,” as well as “Judge Oh Judge,” and “Now What.” They are slow, traditional blues efforts, bringing to the fore the passionate piano of Geraci, seamlessly and tightly stitched to Norcia’s vocals. Guest Mario Perrett joins in to add some saxophone highlights to “Judge Oh Judge.”
“Owl’s Nest” is also an instrumental but it features a more upbeat effort with Geraci’s fine piano composition punctuated by some smoking sax work by guest Drew Davies.
Two more upbeat instrumentals offer some contrasts. Davies adds some spicy sax to Geraci’s piano to a tune entitled, “Oh No,” while “Ooee,” is a boogie-woogie number reminiscent of some classic 50’s style rock and roll with Davies again providing some crucial sax.
Anderson also adds vocals and swampy southern-flavoured slide guitar to Geraci’s funky piano on “Witchy Ways.”
A very fine instrumental, “Lonely Country Road Blues,” provides a fitting conclusion to the album as the listener is left with a powerful nostalgic feeling from Geraci’s piano featured in this haunting refrain.
You’re not going to hear this album in an arena setting, but for anyone looking for an intimate evening with friends or strangers who can appreciate fine artists reaching a poignant level of musicianship, seek out Anthony Geraci.
The Review: 8/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Memphis Mist
– Ooeee
– Lonely Country Road Blues
– Tears in My Eyes
The Big Hit
– Tears in My Eyes
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