The Blues Disciples - Big Beat

15-12-2021

The Blues Disciples have been Jim "Barefoot Jimmy" Schwarz and Paul "Pauly Walnuts" Stilin on harp/vocals and guitars since 1990. Other members have come and gone, but this version features Matt Liban on drums, son of Midwest harp great Jim Liban, and Chris Lehnert on organ for 7 of the 12 tracks. A host of speial guests are featured; of most notoriety are Billy Flynn on guitar for 4 cuts and Reverend Raven on guitar for 2 tracks. Rev's keyboardist Danny Moore is featured on 6 cuts, too, along with three bass players, another organist, a vocalist and a percussionist. Delivering 1950's and 1960's blues with a modern and original touch is their forte, and they do it well! 10 originals here; they really showcase the songwriting and performing talents of this great Milwaukee band ! Opening with the title track, the groove is a heavy shuffle and the beat throbs as Schwarz belts out a cool one. A nice, stinging guitar solo by Stilin is featured, a great addition to the poignant harp work and the pulse of the backline. "Never Gonna Be the Same" is a slow, swinging tune with Schwarz bemoaning how his relation to his woman has changed to his detriment. An organ solo by Moore followed by Stilin's solo helps set the tone for this dark but cool cut. Lehnert adds some nice piano to fill up the sound and Schwarz punctuates with his harp. "Eloise" has Flynn on guitar but opens to Scwarz' harp and Lehnert's organ. Schwarz come in to ask who is making love to the woman named. The beat is medium tempo and hopping. Flynn's solo is quite sweet and flowing. "My Heart's Already Broken" opens to some piano and guitar setting the tone for this slow blues. Schwarz testifies effectively with his vocals. Danny's piano is quite nice and the organ by Chris is sweetly layered. "What I Need" opens with a funky groove; Flynn and Lehnert are grooving, then Schwarz and Stilin take over. A big organ solo is followed by a mashup of harp and guitar; quite the groove! In "You Got it Girl," Jim Schwarz offers up a powerful vocal line. His daughter back him on this and prior cut, too. Moore and Lehnert both do keyboard work on "Frankie Kapankie," a swinging tune with Moore on piano and Lehnert on organ. Schwarz vocals remain solid and Stilin plays his guitar with, well, style. "Tell It Like it Is" features Reverend Raven on guitar while Schwarz sings and Moore more tickles the keys on some very well done organ. Moore returns with some barrelhouse piano as the band offers up the high energy "Internet Love." It's a swinging and rocking blues that talks about love across the world wide web. "Funky Woman" is quite funky and was written by Robert Brantley, Jr., the only non-Schwarz song on the CD. Rob Waters is on organ here, but it's Schwarz harp and Flynn's guitar that sell this one. "Squeeze It" has the Rev playing with Stylin on guitar. It's a sexy little number that Schwarz does a great job with. Stinging guitars and a chorus of the boys asking their baby to do what the title track says make this a very cool cut. Lehnert offers a good organ solo here, too. The album concludes with "Turning Point," a very soulful song written by Leo Graham, Jr. The organ is very retro and the beat is pure soul. Schwarz delivers another great vocal performance to finish out the set. This CD highlights their abilities and their fantastic sound. Great songs, great musicians and great performances make this an overall great album and I recommend it ! Since 1990, the duo Jim "Barefoot Jimmy" Schwarz (harmonica/vocals) and Paul "Pauly Walnuts" Stilin (guitar) have been The Blues Disciples. Founder Jim Schwarz found an ally and a musician in Paul Stilin, who has also remained faithful to the electric Chicago blues of the 50s and 60s. Both wanted to follow in the footsteps of Little Walter, Muddy Waters and closer to their home state of Wisconsin, of harmonica player Jim Liban and guitarist Billy Flynn. "Barefoot" Jimmy Schwarz defines the sound of The Blues Disciples with his harmonica. In addition to his activities with other bands such as Jimmy & the Flamethrowers and The Blue Rubies, he remains the driving force of the band. The Texan Pauly "Walnut" Stilin is the second fixed value on guitar. Stilin regularly tours nationally and internationally with other bands and works closely with blues and soul singer Lou Pride. Chris Lehnert first learned the guitar, only to play keyboards after high school. Lehnert has also played in several bands, including The Stacks Edward Band and has also worked closely with Lou Pride, Billy Flynn, Bob Stroger and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. "Big Beat" is the latest album by The Blues Disciples. It is the band's second studio album. The album contains twelve songs, ten original and two covers. The songs range from shuffles, to funk and swing. Besides the regular core (Jimmy Schwarz / Paul Stilin steps, Chris Lehnert & drummer Matt Liban, son of Jim Liban !), they could only count on guests. These included Milwaukee legend Rick Holmes, Amy Ashby and Matthew Wilson (John Nemeth) as bassists. Other special guests included guitarists Billy Flynn and Reverend Raven, keyboardists Danny Moore and Rob Waters. The album opens with the title track "Big Beat", a shuffle with thumping beats, which starts with a harmonica solo, after which the vocals of Schwarz & Stilin take over. Then it calms down with the Latino groove "Never Gonna Be The Same. Danny Moore's Organ and Cecilio Negron Jr.'s Rhythm determine the atmosphere here. In "Elouise" Billy Flynn is the guitarist soloing for the first time and Schwartz wonders, who's doing it with Elouise? "My Heart's Already Broken" is a slow blues, carried by Danny Moore's piano, assisted by Chris Lehnert on organ. After the silence there is time for grooves with "What I Need". Billy Flynn and Lehnert immediately understood this and Schwartz follows a little later. The climax at the end may be there ! Schwarz has asked daughter Kaya for the backing vocals in "You Got It Girl" and it gets very jazzy and swinging in "Frankie Kapankie". For "Tell It Like It Is" Reverend Raven has put on the guitar and in "Internet Love" Danny Moore has taken place behind the honky tonk piano to guide this rocker in the right direction. "Funky Woman" by Robert Brantley Jr. is what the name itself implies. Rob Waters sits behind the organ, but it is Flynn and Schwarz who clearly claim their place here. The end is coming, but there's the funky "Squeeze It" first with Reverend Raven a second time. Billy Flynn can help close the doors with a fourth contribution in "Turning Point". The closing track is a very soulful song by Leo Graham, Jr., the second cover of the album. The Blues Disciples once again prove their abilities and their love for this period of Chicago blues music with their new album "Big Beat". Good songs, good musicians and great guests make this collection a great album, which I can only recommend ! Contemporary Blues at it's Best!! Powerful Vocals on top of a stellar musical performance. Catchy original songs rooted in the tradition of the Blues. Songs that will make you want to get up and dance, wherever you are !!!Milwaukee's perennial favorites, The Blues Disciples have done it again. Their new release, Big Beat is a juggernaut of powerful. Made with passion, for real people, by real people !

1 Tell It Like It Is (feat. Reverend Raven, Danny Moore & Amy Ashby) 3:37

2 Internet Love (feat. Danny Moore & Amy Ashby) 2:34

3 Never Gonna Be the Same (feat. Danny Moore, Cecilio Negron Jr. & Rick Holmes) 3:26

4 Frankie Kapankie (feat. Danny Moore & Rick Holmes) 3:42

5 Funky Woman (feat. Billy Flynn, Rob Waters, Rick Holmes & Kaya Schwarz) 6:15

6 Elouise (feat. Billy Flynn & Rick Holmes) 6:30

7 Big Beat (feat. Cecilio Negron Jr. & Matthew Wilson) 5:24

8 My Heart's Already Broken (feat. Amy Ashby & Danny Moore) 3:59

9 Turning Point (feat. Billy Flynn & Matthew Wilson) 6:51

10 Squeeze It (feat. Reverend Raven & Amy Ashby) 6:35

11 What I Need (feat. Billy Flynn, Rick Holmes & Cecilio Negron Jr.) 3:49

12 You Got It Girl (feat. Matthew Wilson & Kaya Schwarz) 3:55