Downchild came to town from Toronto and showed us all that you don't have to come from the Mississippi Delta to play the blues. Dan Ackroyd was so enchanted with them, he based the "Blues Brothers" on them and used one of their albums as the Blues Brothers' repertoire for the movie. The veteran bluesmen began the show with a twin harp opening that captured us immediately. The bass walked from coast to coast, the drummer lit the fire, and the sax literally blew us away with a smooth tone and great musical thoughts. This wasn't a group of individuals trying to show us how great they could play. This was a band, of one mind, totally in sync.
These are some of the nicest people in the business. Don (Mr. Downchild) Walsh plays a smoking stratocaster (with an Epiphone for back-up) and fantastic harp. Chuck Jackson sings like a bird with a terminal case of blues. Bassist Gary Kendall, who looks like a clean Keith Richards majorly impressed Wayne Hammond, who is one of the best himself. Jim Casson was superb, a truly dynamic drummer. Pianist Mike Fonfara, who produced the current CD, "Lucky 13" played what we wanted to hear, and Pat Carey was divine on sax, with a command of the instrument only symphony players usually have (and yes, he's done that too). Pat blew some of the best solos these ears have ever heard, bringing cheers from the amazed audience.
Most of the songs were originals like "I'm Gonna Shoot That Moon Right Out Of the Sky" and "Strolling". When Chuck laments, "Where have you gone with my money and my car?", you know this band is in the class with B.B, Buddy, Johnny, and their mentor and hero Muddy Waters. They have driving drums, hot, hot sax, cooking piano, outrageous harps, smoking vocals and harmony, enough energy for the space program, and are rock steady, in tune and on time. You can't beat that. Every musician in the place was openmouthed in awe. In a town full of world class mucicians, that takes a whole lot of talent. John Vagnoni has a cool habit of bringing some sensational acts to the Green Parrot, but this time he's outdone himself. When they come back, and they will, don't miss them! Stay cool.