Dropping into my intray is this new album release from Sunny Bleau and the Moons. It is out on January 31 on all platforms and I’m ready to get an early bird review in, plunging into the water for this dip into the world of jazz and blues.
The press pack gives me this information: singer-songwriter Kelly Brock, aka “Sunny Bleau,” is known for her straightforward lyrics, passionate performances, strong vocals, and playful personality. When writing and performing with guitarist/songwriter/composer Nic Cocco, they have created some great music. They have teamed up with longtime bluesman Mick Kolassa to produce their new album, Passion and Regrets. Bringing together a team of Mick’s “usual suspects” (drummer James Cunningham, bassist Bill Ruffino, Rick Steff on multiple keyboards, and a few tasty licks from guitarist Jeff Jensen). To add to the already impressive list of talent on the album, Sunny and Nic invited the amazing young harp player Kiersi Joli and their dear friend Dr. Peter Stephenson to round out this wonderful team of musicians.
My Review:
“Two Glasses of Whiskey on Ice” opens with some swirling organ and funky guitar. I’m taken into a story and Sunny Bleau has one of those old-style jazz club voices that belongs with the Harding presidency era (I’m sure he’d appreciate the whiskey as well!). This is one to appreciate in a late-night club; it has that dreamy nighttime feel.
“You Better Put The Coffee On” turns firmly toward the blues, still storytelling but with a blues beat and a blues lyrical anger! I loved the harmonica and I enjoyed the vocal performance as well—a firmly tongue-in-cheek lyrical tale (he left her for a young, big-breasted, doe-eyed blonde, lol). Running at over five minutes, this one has space for a harmonica/bass beat solo and I would imagine it would go great live.
“Low-Down-Middle-Aged-Blues” adds some piano, a touch of the honky-tonk melody and some contemplative thoughts of life. I liked this one; its beat is infectious and it fuses the blues lyrics with a pleasing jazzy style of delivery.
“Peacock Strut” does strut, thanks to some solid drum beats and a little swagger. I think lyrics that can get away with “schmoozing” have to be worth a smile, but I wouldn’t trust that young man either! Maybe we girls love a bad boy, however? It’s a solid album track, this one.
“S-H-E-E-E W-O-M-A-N” is a big blues sound, a feminist sassy cry for women out there. It pulls from Peggy Lee’s “I’m a Woman” theme and gives a nod to that ‘Smokey Joes Cafe’ vibe. On a vinyl, this would close side one with a bang.
“Why Don’t You Do Right?” opens up with a fresh groove, almost Henry Mancini in feel. Again, it turns to my more favorite jazz vibes. A song to sway to in the kitchen while I made myself a latte!
“Waitin’ On A Man” is ruminative, has a slower piano feel and nods toward the frustrations of waiting! It is a gentle beat and a vocal that is almost spoken in places.
“You Put Me Out” is a powerful lament on being dumped romantically. It has quite a big sound and Sunny certainly shows her vocal chops with this track. It’s a song easy to identify with: no one wants to be the one who is tossed away.
“Deep Regretful Blues” hits the club with a faster drum beat and the guitars inject a bit of rock in those blues. This one would have to be played live, as it is a track to get the crowd up and jumping.
“Memphis Bound (It is Well with My Soul)” closes the album with an expansive vocal and a deep blues-style rhythm. I liked the drums here again and it is a well-crafted track.
In summary, this one would have really excited my colleague Stevie (currently having two months leave as she had a baby in December), as she does the blues for us. I am more into jazz and country, so perhaps that pulled me more toward the more jazz-influenced tracks. Sunny Bleau has a really powerful voice; the lyrics are often amusing and full of narrative that I love and I was often pulled into songs for that reason. Musically, the harmonica, drums and bass feel add either heart or flash to the music and underpin well-crafted compositions. As a baseline, did I enjoy listening to this? Absolutely, I did, very much!
Standout Tracks: “You Better Put The Coffee On,” “Low-Down-Middle-Aged-Blues” and “Why Don’t You Do Right?”
And, dear reader, I hope you enjoyed the review! If you did, please look around the magazine’s other pages; there are a ton of fantastic features, editorials, items, and even poetry! We put in a lot of effort for you, so please click the Support Us link below to buy me coffee for the new year and show your gratitude for what we do! Always gratefully received.
You can stream music from Sunny Bleau and the Moons here
By Lorraine Foley
Credits:
Sunny Bleau: vocals
Nicholas A. Cocco: Guitar
Jeff Jenson: Guitar (#5,9) Baritone guitar (#10)
Kiersi Joli: Harmonica (#2,5)
BG: vocals (#10)
Bill Ruffino: Bass
James Cunningham: Drums
Rick Steff: Hammond, Wurlitzer, and Piano
Dr. Peter Stephenson Hammond (#3)