Size: 147,5 MB
Time: 63:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front, back
1. I Feel So Good (4:56)
2. What Might Be Your Name (5:03)
3. Cat Squirrel (4:33)
4. Sugaree Sugaree (4:00)
5. Out On A Limb (5:09)
6. Heart of Gold (4:05)
7. My Baby's Gone (4:30)
8. Tell Me Mama (3:22)
9. What The Blues Will Do (3:27)
10. All She Wants Is Me (3:53)
11. You Got Me Dizzy (4:00)
12. Baby Please (4:15)
13. One Minute (5:31)
14. Let The Boogie Rip (6:39)
In a remarkable return to his blues roots, Mike Vernon MBE, a mainstay in the global blues scene, is back with an exciting new project called Cat Squirrel, paying tribute to Doctor Ross’s 1961 track of the same name (Fortune Records, 1961). After more than six decades in the industry, a handful of albums and a roster of collaborations with icons such as Rory Gallagher, Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix), Leo Lyons (Ten Years After), David Bowie, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Buddy Guy, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie King, Edwin Starr and more, Vernon is ready to unveil “Blues What Am”, a project that revisits the era of the blues masters from the late ’50s and early ’60s.
In fact, the title of the album (a secret until now) is the title of a song written and recorded by William ‘Jazz’ Gillum for RCA Victor in the 1940s. According to Mike Vernon himself, “Gillum was one of the most popular recording artists for Victor during the postwar years, along with Big Bill Broonzy, John Lee Williamson and Tampa Red. I always thought Blues What Am to be an interesting song title… probably a colloquial expression of those times to describe the ‘real’ blues… who knows? I decided to use it as the CD title as it does, to my mind, describe that this collection is most definitely blues, and nothing but the blues! Grammatically incorrect for sure… but I think it works!”
Throughout his prolific career, Mike Vernon, celebrated as a producer and musician, has worked alongside a multitude of blues legends, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. The new album showcases Vernon’s collaboration with the talented guitarist Kid Carlos, whose autodidactic journey from a young age has led him to share the stage with renowned blues musicians and earn his place in the band. United by a serendipitous encounter, their musical chemistry is undeniable, giving rise to new compositions culminating in «Cat Squirrel, promising to infuse the blues with an innovative touch while paying homage to its timeless roots.
The project also features the legendary Spanish harmonica player Mingo Balaguer, whose decades-long dedication to the blues, alongside the likes of Johnny Winter, Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite or Hubert Sumlin, have earned him respect and admiration in his homeland and beyond. Balaguer’s harmonica prowess on Cat Squirrel adds an authentic and passionate touch to the sound of the album. Completing the ensemble are bassist Oriol Fontanals and drummer Pascual Monge, both accomplished musicians in their own right. Their rhythmic contributions infuse the music of Vernon, Kid Carlos y Mingo Balaguer with a solid and energetic backbone.
According to Carlos, “It is an honor for me to be part of this exciting new project working alongside two legends of the blues world. Mike Vernon produced many of the albums that I listened to when learning to play the blues and, at that time, I could never have imagined that years later I would find myself actively working with him as part of Cat Squirrel. And then, the legendary Spanish Blues harmonicist Mingo Balaguer – for me the best in my homeland. It has also been a pleasure to work with Pascual and Oriol in the studio – their high levels of musicianship permeates the whole of our debut album – a truly exquisite rhythmic base!”
The recording process took place in Sevilla, Spain, and the results are nothing short of sensational. Energetic and authentic, Cat Squirrel offers a delightful, foot-tapping blues experience that pays homage to the genre’s greats while forging a distinctive path of its own.
For Mike Vernon, Cat Squirrel is a kind of full circle in his musical career, rediscovering the passion and inspiration that led him to the blues in his formative years, and sharing it with a new generation of blues lovers as the quintet redefines and revitalizing the genre. “I am now totally re-energised both mentally and physically and convinced that this project with Cat Squirrel hits all the spots” says the soon-to-be octogenarian. /Jessica Jacobsen, Dirty Rock
In fact, the title of the album (a secret until now) is the title of a song written and recorded by William ‘Jazz’ Gillum for RCA Victor in the 1940s. According to Mike Vernon himself, “Gillum was one of the most popular recording artists for Victor during the postwar years, along with Big Bill Broonzy, John Lee Williamson and Tampa Red. I always thought Blues What Am to be an interesting song title… probably a colloquial expression of those times to describe the ‘real’ blues… who knows? I decided to use it as the CD title as it does, to my mind, describe that this collection is most definitely blues, and nothing but the blues! Grammatically incorrect for sure… but I think it works!”
Throughout his prolific career, Mike Vernon, celebrated as a producer and musician, has worked alongside a multitude of blues legends, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. The new album showcases Vernon’s collaboration with the talented guitarist Kid Carlos, whose autodidactic journey from a young age has led him to share the stage with renowned blues musicians and earn his place in the band. United by a serendipitous encounter, their musical chemistry is undeniable, giving rise to new compositions culminating in «Cat Squirrel, promising to infuse the blues with an innovative touch while paying homage to its timeless roots.
The project also features the legendary Spanish harmonica player Mingo Balaguer, whose decades-long dedication to the blues, alongside the likes of Johnny Winter, Magic Slim, Charlie Musselwhite or Hubert Sumlin, have earned him respect and admiration in his homeland and beyond. Balaguer’s harmonica prowess on Cat Squirrel adds an authentic and passionate touch to the sound of the album. Completing the ensemble are bassist Oriol Fontanals and drummer Pascual Monge, both accomplished musicians in their own right. Their rhythmic contributions infuse the music of Vernon, Kid Carlos y Mingo Balaguer with a solid and energetic backbone.
According to Carlos, “It is an honor for me to be part of this exciting new project working alongside two legends of the blues world. Mike Vernon produced many of the albums that I listened to when learning to play the blues and, at that time, I could never have imagined that years later I would find myself actively working with him as part of Cat Squirrel. And then, the legendary Spanish Blues harmonicist Mingo Balaguer – for me the best in my homeland. It has also been a pleasure to work with Pascual and Oriol in the studio – their high levels of musicianship permeates the whole of our debut album – a truly exquisite rhythmic base!”
The recording process took place in Sevilla, Spain, and the results are nothing short of sensational. Energetic and authentic, Cat Squirrel offers a delightful, foot-tapping blues experience that pays homage to the genre’s greats while forging a distinctive path of its own.
For Mike Vernon, Cat Squirrel is a kind of full circle in his musical career, rediscovering the passion and inspiration that led him to the blues in his formative years, and sharing it with a new generation of blues lovers as the quintet redefines and revitalizing the genre. “I am now totally re-energised both mentally and physically and convinced that this project with Cat Squirrel hits all the spots” says the soon-to-be octogenarian. /Jessica Jacobsen, Dirty Rock
Blues What Am mc
Blues What Am gofile
