Slim Butler - Big Freeze

Album: Big Freeze
Size: 83,1 MB
Time: 35:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Fat Times (3:01)
2. Everything You Need (3:13)
3. Keep It Real (3:21)
4. Running Away From The Blues (3:37)
5. Where Is The Love (4:25)
6. Sweaty Betty (4:20)
7. Coconut Monster (3:18)
8. Southern Belle (3:22)
9. Hey Now Baby (3:52)
10. Kissed By The Blues (3:17)

Slim Butler hails from the unfamiliar hot bed of Finland's blues scene, Rovaniemi. Slim was born in summer of 1963 as Jarmo Puhakka in this small Arctic Circle town. Ever since picking up his first guitar (cheap mail-order Lucky Seven) at the tender age of 12, he's been fronting local bands, always leaning towards blues, soul and rock. Never one to limit his musical focus, he is also an enthusiastic lover of funk, reggae and jazz – listeners can still hear echoes of some of his early influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, The Beatles, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Ry Cooder and The Allman Brothers.

After honing his skills for decades, Slim has gradually evolved into a mighty fine guitarist, band leader, avid songwriter and recording artist with musical maturity and a vision to reckon with. Now at the forefront of the Finnish blues movement, he is not showing any signs of slowing down.

Big Freeze was recorded on analog tape in just few days at the Suprovox Studios in Iikkala, Finland. Engineered by internationally acclaimed blues guitarist and harpist in his own right, Tomi Leino. Superb guest vocalists, Tad Robinson and Andrew Black from USA, added their soulful touch and talent to these tunes. Keyboard wizard, Harri Taittonen, laid out exciting and funky keyboards to the mix.

Personnel: Jarmo "Slim Butler" Puhakka (guitar); Harri Raudaskoski (guitar); Mikko Löytty (bass); Jartsa Karvonen (drums, percussion); Harri Taittonen (keyboard); Andrew Black (vocals); Tad Robinson (vocals, harmonica); Tomi Leino (harmonica).

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Slim Butler - Bone Deep

Album: Bone Deep
Size: 91,4 MB
Time: 39:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Modern electric blues
Art: Front

1. Ain't No Excuse (5:27)
2. Gots To Pay (3:25)
3. Roll And Tumble (3:36)
4. How Deep Is The Water (4:13)
5. Darkest Night (3:03)
6. Blues Done Left Me (5:18)
7. Slim On Ice (2:39)
8. Quarter Past Four (3:44)
9. C'est La Vie (4:12)
10. Why Doncha (3:47)

Self-produced by Slim, Bone Deep includes yet another impressive collection of ten original songs. Breaking new ground sonically with styles ranging from blues, r&b and funk to an americana vibe, it will surely raise some hell and interest among blues community all over. Bone Deep was recorded in a few days time at Lato-Sounds, Tampere, Finland August 2021. Engineered by acclaimed guitarist in his own right, Tapio Ylinen (also featured guest). Superb guest accordionist Tatu Kantomaa added his soulful touch and talent with bandoneon to one of the tunes.

Backed by his touring band, The SlimCuts, Slim has gained a solid reputation as a true recording artist and powerful live performer. Butler is firmly standing at the forefront of a widespread revival of interest in the blues. Slim Butler´s first two albums: Inner Blues (2012) and Bad Intention (2016) were nominated as The Best Blues Album Of The Year in Finland, respectively. Internationally acclaimed third album Big Freeze was released in 2018. Slim Butler & The SlimCuts represented Finland in the European Blues Challenge in Hell, Norway, 2018 and in the 35th International Blues Challenge in Memphis on January 2019.

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Slim Butler - Slim Butler's Inner Blues

Album: Slim Butler's Inner Blues
Size: 103,3 MB
Time: 44:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. (Call Me) Mr. Big Shot (3:35)
2. What Have You Done (5:22)
3. Never Lose My Soul (Over You) (4:24)
4. I Don't Want To Talk About It (3:57)
5. A Heart Of Ice (3:58)
6. Life On A Line (4:25)
7. Hey Bartender! (Give Me Back My Fender) (4:15)
8. Mexican Tears (3:11)
9. Got To Move (3:06)
10. I Can't Imagine Why (5:52)
11. Inner Blues (Bonus Track) (2:13)

Slim Butler's debut CD hails from the unfamiliar hot bed of Finland's blues scene, Rovaniemi. A Meeting of Finland's finest in Lapland's famous artic town on a beautiful autumn weekend produced a seriously hip-sounding CD with 10 songs. All the songs are written by Jarmo "Slim Butler" Puhakka himself way before he entered the studio. A number of true veterans of the local Finnish blues fraternity provided solid backup to Slim's highly personal songs. The icing on a cake are the album's vocalists who are both from USA. Sugar Ray Norcia is best known for being the front man and vocalist for Boston's legendary bands Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Roomful Of Blues and his own The Bluetones. Also sharing the vocal duties is a rising new star to watch out for, Andrew Black from Atlanta who adds a soulful southern flavor to the mix.

"Inner Blues" has that authentic sound and feel of an old recording because it was produced and mixed by the gentle giant of the blues, Otis Grand. Otis keeps an experienced eye on the proceedings and also provides stingin' lead guitar work on a couple of tunes. Incidentally, this album was recorded using old analogue recording equipment in a rustic cottage, Villa Willamo in the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. This authentic live in the studio feel was captured perfectly on magnetic tape by Valanne Mobile Analogue Recording Service.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Slim Butler - Bad Intention

Size: 102,2 MB
Time: 37:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Label: Slim Butler
Art: Front

01. All About You (3:53)
02. Mean Trouble (3:29)
03. Junk In The Trunk (3:35)
04. It Ain't Me (4:49)
05. Jumpin' Santa (2:39)
06. Bad Intention (4:20)
07. Monkey Moon (3:05)
08. Cryin' Shame (3:47)
09. Lady In Blue (3:55)
10. Coast To Coast (4:24)

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Intention, from Slim Butler and it's terrific! Slim has great style and it's been too long since I reviewed his last release Inner Blues back in 2013.
Opening with All About You a cool R&B style blueser, a la Robert Cray, Tad Robinson shows just how sweet his voice is on soulful music and with a tight band lead by Jarmo " Slim" Puhakka on nicely stylized guitar riffs, Esko Ollila on drums, Harri Taitonen on keys and Hannu Lehtomaa on bass and punched up by the horn section (Slimcuts) of Tapio Maunuvaara on trumpet, Jukka-Pekka Peltoniemi on trumpet, Olli Tuomainen on tenor sax and Antti Napankangas on trombone. Great opener. On driving rocker, Mean Trouble, Andrew Black has the mic with a heavier feel and Slim keeps things close on guitar. On funky, Junk In The Trunk, you get a definite Tower Of Power feel with nice horn work, Black again on lead vocal and excellent drum work from Ollila and with super bottom by Marja-Kaisa Villanen on bari sax and featuring some nice guitar riffs by Slim. Very nice. R&B track, It Ain't Me has Robinson back on lead vocal with cool key work from Taitonen and nice horn backing. Slim really winds it out nicely on this track with cleanly articulated guitar runs complimenting the closing refrain. Jumpin' Santa is a real cool little instrumental with a boogie beat. Slim sets a real nice loping pace on guitar and Markku Orislanti hits on drums. Very smooth. On title track, Bad Intentions, Slim takes the mic and is joined by Harri Raudaskoski who plays an aggressive guitar solo with Slim on guitar 2. A Stone Free "styled" track, this is a cool rocker. With a snappy, swampy beat, Monkey Moon is infectious. Slim lays in slick guitar riffs under silky smooth vocals by Robinson. Cryin' Shame is another super track with a nice bass line by Lehtomaa and excellent lead vocals by Black. With really nice sax work Olli and great horn work overall by the Slimcuts, this track defies you to keep your bottom still. With a great walking bass line by Lehtomaa, smokin' riffs by Slim and great lead vocals and harp by Robinson, Lady In Blue is a super track. Wrapping the release is solid blues number, Coast To Coast featuring the soulful vocals of Black. Warm organ lines by Taitonen and bluesy riffs by Slim really cement this excellent closer. ~bman

Bad Intention

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