REVIEWS – Rising From The Bushes
Blues Revue – Blues Bites by Tom Hyslop
Aug/Sept 2009
The Alex Dixon band makes an impressive showing on Rising From the Bushes (Dixon Landing Music), a slick set produced and penned by Dixon, the grandson and protege of Willie Dixon. Ordinarily I use “slick” as a pejorative, but the arrangements here are just right; this bluesy rock would fit perfectly on any number of Eric Clapton’s records, and association strengthened by the presence of Marcy Levy, who, with David Dills, Alan Mirikitani (on Robert Cray and EC-inflected guitar), and Gerald Johnson (bass), handles vocals. Standout tracks include “My Suspicious Mind,” the smooth, contemporary R&B of “Still In Love Wtih You,” the rocking “Paint You a Picture,” and “Find a Way To Live.”
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The Alex Dixon Band
“Rising From The Bushes”
BY PETER “BLEWZZMAN” LAURO, © April 2009
This is the second project from Alex Dixon and Dixon Landing Music that Mary4Music is proud to be involved with. Between the quality of the music I’m hearing, the information on future projects included in the attached press releases and the whole concept that this company represents, I know there are going to be many more.
Although it’s difficult, I’m going to suppress the urge to tell you all about this recording company’s mission and it’s founder’s biography. As exciting as it is, I’ll just advise you to go to www.dixonlandingmusic.com and read for yourself just what it is that’s got me so pumped up. In the meantime, let me tell you about the disc.
Besides a few words from Grandpa Willie Dixon to open and close the disc, the players on “Rising From The Bushes” have collectively played with Willie, Koko, B B, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Ray Charles, Robert Cray, Bettye LaVette, Eric Clapton, Steve Miller and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Those stars are: Alex Dixon on Keyboards & Piano; James Gadson and Alvino Bennet on Drums; Gerald Johnson on Bass & Vocals; Alan “B B Chung King” Mirikitani on Guitar & Vocals; Marcy “Marcella Detroit” and David Dills on Vocals; Michael Fell on Harmonica.
After Willie Dixon reminds us that “Blues is the roots of all American music”, the disc opens with “Fantasy”. This one’s a great mix of blues styles. With the rhythm guys in somewhat of a funky groove, it features serious, soulful blues vocals from Marcy and scorching riffs of Chicago blues guitar from Alan.
One of the hottest tracks on the disc is a cover of one of grandpa’s songs – “Down In The Bottom”. This one flat out smokes and everyone is totally jammin’ throughout. The discs best guitar, piano and rhythm work can all be heard right here.
It’s the bandleaders time to shine on “My Suspicious Mind”. From start to finish, Alex’s extraordinary piano work is highlighted. Of course, Alan gets in some great guitar licks and does an absolutely superb job with the vocals.
It’s quite interesting the way the vocal duties are passed around on this project. What’s even more interesting is how on each track, the designated vocalist sings their heart out. On “Find A Way To Live”, it’s Gerald’s turn and he’s obviously up for the task. If soulful vocals light your fire, this one’s gonna burn your house down. Great rhythm and piano on this one as well.
With the conviction with which he sings it, you can’t help but believe him when David says “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”. This is a wonderfully uplifting song, with great lyrics and an incredible vocal presentation. Alvino and Michael, on drums and harp, are both quite sharp on this one as well. Easily one of the discs best.
Other tracks on “Rising From The Bushes”, which include eight Alex Dixon originals, are: “Lose Control”, “Still In Love With You”, “Paint You A Picture”, “Spoonful”, and “These Are The Times” .
The disc closes with Willie once again offering his thoughts. This time he says “The blues are just reaching it’s peak and getting to where it should have been years ago”. I don’t know exactly when those words were originally spoken, but in this day and age if the blues ever does reach it’s peak, just as Gramps was, Alex Dixon is going to be a part of it.
I already gave you the website, but it warrants repeating – www.dixonlandingmusic.com. Check it out. Make sure ya tell them you came to see what the Blewzzman’s fussin’ ’bout.
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues editor @ www.mary4Music.com
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Rising From The Bushes – The Alex Dixon Band
http://www.illinoisblues.com/bluesartists/alexdixon.htm
“The blues are the roots of American music “, Willie Dixon tells his grandson and us in the introduction to this very compelling and well produced CD ” Rising from the Bushes”. This recording features well crafted songs, some fine musicianship, a killer rhythm section and some above average vocals displayed by various singers who take their turn expressing Alex Dixon’s material.
The first cut ” Fantasy’ written by Alex is a very, radio friendly song with a fine performance by Marcy Levy on vocals. “Lose Control” features Alan Mirikitani on guitar and vocals. His voice has a blues feel with a modern edge and adds some nice guitar licks to this song and throughout the entire album. The band goes way down home on Grandpa Willie Dixon’s ‘ Down in the Bottom”. This is a great true blues track with David Dills taking his turn at the microphone. Dills also sings “Still in Love with You’ a fine tune that could receive airplay on jazz stations as well. Marcy Levy is a force to be reckoned with and must be a good friend to have around. Her vocals are soulful and the texture of her voice is a pleasure to listen too. The song “Paint You a Picture’ is one of the highlights of this album (nice harmonica on this cut too by Michael Fell). The CD contains classic Willie Dixon “Spoonful”. What can i say? Blood!. “My Suspicious Mind”, ‘These are the Times” are other creative gems penned by Alex Dixon.
Alex Dixon is an excellent keyboard player and songwriter. His tunes come from the heart. His lyrics are interesting and the melodies catching. The majority of of the songs published here could easily be heard on commercial radio which would be a good thing because the blues world needs the younger generation to start listening to some good music and start becoming more intelligent and open minded because the blues is also at the roots of their lives too. Little brothers and sisters need to wake up and so does the music industry and give the blues a broader audience.
Find a way to Live’ is sung by bassist Gerald Johnson (Steve Miller, Dave Mason, Greg Allman} with James Gadson on drums( Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Ray Charles) is my favorite cut on this album because it sounds so damn real. Johnson and Gadson are also heard through out the album and their playing is superb. ‘Everything’s going to be alright’ the final cut on the CD basically says it all. Everything is going to be alright for Alex and for us if he keeps making CD’s like this. There is a fantastic picture of Alex as a child probably about 4 or 5 years old at the piano with his grandfather Willie Dixon standing over him while Alex is learning the notes on the keyboard. You can see the love. Well now you have to the chance to hear and feel the love too. Go out and purchase this CD. Keep the blues alive and by doing so you will be keeping Willie Dixon’s dreams alive as well.
Reviewer Michael Packer is a singer-guitarist from NYC who fronts his own band “The Michael Packer Blues Band”. He has been performing for over 40 years and has recorded on major labels Atlantic and RCA.
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BLUES BYTES
What’s new – May 2009!
http://www.bluenight.com/BluesBytes/wn0509.html
It’s about time a disc came across my desk that I can unequivocally say will make my top 10 list this year. Leave it to Willie Dixon’s grandson, Alex Dixon, to come out with the freshest take on the Blues I’ve heard this year. Rising From the Bushes is definitely a keeper and one I’d look for soon if I were you. If you can’t find a copy in your local record store, head to www.dixonlandingmusic.com; you’ll be glad you did.
Alex has surrounded himself with great players and vocalists for this project, and leading it off on “Fantasy” is Marcella Detroit, aka Marcy Levy. Lost in a world of her own, Marcy struggles to determine what’s real and what’s “fantasy.” “I need something to free my mind…you know it, baby…just one more time…everything will be fine…cause this will be the last time!” Blistering guitar from BB Chung King lights up this first cut and I know I’m in for a treat already. BB takes the vocal lead on our next cut, “Lose Control,” and here we find him mesmerized by a woman he encounters. “I want to dance with you…and baby, a whole lot more!” “I ain’t lying…that red dress sure looks fine…I’m feeling the heat…you’re about to blow my mind…right here tonight…I’m about to lose control!” BB definitely has it bad and you know he’s going to work very hard to get it!
David Dills is up next at the microphone with one of Alex’s grandfather’s originals, “Down in the Bottom.” Enamored with another man’s woman, David has to be on his toes with this one. “Meet me in the bottom…bring me my running shoes…meet me in the bottom…bring me my running shoes…when I jump out the window…I have no time to lose.” More great fretwork from BB Chung King and Alex on the piano keeps the tune moving right along. Throw in some great harp work from Michael Fell and the band did Alex’s grandfather proud.
Our next cut, “Still in Love with You,” features David on the vocals and slows down into one sweet ballad. “Hey baby…I’m lonely with blues…cause I’m still in love with you…it don’t matter what I say or do…I’m still in love with you!” This relationship has been a rocky one but David is pleading his case for one more chance, he’s definitely in love with the object of his affections. It’s great to hear Marcy back with the vocal lead on our next tune, “Paint You a Picture.” This band’s groove is tight and Marcy is in top form. Experience has taught Marcy well and she’s no fool, what’s going on in this relationship is painfully clear. “But…you’re going to miss me…especially when I’m gone…you’re going to pay the price…cause you done me wrong…going to paint you a picture…so you see the pain…when you’re out of my life…don’t speak my name!” Marcy’s done, this guy is definitely out of here!
Another one of Alex’s grandfather’s tunes, “Spoonful,” features David Dills back at the microphone with ferocious fretwork by BB Chung King to intro the song. “Could be a spoonful of coffee…could be a spoonful of tea…but, just need a spoon of your precious love…that’s good enough for me…everybody fight about a spoonful”! “My Suspicious Mind” is the first tune that really brings Alex’s piano into play and BB Chung King is back at the microphone. “You’ll never know my whole name…you’ll never know where I’ve been…won’t negotiate until the end…and I say these things that I do…to make you think about your life too…you might think I’m fooling you…but your suspicious mind is going to get you too!” “My Suspicious Mind” offers a pretty cynical view of the world and sadly, sometimes it’s correct in its vision.
Another tune in the same vein, “These Are the Days,” is an extremely accurate view of the world we know today. “You’ve got people crying…and losing their homes…here and now and the next day, it’s all gone…I was broken now…just like a stone…and all the banks are closing…dry as a bone…and these are the times!”
A heavy bass line from Gerald Johnson lets us know that he’s at the helm for “Find a Way to Live.” Gerald sports a great set of chops and he’s truly in love with the woman he’s just lost. “I have done things…that most men have dreamed of…I have seen things…that folks will never speak of…I’ve got to find a way to live…without you”! We’re never really sure what happened, but Gerald’s definitely in pain over losing the love of his life.
David Dills comes back up to the microphone for the last tune on this amazing album, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” A tune of great optimism, David lets us know that he’s more than willing to lend a helping hand to the woman who needs his love. “I don’t judge nobody for their ways…you can stop your running…in this world of haze…the sunshine comes up…every day…I’m here to tell you…things are going to be ok!” More amazing harp work from Michael Fell and fretwork from BB Chung King highlight the hope David expresses that everything will indeed, be all right!
Rising From the Bushes is a disc that will return to my CD player all year long. It features outstanding writing from Alex Dixon, great vocal performances all around and one of the tightest bands I’ve heard in quite awhile. It’s quite clear from this record that Alex has a vision for where he wants to go with his grandfather’s blues and we’re better of in this genre of music because of it.
Once in a great while you get to hear a classic disc, and Rising From the Bushes will definitely be in my top ten at the end of the year. It’s got Blues Music Award nominee written all over it.
— Kyle Deibler
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Great Northern Blues Society
With both an “intro” and “outro” bookending songs on this effort coming from Willie Dixon, one would think this collaboration is all about the song writing. You would be sort of right.
On this work from the Alex Dixon Band, you get a handful of musicians and singers who have more than honed their craft. Alex is carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, of that there is no doubt. After the Intro by Willie, the CD starts off with the song Fantasy. Marcy Levy (aka Marcella Detroit) has the lead vocals on this song. Her voice sounds like a long-lost friend. The songs she was featured on with Eric Clapton were some of my favorite of his 70’s songs. This song is a great vehicle for her voice. The background vocals fit like a glove. What a treat.
Next up is Lose Control. This song features the vocals of Alan Mirikitani (aka BB Chung King as in The Buddaheads). This song simmers along slowly building to a rolling boil, fueled by some great guitar work by Mirikitani. The lyrics fit perfect to the feel. ”Hey baby my temperature’s risin’ .”
Down In the Bottom is the most traditional Chicago Blues sounding song on the CD. It should be as it is one of two songs written by the late Willie Dixon. The second one being Spoonful. This song features David Dills on vocals with a style slightly reminiscent of Warren Haynes. The rest of the song sounds like Cream’s version, with a guitar solo being on top and very creative. Still In Love With You is a love song that has a familiar, oh I don’t know, 70’s R & B / soul sound to it. Continuing with that 70’s vibe, Find A Way To Live, with vocals by Gerald Johnson, has a jazzy, soulful, gospel feel to it.
Alex Dixon steps out front a little more with some catchy piano work on My Suspicious Mind. I love the interplay between piano and guitar. Laid back vocals by Alan Mirikitani to go along with the laid back melody. Alex also stands out with lyrics on this one. He really caught my ear with the line “I don’t try to be rude. I always make the waiter taste my food.”
Paint You A Picture has Marcy Levy out front once again with great vocals over the top of some understated guitar. The song is a little reminiscent of the soul of Aretha Franklin in its style, along with the gospel sounding background vocals. There are also some nice little harp fills and some blowing as the song fades.
I listened to this CD several times and it grew on me every time. Several teen and twenty something’s made mention when they overheard the CD while I was listening. The word they said over and over again was catchy.
That should tell you something.
Ron Hoerter
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All Music Guide
Michael Nastos
“Alex Dixon penned eight of these selections, and it’s clear he wants to bring the blues forward into modern times…”.
You can read the full review by CLICKING HERE.
