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Reviews and Comments
"... a natural talent in acoustic blues" Atri Blues Festival "... lyrical and powerful guitar and a beautifully expressive voice full of light and shade,Andy Martin is a blues storyteller." Musica Jazz (Italy's top jazz and blues journal) "... the magic blues of Andy Martin " Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno "...an Italy-based UK blues legend." Diamond Bottlenecks "... I never thought I'd dance to one man playing a National guitar but Andy's final Booker White medley had me rockin' my socks off." UK University Blues News "... Umbria's top solo bluesman and certainly one of the very best in Europe." Corriere della Sera "... quiet,modest stage presence,not unlike John Hammond,but a magnetic,spellbinding performer with years of experience and a vast repertoire. Wonderful voice and a great slide player." BluesLines, UK "... a great personality with the ability to completely captivate an audience." Blues in the Park Festival "... Andy Martin bought the evening to a smouldering close,alone on stage, calm and unassuming,but with a great sardonic sense of London humour. A great show" Downhome Magazine "... Andy Martin's blues are full of maturity,intelligence,wit and deep understanding.His music is always able to reach deep inside my soul." Alberto Rubechi, Director, The Blue Sunset Festival "... Man,you gotta voice….and great guitar playing" Bert Deivert (US) worldclass blues mandolin player "... Andy Martin ? That guy's good….Mike Vernon was right." Lazy Lester "... Andy delivers the blues,with sincerity,passion and technique." Richmond & Twickenham Times "...The atmosphere at Munken Blues Club becomes intimate and familiar when Andy Martin starts his first set.Andy,who was deeply involved in the acoustic blues boom in the England of his youth,begins with a resonator guitar.His playing is powerfully suggestive,heavily rhythmic,or easy-going and melodic as needs be.His vocals are multifaceted using power and empathy,and there is plenty of iron in his tone when he takes on Howlin' Wolf songs. Bert Deivert's trademark is the blues mandolin and when he joins Andy it is apparent how nicely the soprano-voiced mandolin complements the guitar.Amongst many others,the two play Sittin' on top of the World,When the Levee Breaks and a beautiful version of it Hurts me Too. Bert and Andy know each other well and share the same musical ideals and musical heroes.Both have a new CD just behind them,and it is possible there will be a collaboration on a new project.Now that would really be something to look forward to." Olle Hernegren,Nya Wermlands Tidningen, Karlstad,Sweden
(For track listing and background to the "Chosen Ground" songs see Interview section)
" a great CD,really great..." Kjell Andreassen,Radio Holstebro,Denmark
" what a great CD...its on the player now." Ian McWee,Diamond Bottlenecks
"an amazing CD,with highly original approaches to blues standards and lesser known tunes.I couldn't believe he played all the instruments.A pleasure to listen to and a constant companion in my car." Jeff Brandon,vice-president World Resophonic Association and Clarksdale,Miss.musicologist
"Great stuff... nice arrangements of traditional tunes." Brian Kramer,top US/Swedish blues & roots musician "Beautiful intimate recorded sound and the playing is very fine ! I love the slow,moody treatment of "One Kind Favor" and I don't think I've heard anyone cover "Special Agent" before...very cool !! I really like the vocals too...you have a great feel." Zak Izbinsky,top Canadian blues guitarist "For me,Andy Martin was an unknown name when I received his new CD "Chosen Ground".This Englishman,now living in Italy,clearly has a long experience in the music business and his clear voice sounds much younger than his years. Instrumentally,he handles everything himself,with the guitar in the centre,but backed up by harp,mandolin and accordian on some tracks.The influences for this album are fine old country blues with the Delta style closest to his heart.The preservation of these styles seems certain,at least as far as white artists are concerned. Andy merges right into this group of artists with his passion for the old players whom he covers on this CD,like Sleepy John Estes,Booker White,Blind Willie Johnson,Leadbelly,Bill Broonzy,Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Fred MacDowell. If you have access to the older versions,you might think some modern variations are not as dynamic.However,Martin gives a very good impression with the right feeling for the music.It is a daring move to cover Willie Johnson's "Soul of a Man" but he does a fine job of it.He even finds a very personal rhythmic for Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down",and does a fabulous job on "Texas Tornado",a song originally done by Broonzy,but not heard very often nowadays. Among Martin's own tunes,I am captured by his beautiful "Swamp Fever" with its lovely slide playing. This is a fun and exciting record that will surely appeal to to most people that have a passion for Afro-American music traditions." Ingemar Karlsson,Jefferson Blues Magazine,Sweden (the world's oldest blues magazine)
Chosen Ground (Pagina 3) is Andy Martin's 6th CD and he has also written music for films and documentaries- he is a very accomplished slide guitarist and plays some mean harmonica,as this album shows. The CD is a mix of originals,written by Andy Martin,and covers of some all-time classic blues numbers and it opens with the old Robert Johnson song "Last Fair Deal Gone Down". This track shows just how good a musician this guy is and leaves the listener wanting more. Track two is a Sleepy John Estes number "Special Agent" and its followed by Big Bill Broonzy's "Texas Tornado"...both of these are equally as good as track one and you know that you're in for some good blues here. The cover versions are then broken up by the first of four original tracks by Andy Martin,"Swamp Fever"- a track that serves to show that this man can not only play the blues but write it too ! This is a slow,moody blues with a bit of Louisiana flavour...it would suit Tab Benoit's style so well that maybe he should think about covering it ! One of my favourite Bukka White tracks is next-"Jitterbug Swing"-and the slide work really does this song complete justice.So much so that I would love to hear it as an instrumental. Martin then drops in three original tracks of his own.."Theme 4",a Ry Cooder-type instrumental,"Trouble Came Knockin'",a nice medium tempo foot tapper and the title track to the CD "Chosen Ground." This emotional track put me in mind of some of Jackson Browne's work. Some more covers follow-songs by Sleepy John Estes,Son House,King Oliver,Willie Johnson,Leadbelly,Blind Lemon Jefferson and Fred McDowell- a nice mix which all show the musician off at his best. I have to admit to not liking the King Oliver track "Doctor Jazz" as much as the others,but I've been trying to pick a favourite out of the other 15 tracks and its so difficult because they are all just so good. I think it has to be between Martin's own "Swamp Fever" and the Sleepy John Estes song "Goin' to Brownsville." Get your hands on this CD and see what I'm talking about. Terry Clear...What's New. Blues Bytes November 2007 www.bluenight.com/BluesBytes/
Well,what do we have here; an English bluesman,living in Italy,playing vintage Delta and Country acoustic blues,imbuing the music with such a high degree of respect,sincerity and musicianship,it is distinctly possible that you may not have heard the blues played this well for some time. Andy is originally from Leigh-on-Sea on the Thames Estuary.He was one of a number of artists that flourished on the Southend and London R&B scene in the seventies.He served his musical apprenticeship playing in a number of London blues bands,but playing alongside such luminaries as Big Joe Williams,Eddie Boyd and Champion Jack Dupree was certainly a highpoint;one that lead to Andy subsequently backing Jack on tour later in his career. Andy,over the years has also played alongside a varied collection of blues artists which include Robert Cray,Marcia Ball,Louisiana Red,Lazy Lester, Guitar Shorty,Sugar Ray Norcia,John Mayall,Long John Baldry and Jo-Anne Kelly to name but a few. After years of travelling,working and playing in countries as far apart as Europe,Russia and America,Andy finally decided to settle down and make his home in Italy a few years ago. As the years have passed,Andy has focused more and more on the early days of blues music,whilst incorporating his passion for a wide range of acoustic instruments such as resophonic guitars,lap steel,6 and 12 string guitars:he is also extremely proficient in the playing of mandolins,harmonica and accordion.With these instruments,Andy meticulously sets about creating authentic renditions of vintage delta and country blues. He believes that these original and unadulterated acoustic numbers are only one step away from the plantation field hollers and work songs created by prisoners incarcerated in prison farms and put to work in the fields.The numbers are stark and evocative;they capture the lonely singular essence of the raw emotion that was felt by the artists that first established the foundations of what was to go on and becomes the blues as we understand them today. Of the sixteen numbers on this album,four are original compositions.I feel it has to be stated that the style,lyrical content and delivery of the numbers are indistinguishable from the covers. The music pours from the speakers like enriched molasses,thickly sweet and full of period atmosphere that continues to linger in the mind long after it has finished.Andy plays all the instruments and recorded the album live with little or no overdubs.The music is crafted with great care and affection leaving an indelible mark on the listener. An example of the high quality of diverse material that is to be found on the album is as follows: Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", coupled with John Estes' "Special Agent", "Drop Down Mama", "Goin' to Brownsville", and "Soul of a Man",by the Rev Willie Johnson. This album is not just essential, it should be compulsory ! Brian Harman. Blues Art Journal. November 2007 www.bluesartstudio.com "Chosen Ground is Andy Martin's 6th recording.His early stuff "Alone" and "Alone Again" is still sought after but no longer available.The next two "Darker near the Bone" and "Roadhouse" are sold out but copies are available on request to his website. Chosen Ground is pure Delta and Country Blues with a very authentic live feel.Andy travelled widely in the US and lived for nine months in San Antonio,Texas and the results are evident.The CD is a mix of original and classic blues starting with the Robert Johnson tune "Last Fair Deal Gone Down." All Robert Johnson songs have been recorded so many times that it must be hard to find something new.But Andy manages it with a John Lee Hooker groove which gives an excellent result and shows just how good this guy is. Another great favourite of mine is the Bukka White classic "Jitterbug Swing",with its soulful slide guitar. A great tune is also "Trouble Came Knockin'",one of his originals.If you didn't know you would say it was an old Son House or Bill Broonzy number.Martin then drops in three of his own tunes,including "Theme 4",a smooth slide instrumental. The last song is really great,a version of Mississippi Fred MacDowell's "Kokomo Blues",one of the best versions I've ever heard. Andy has played blues,R&B and gospel music all his life but early Delta Blues remains his great love. This is a must for Delta and Country Blues fans. Finnish Blues News 1/2008 (translation) Riku Metelinen "An excellent guitarist and a fine CD" German Blues-News. Issue No.62 RADIO Freies Radio Kanal Ratte,Germany Bluestimen,Radio Ung,Norway Bluespower, OK Radio,Germany Mojo Station,Rome,Italy Radio Holstebro,Denmark Radio DueMila,Italy Mojo Dreams,Radio ZRO,Belgium
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