Toronzo Cannon
Leaving Mood
Delmark Records
|
I have to say that 2011 has been a fantastic year
for blues recordings. Most years, there’s one or two
that stand out, but this year has been different.
One of the standouts this year comes courtesy of
perennial favorite Delmark Records from a Chicago
singer/guitarist named Toronzo Cannon. Cannon
has been a regular contributor to the Windy City’s
blues scene since the late ’90s, serving as sideman,
bandleader, and even fronting his own band, the
Cannonball Express, during that time. Leaving
Mood is his second release and his debut for
Delmark.
Although he only began playing guitar in his
twenties, Cannon grew up around the legendary blues
club, Theresa’s, where his uncle worked. Cannon
heard and absorbed a lot of different styles, and
his version of the blues reflects the influences of
rockers like Jimi Hendrix, area artists like Junior
Wells, Buddy Guy, and Muddy Waters, the three Kings
(B.B., Albert, and Freddie), and the deep funky soul
and R&B of the ’70s. Unlike many up and coming
artists, Cannon is also fully developed as a
songwriter, penning some of the most original and
unique lyrics heard in quite a while.
The opening cut, “She Loved Me,” is a crunching
rocker that samples the melody from Hound Dog
Taylor’s “She’s Gone.” The following track, “Chico’s
Song,” is a tribute to Cannon’s friend, the too-soon
departed Chico Banks. The incredible slow blues
track, “Hard Luck,” stands out for multiple reasons,
the lyrics about hard times that we can all relate
to, Roosevelt Purifoy’s intense work on the
keyboards, and the scorching guitar break from guest
star Carl Weathersby (you can hear Weathersby break
a string midway through his solo, but he never slows
down).
Other standout tracks include the cathartic “Open
Letter (To Whom It May Concern),” the funky “I Can’t
Take Her Nowhere,” the harrowing title track, and
“Earnestine,” which also features Weathersby. Cannon
also does a fine cover of Nina Simone’s “Do I Move
You.”
Cannon’s own guitar work is outstanding and his
vocals are heartfelt and soulful. In addition to
Weathersby and Purifoy, Cannon gets able assistance
from rhythm guitarist Laurence Gladney (who also had
a hand in writing several tunes), bass player Larry
Williams, drummer Marty Binder, and harmonica ace
Matthew Skoller on several tracks.
Leaving Mood will almost certainly find its
way into my Top Ten for 2011. Toronzo Cannon seems
to have the total package with this release, mixing
great performances with some of the most
entertaining original songs heard in years. This is
as satisfying a disc as you will hear this year and
maybe next year, too.
--- Graham Clarke
Read
Graham's blog