MICHAEL PACKER BLUES BAND: Sweet Rhythm

Michael Packer Blues Band

Sweet Rhythm

© 2006 Michael Packer (880372005120)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 30% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

New york city blues. live recording featuring an all-star band, michael packer,david maxwell,blue lou marini,jimmy vivino,felix cabrera. explosive.

notes

This album was recorded live at Sweet Rhythm a famous jazz club in New York City on February 1, 2006. It features blues perrenial Michael Packer on guitar and vocals. James Cotton's piano player David Maxwell. Guitarist Jimmy Vivino from the Conan O'Brien show. Lou Marini from the Blues Brothers and Saturday Night live. Cuban born harmonica ace Felix Cabrera. Ed Jackson on bongos. King Bear on bass and Nat Seeley on drums.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • TOP 200 FOR JUNE 07
    author: Emusic

    The Michael Packer Blues Band Sweet Rhythm CD is #185 and climbing on the Emusic contemporary blues charts for the month of June, 2007 distributed by CDbaby!

  • If you like blues, I recommand "Sweet Rhythm".
    author: Megumi S.
  • blues on the front line
    author: blues matters - uk - michael mee

    this is everything you hoped a live album will be but very rarely is.it's a close up, sweaty portrait of the blues from the frontline.recorded at the sweet rhythm club in greenwich village, new york.it begins with a request to the audience to 'keep the volume of conversation to a minimum' the mind boggles as to what topic could be more interestimg then listening to michael packer's blues. the michael packer band is very much a working band, it may be packer's name on the marquee but this is a collective of equals.it may never reach the mass audience of some but it is a performance from the hearts of musicians who know how to play the blues live. right from david maxwell's piano solo during the bands version of sonny thompson's 'i'm torn down' your'e dragged into a magical world. this album is a mix of classic covers, 'killing floor', 'somebody have mercy', traditional songs like 'knock myself out' and 'as the years go passing by' and one original 'born in nyc". in the city that never sleeps packer's sensual,steamy blues are the perfect soundtrack to the wee small hours

  • IMPASSIONED!
    author: LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE MC

    Recorded February 1, 2006 at NYC's Sweet Rhythm jazz club in Greenwich Village, this effort by the Michael Packer's Blues Band is an impassioned one. Packer and company give it their all to the seven tunes - many of which Blues fans already know and love like Howling Wolf's 'Killing Floor' and BB King's 'The Thrill Has Gone' and 'Knock Myself Out' written and first popularized by Lil' Green in the early 1940'snd later by Michael Bloomfield. The latter of these tunes clocks in at over 10 minutes and features gritty solos by everyone in the band. The biographical 'Born in NYC' written by Packer shuffles along and features Felix Cabrera smoking away on harp. This live album is a fine introduction to anyone curious about the New York City blues scene and the Michael Packer Blues Band's groove-filled sound.

  • A CAST OF ACES
    author: BLUES REVUE FEB-MARCH 07 ISSUE TOM HYSLOP

    If Michael Packer's earthy singing takes a backseat to his musicians, it's testimony to the Staten Island's guitarist's ability to assemble a band. A cast of aces, David Maxwell (piano), Jimmy Vivino (guitar0, Felix Cabrera (harp) and Lou Marini (sax) joins the band for the self released Live @ Sweet Rhythm. Apart from solos all around, Knock Myself Out' contains a dynamite sax/slide guitar duel and Packer's Big Apple based adaptation of 'Born in Chicago' rips. The playlist is mostly limited to standards but it is still entertaining including 'Somebody Have Mercy', 'The Thrill Has Gone' and 'I'm Tore Down. Things get really cooking towards the album's end with Marini and Maxwell hammering out 'Killing Floor'and when 'As the Years Go Passing By' showcases a haunting harmonica lead-in and Cabrera's sensitive vocal.

  • GREAT BAND!
    author: Preston Lauterbach - Living Blues - Yellow Dog

    I really enoyed listening to this CD. Great band and great guest appearance by Felix Cabrera on track #7.Also the biography of Michael Packer is fascinating. He has led a very interesting life.

  • TERRIFIC!
    author: IRIS MUSIC GROUP - Alan Lorber

    Truly a great album.True,real,wonderful capture of live spontaneous performances you don't always get with live albums since when the tape rolls it becomes a conscious thing,not the case here.Recording sound excellent,punchy,good growl and guts.Terrific!

  • DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THEN THAT !!!!!!!!!!
    author: WPKN.89.5 FM - Bill Nolan

    We played the "Sweet Rhythm' CD all the way through.We received a nice positive response. The fans were having a ball getting off as if they were in the nitespot with you and your great sounding blues band It doesn't get any better then that!

  • ENJOYABLE!
    author: ALLIGATOR RECORDS - Bruce Iglauer

    In listening I found "Sweet Rhythm" to be a pleasantly raw jam album.The playing is good all around.Nice guitar solos and the slide guitar on 'Somebody have Mercy' is very good.My favorite cut is 'Knock Myself Out'.Overall an enjoyable listen!

  • BLUES EXPERIENCE
    author: NEW YORK PRESS

    Veteran Chicago Blues inspired, Michael Packer,plays the blues he has lived,from being homeless to doing hard time and finally emerging from the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse.Now recovered he brings the experience of hard lived years to the stage on this compelling CD "Live @ 'Sweet Rhythm'.

  • New York City Blues Tradition
    author: Staten Island Advance -Jodi Reifer

    Fashioned in what Packer calls the New York City Blues tradition, this album features gems such as 'The Thrill Has Gone', 'Killing Floor' as well as originals. Textured like a vintage vinyl record Packer's voice reverberates over dense instrumentals.His tunes alternately swing and ooze with mood.This CD is who Packer is.

  • NEW YORK CITY BLUES AT IT'S BEST!
    author: BLUESWAX - Richard Ludermer

    The special thing about Michael Packer is his passion for his music and his voice.On this CD Michael's voice is something special.It's emotive and it's unique.On the first track Tore Down, Michael sings and Jimmy Vivino rips while David Maxwell takes you to the cool with his Otis Spann piano style, downlow.Lou Marini's sax dances in the dark on Knock Myself Out The place goes nuts when Felix Cabrera takes his turn on harp,blowing like there is no tomorrow.New York City Blues at it's best!

  • ROOTS MUSIC REPORTS BLUES CHARTS!
    author: ROOTS MUSIC REPORT

    The LIVE @ Sweet Rhythm CD by the Michael Packer Blues Band has charted #31 on the Roots Music Reports Blues charts!

  • Solid Stuff!
    author: Randall Grass - Shanachi Records

    Solid Stuff from Michael Packer's Sweet Rhythm CD!

  • 'SOMEBODY HAVE MERCY' ON OVER 100 RADIO STATIONS
    author: BLUES DELUXE

    The song "Somebody have Mercy" from the 'Sweet Rhythm' CD will be featured on over 100 radio stations throughout the US, Canada and the Virgin Islands on July 30th thru August 5th, 2006 by the nations no.1 blues radio station. BLUES DELUXE!

email

Please log in to email this artist.