PHANTOM BLUES BAND: Out Of The Shadows

Phantom Blues Band

Out Of The Shadows

© 2006 Delta Groove Productions (850021001117)

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rhythm & blues from two time grammy winners for “best contemporary blues album” with special guest taj mahal.

notes

"BAND OF THE YEAR" - 2001 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
(Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band)

GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS - "BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM"
1997 & 2001 (Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band)

"This is a great record and it is exciting to see these guys launch their own boat and cut their way through the water." - TAJ MAHAL

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The Phantom Blues Band originally formed as a studio band to record behind Taj Mahal. Soon they were circling the globe together performing at major Blues and Jazz festivals in Europe, Australia and Japan. Their association led to two Grammys for "Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" in addition to 2001 W.C. Handy Award recipients as "Band of the Year." All accomplished musicians in their own right, members of the band have recorded and performed with such legendary artists as Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name just a few.

Along with such an immense pool of musical experience comes an amazingly deep understanding of R&B history and repertoire. Each player brings with him an intimate familiarity with a broad spectrum of soulful sounds, from Memphis Soul to New Orleans Funk, from gutbucket blues to sophisticated swing, and a whole lot more. And they’ve chosen a program of outstanding material cherry-picked from recordings by The Meters, Syl Johnson, Chuck Berry, Hank Ballard, Little Willie John, Don & Dewey, Lowell Fulson, and Bobby “Blue” Bland making it all sound exactly like their own.

Successful bands have been built around less combined talent than any one member of the Phantom Blues Band, but when mixed, stirred and left to simmer, these guys come together into one of the tightest, sharpest, most top-heavy R&B bands in the music today. Their Delta Groove debut "Out of the Shadows" features the culmination of all their years of combined experience resulting in an album that fully displays the diversity of their musical talents.
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LINER NOTES:

“Phantom” is defined as appearing unreal or ghost-like, or seen only in the mind. As it applies to The Phantom Blues Band, nothing could be further from the truth. These guys are as real as it gets, living, breathing, and soaked in R&B sweat. They first came together as a studio band to back Taj Mahal on his “Dancin’ The Blues” album, and won Grammies with him for the “Best Contemporary Blues Album” twice, for “Senor Blues” in 1997, and again for “Shoutin’ In Key” in 2000. But they’ve been living the blues for decades, paying dues since the 1960s with such folks as Freddie King, Jimmy Reed, Albert Collins, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Between them they’ve earned shelves full of awards, and together they’ve forged a live band that’s a force to be reckoned with. So just who are the mysterious figures behind the ‘Phantom’ mask?

Guitarist/vocalist Johnny Lee Schell served an apprenticeship with legendary Buddy Holly producer Norman Petty before making his way to Los Angeles. Beginning in the late ‘70s, he toured and performed with Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Ron Wood and John Fogerty among others, and has scored several films, and recorded the score for the ABC sitcom, 'According to Jim.' Keyboard player/vocalist Mike Finnigan has been playing professionally since the early 1960s; highlights include keyboard work with Jimi Hendrix on the landmark 'Electric Ladyland' LP, touring and recording with Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dave Mason, Etta James, Dr. John and Carlos Santana, and numerous recording and gigging credits fronting his own projects. Like most of his Phantom bandmates, guitarist Denny Freemen started his career in Texas, where he played in The Cobras, sharing lead guitar duties with a kid with the initials SRV plastered on his guitar. Denny later toured and recorded with Angela Strehli, Jimmy Vaughan, and carved out a reputation on his own with several powerful solo albums; in his spare time he’s a member of Bob Dylan’s band. Saxophonist Joe Sublett started his musical career in Austin, Texas, where he, like Freeman, played in The Cobras along with a young Stevie Ray Vaughan. He’s worked with The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, and B.B. King among many others, and in recent years formed the The Texacali Horns with trumpet player and fellow ‘Phantom’ Darrell Leonard. Leonard’s musical resume includes work with Delaney and Bonnie, Dr. John, Little Feat, Glen Frey, Henry Mancini, The Rolling Stones, and Solomon Burke and many others; he’s also composed music for numerous film and theater productions including “Cold Mountain”, “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and others. Bassist Larry Fulcher began his musical career in Houston, singing in church at the tender age of five. A triple threat instrumentalist, Larry has also toured and recorded on guitar and keyboards, and recorded with Smokey Robinson and The Crusaders among others. In addition to impeccable R&B credentials, he brings a taste of reggae flavor to the proceedings via his work with reggae stars The Wailers, Third World and Andrew Tosh. Yet another Texan, drummer Tony Braunagel started playing in Houston in the mid-sixties, eventually following the gigs to England, where he was hired as studio drummer for Island Records. Tony moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s and picked up right where he’d left off, touring and recording with Eric Burdon, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler and Bonnie Raitt among others.

Along with such an immense pool of musical experience comes an amazingly deep understanding of R&B history and repertoire. Each player brings with him an intimate familiarity with a broad spectrum of soulful sounds, from Memphis Soul to New Orleans Funk, from gutbucket blues to sophisticated swing, and a whole lot more. And they’ve chosen a program of outstanding songs from that deep well of knowledge that perfectly showcases all their many strengths, putting their unique stamp on seldom heard material cherry-picked from recordings by The Meters, Syl Johnson, Chuck Berry, Hank Ballard, Little Willie John, Don & Dewey, Lowell Fulson, Bobby Bland and more, and making it all sound exactly like their own.

Successful bands have been built around less combined talent than any one member of The Phantom Blues Band, but when mixed, stirred and left to simmer, these guys come together into one of the tightest, sharpest, most top-heavy R&B bands in the music today. But don’t take my word for it – the proof is in the grooves, and the grooves are non-stop with The Phantom Blues Band.

- By Scott Dirks

reviews

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  • The best blues album of the past 5 years.
    author: Kim O'Brien

    I heard Baby Doll on Blues Satellite Radio and almost drove off the road. I immediately purchased the CD and I cannot stop playing it. The musicianship is superb which is not surprising condidering the pedigree of these individuals. Mike Finnigan is an incredible keyboard player, but I think he shines even more as a singer. His impassioned growls, pleas, and exhortations remind me of B.B. King in his prime. This CD should be in everyone's library, even if you don't count yourself a Blues fan. Stupendous!

  • top flight musicians at the top of their game
    author: kevin johnson

    Take seven top flight musicians at the top of their game, turn them loose in the studio to sing and play the songs they love, and what do you get? OUT OF THE SHADOWS by the Phantom Blues band fills that bill and then some. After backing a list of stars as long as your arm ( Stevie Ray Vaughan, Clapton, Taj Mahal, Etta James and many, many more)the guys get a chance to shine on their own on this LP and take full advantage. Working their way through r&b, straight on blues, some great Motowny stuff and more, each member of the band gets some time in the spotlight. Keyboardist/vocalist Mike Finigan is one of the great blues singers around today ( he does a great John Mayall turn on a Finigan original, BABY DOLL) and bassist Larry Fulcher and guitarist Johnnie Lee Schell are excellent singers in their own right. Masterful, sophisticated arrangements and dead-on production make this fifteen song CD a treat for lovers of the blues (in particular) or just plain great music in general. Seven top flight musicians at the top of their game, making music they love and having a blast as they do it. You will, too.

  • Polished, enjoyable r'n'b album
    author: BluesBunny

    An inspired collection of covers including Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon", Jesse Winchester's "I'm Looking for a Miracle" and Lowell Fulson's "My Aching Back" are delivered with pride and passion. The band play like top-of-the-range session men but the whole feel of the album is fresh and full of energy. Particular credit goes to the seismic excellence of drummer Tony Braunagel and the ivory tinkling of Mike Finnigan. "Let Them Talk" was a particularly moving ballad but the best vocal performance comes on "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?" which also features a fine trumpet solo. The cod reggae "Book of Rules" did seem rather out of place considering the rest of album. The album ends with a shuffling, sparky version of Ray Charles' "Mary Ann". Maybe not innovative but a polished and enjoyable album nonetheless that bears repeated plays. Go on, treat yourself.

  • This razor-sharp ensemble manufactures multiple musical styles with authority an
    author: B. Lee Cooper

    The Phantom Blues Band deserves blues acclaim. Yet such recognition is far too narrow. Not unlike the gifted Ray Charles, the breadth of this group’s repertoire warrants much broader stylistic acclaim. In the 1990s Johnny Otis assembled many talented players to showcase a variety of great R & B songs. The self-appointed role of Finnigan and his friends is to select classic tunes, craft creative arrangements, and light the revival fire through performing brilliance.

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