Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters - Still River
Audioquest  (1993)
Modern Electric Blues

In Collection

7*
CD  62:23
11 tracks
   01   Blues For The West Side             03:34
   02   Time To Remember             06:52
   03   Kansas City Monarch             07:38
   04   Szeren             05:04
   05   Soul Seranade             04:39
   06   Equinox             06:10
   07   Chili Ba Hugh             04:43
   08   Eyes That Smile             04:24
   09   Wednesday Night At The Bull             05:04
   10   Rego Park Blues             11:35
   11   Derek's Peace             02:40
Personal Details
Details
Country USA
Original Release Date 1993
Cat. Number 1018
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Notes
Ronnie Earl - Guitar
Bruce Katz - Organ, Piano, Horn Arrangements
Rod Carey - Bass
Laurence Etkin - Trumpet
Anders Gaardmand - Saxophone
Bernie Grundman - Mastering
Per Hanson - Drums
Joe Harley - Producer
Fred Kevorkian - Assistant Engineer
Ted Drozdowski - Liner Notes
Michael C. Ross - Engineer

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: This particular version of the Broadcasters was unarguably magical, and this recording reveals why. Recorded four years after Earl dealt with his demons (alcohol, drugs, nervous collapse), it is the first of a string of all-instrumental albums by Earl, and it drips with class and soul. It's not just the exceptional skill of the players, however, that makes it so special; it was recorded on one of a handful of audiophile labels (AudioQuest), and therefore features state-of-the-art production. From the ringing opening chords of Magic Sam's "Blues for the West Side" to the beautiful acoustic guitar/piano duet of "Derek's Peace," Still River is thoroughly enjoyable. "Kansas City Monarch" is slow and sweet, featuring Bruce Katz tearing up the low notes, a nice sax solo by Anders Gaardmand, and some great double-string work by Earl. There is a moody version of John Coltrane's "Equinox" and a bog-dwelling rouser written by the entire band called "Chili Ba Hugh." You'll also like the greasy Hammond B3 organ on "Soul Serenade." A tempo change three minutes into the song suddenly finds the listener "getting religion" and tempted to yell "Amen!." Earl's own "Rego Park Blues" also showcases some nice B3 and finds Earl in the place where he shines the brightest, delicately coaxing a hushed solo from his Strat. Although not as jazzy as Earl's subsequent efforts, Still River sows the seeds that sprouted a few years later with Language of the Soul and with the albums that followed. - Ann Wickstrom