Paul Reed Smith – Eightlock – Lions Roaring In Quicksand
This musical stack is an effort produced by internationally-known guitar maker Paul Reed Smith (guitars). His team Eightlock, (“eight musicians locked together”) ignites a fresh groove of roots in Baltimore funk, DC go-go & New Orleans swing. It’s a heady brew of blues, soul, rock, funk & other root sounds as outlined by their press release.
All genres stir up into a delicious musical 14-track soup on their debut Lions Roaring In Quicksand (Drops Dec 1-Steele Records/63:00). Produced by Mr. Smith it lifts off with the warm soulful vocals of Mia Samone on “Sarah.”
It would be easy to compare Mia to several past female vocalists, but this track is arranged with a tight progressive funk style somewhat all her own. Her voice itself maintains a smoldering Sarah Vaughn-Carmen McRae distinction. Not so much their jazzier inflections but their tonality. Arrangement-wise there’s a tinkering of Chick Corea’s Return To Forever blended with a generous dose of Julie London (“Cry Me A River”). So, in saying that, it has a dash of musical cognac in its sweet resplendent mix.
There’s a retro weave but it never interferes with the modern attraction the production embodies. The musicians manage a unifying coolness in each performance. Mia’s intonation, phrasing & tone are clean. The showcase isn’t so rock-embedded & aggressive as say Sly & the Family Stone (“Dance To The Music”) but songs like Paul Reed Smith – Eightlock’s “I’m Ready,” have a predominately thicker soul refinement courtesy of Ms. Samone.
I like Mia’s lyrical accentuations & she adds all the right colors. The vocals may meander into an easy-listening style — not cabaret, lounge, or middle-of-the-road but soulfully sultry (“Breathe” & “Echoes”) that teems with a Lena Horne deviancy. Not easy to conjure such an inspiration. Mia has a purity of style blessed with articulate vivid guitars throughout & snappy drums.
A Cassandra Wilson touch comes on “99” with its jazzy-blues deep delivery. There are some song missteps but minor. “War” doesn’t fit. Period. Mia despite this is ambitious on all tracks with an unfailing repertoire & voice.
Highlights – “Sarah,” “Never Give Up On Livin’,” “I’m Ready,” “Man In the Moon,” “Breathe,” “Drivin’ At Night,” “Echoes,” “He’s The One” & “99.”
Musicians – Mia Samone (vocals), Gary Grainger (bass/synth bass/vocals), Gregory Grainger (drums/percussion/vocals), Dennis Chambers (drums), JuJu House (drums/percussion), Bill Nelson (guitars/vocals), Mike Ault (guitars) with Chuck Brown & Sugar Bear Elliott (vocals), Benjie Perecki (keyboards) & Gregg Erwin (slide guitar).
Color image courtesy of Hunter Selman. CD @ https://eightlockband.com/home