Doug Duffey and Badd – Souvenirs
This gets off to an easily digested bluesy start with a jazz undertow, ebullient & cool. Doug Duffey has a smooth delivery bluesy voice similar to the voices that came through the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. “Broken Heart & Empty Hand” has a succinct quality. Recorded with a sonorously deep & modest vibe. The bass anchors the tune.
Duffey is a Louisiana native with a Southern soulful circuitry that runs through the wires of most of his performances. While “Bad Luck” as a blues has the musical groove, the lyrics are a bit marginal, cliché, sweet & repetitive. But hey, that comes with the genre. Gotta eat the greens with the meat, son.
There are nine Souvenirs (Drops July 17/Fort Sumner Music LLC/39:35) of Louisiana blues, Delta soul & Bayou funk on this set produced by Doug Duffey (vocals/keys), with Dan Sumner (guitars/bass/vocals/bass/percussion) & recorded in Monroe, LA. The lovely “Delta Melody” isn’t so much a blues as a good ballad. Sung quite well by Doug with a nice piano. While “Better By Me” is more of an accessible tune & a good choice in the B.B. King tradition. This arrangement has some reliable flavors as Duffey sings it indulgently, sincerely & expressively. It’s where the old genre blues meets its sweet “entertainment” counterpart — but it works because the performer laid it out wisely with good intonation & phrasing.
What Doug lacks is the bluesy grit, its raw approach, which leads one to wonder if he sings from having learned the blues or experienced them. What he has captured is a good “sound” with his showcase. He’s balanced the presentation, made it palatable to novices who have yet to graduate from Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson & T. Bone Walker blues.
“Axe Jes Rite” is a clever & slinky from the school of J.J. Cale & Tony Joe White. It’s an atmospheric, humid piece. The songs touch upon love, loss, good advice & with tunes like “Sinking Into the Blues” a rousing barrelhouse piano drive. While the set seldom swims through dark, tragic, sad, or woeful tales, a slight slip on the musical ice is “Love Song.” Too rhymey, juvenile for a blues. It’s an upbeat tune, more musical hall than the blues.
Whereas “Don’t Let the Darkness In” is more blues/Dixieland but effective with the splendid horns & female voices. Doug is genuine. A fiery harmonica player is needed.
Highlights – “Broken Heart & Empty Hand,” “Bad Luck,” “Better By Me,” “Delta Melody,” “Axe Jes Rite,” “Sinking Into the Blues,” “Souvenirs,” & “Don’t Let the Darkness In.”
Musicians – Adam Ryland (drums/percussion) & Ben Ford (bass) with Betsy Shirley, Naomi Holder & the Sweet-N-Lo- Sistas (vocals), Matt Morgan (mandolin), Mason Howard (accordion), Bob Dowell (trombone), Bert Windham & Coby Heath (trumpets), Nate Johnson (tenor sax), & Wes Rougeou (sousaphone).
Images courtesy of Patrick Hargon. CD @ Bandcamp & Apple + https://dougduffeyandbadd.com/