Derrick Procell – My Incredible Heart
This bluesy-soulful set comes off the presses with a full sounding showcase suffused with clever, whimsical wordplay lyrics, the aggressive authoritative baritone vocals of Derrick Procell who has the voodoo distinguished style of Dr. John mixed with the bite-sized fragments of a soulful Solomon Burke tint (not to be confused with blues as entertainment – it’s not). But this is where the downtrodden of the blues endeavor meets the determined strength of “nothing’s going get me down” attitude.
The 11-tracks (3 live with studio cuts) are the mortar of My Incredible Heart (Dropped Oct. 16/44:43) the 2nd Catfood Records released by this artist recorded in Chicago, self-produced & arranged by Milwaukee-son Derrick Procell (vocals/keys/harmonica). The music is planted solidly in piano rhythms, sultry backup singing, spirited attitude, & diversified approaches to the genre. “Play My Soul” is a slow burn ballad with delicate funky guitar strums & warm organ strains. Procell navigates through the well-timed drum fills & the soulful backup singers are near-gospel good.
This music is a near-forgotten musical charm. In the ‘60s some of these songs would have charted in the Top 100. It has grit, rawness & smoothness of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Major Lance, Joe Tex, Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, & groups like Southside Johnny. All wrapped up now in the voice of Derrick Procell, who sustains it.
It’s not entirely in keeping with Muscle Shoals/Stax territory. But that’s good because Procell would be, what’s the word? Appropriating style. He’s not. He has elements of that formality, but he adds so much of his own finishing touches that he grips the music by the collar & shakes it. “Getting’ Old” is a good live soul-rocker with mainstream appeal but strips away the exposition of commerciality. The song features full-horns mindful of the “Soul Finger” Bar-Kays days, gritty guitar solo weaved through hot piano runs & soaring sax. Great performance. Lots of thick sound that the late Otis Redding & Wilson Pickett would have loved.
Switching from the sonic whims of piano, sax & guitar Derrick adds Anne Harris’ fiddle to the live “I Was In the Room” & what an impressive change in musical lanes he takes the music. This is a wonderful piece. Sung with conviction. Old style gospel-inflected soulfulness pours from “Use What You Got” which displays dynamic backup singing & sax. Very Solomon Burke in power.
This music has a rare vintage luxuriance – shine up your dance shoes.
Highlights – “Alabama Bambulance,” “My Incredible Heart,” “Play My Soul,” “Getting’ Old,” “I Was In the Room” & “Use What You Got.”
Musicians – Meredith Colby, Karla Beard-Leroy & J. Hemphill (vocals), Todd Lazar (bass), Rick Vitek & Rob Davis (drums), Mitch The Lip Goldman (trumpet), Tom Trinka (sax/horn), Brother John Kattke (keys), Bongo Mike Orfanos (percussion), Darren Jay Fallas, Dave Steffen, Zoey Witz, & Kingston “Soul Fingers” Livingston (guitars), Ms. Harris (fiddle/mandolin) & Zach Avery (slide guitar/guitar).
CD photo courtesy of David Sutton. CD @ Apple & https://www.derrickprocellmusic.com/