Anyone who has listened to a Roomful of Blues CD knows that their music is hard to classify. That doesn't matter to the band's members. All they are concerned with is whether it sounds good, whether you can dance to it, and whether you can feel it. With suave horns that swing off the big band dancehall floors of the '30s and '40s, Raisin' A Ruckus is one of Roomful's most swinging CDs. Since 1967, the multiple award-winning group's combination of swing, rock `n' roll, jump, blues, and soul has earned it just praise. Forty-six band members have come and gone since then without a negative impact on the band's exciting music. This disc features a new bass player and a new drummer on this disc, but the most obvious newcomer is singer Dave Howard who replaces Mark DuFresne. Howard hails from Rhode Island, the band's home state, and his expressive voice contains a hint of Louis Armstrong. Listen as Howard reveals a state of feeling disturbed on Black Night then uses his voice as the band's fourth horn on Talkin' To You Eye To Eye. The chosen covers are vintage blues and R&B tunes. You'll swear someone has just put on one of your parents records from the 1950s when you hear their nostalgic version of Big Mamou, the R&B hit by New Orleans artist Smiley Lewis. The Crescent City connection continues on the often covered New Orleans and Eddie Bo's Every Dog Has Its Day, which contains as much fun as a summer beach party. Boogie Woogie Country Girl is loaded with exhausting boogie woogie piano. The song's legendary writer, Doc Pomus, helped land the band their first record deal in the '70s. Five band members prove they are capable of writing enticing songs that mesh perfectly with the band's extensive repertoire. Each of the eight original songs is a flashback to the big band era, e.g. In The Mood that influenced Roomful. On Talkin' To You Eye To Eye, the three-piece brass section trade licks like guitars do in guitar driven bands. The infectious horn arrangement of Solid Jam will remain etched in your memory. Horns as lively as a New Orleans street funeral procession appear on saxophonist Rich Lataille's instrumental title track. The song, which depicts Lataille's big band and jazz roots, is one of the highlights of the CD. In fact, it should be included on the soundtrack of the next '30s and '40s gangster film to come out of Hollywood. The rhythms of all 14 songs are so exhilarating; most of the light-hearted lyrics get lost or overshadowed. Life Has Been Good stands out as its lyrics are emotionally heavy and quite touching. It is about expressing true feelings toward your spouse and thanking them for making life so wonderful. The CD's strength, and in fact the group's greatest asset, is how well the band performs as a cohesive unit. Throughout, the horns hop, the keyboards sway, the vocals enthuse, the guitar rocks, and the band jumps. This record swings more than a number three wood on a golf course. You must experience it for yourself. Put this record on and watch as your house transforms into a building made of horns. Roomful Of Blues just keeps on rolling. During the last 40 years or so, they have dealt with numerous personnel changes, and have had to shift some musical gears in order to accommodate them. But their latest release, "Raisin' A Ruckus", is proof they are still at the top of their game. Since the band's last release, "Standing room only", Roomful has added a new rhythm section, and also vocalist Dave Howard, late of the High Rollers. All the new parts fit very well. Unfortunately, this is the last CD to feature longtime trumpet player Bob "Bubba" Enos, who died shortly before its release. He will be greatly missed. 8 of the 14 cuts are originals by various band members, including "While I Can", written by and featuring guitarist Chris Vachon's wife, Bethie, On vocals. Other standout originals include Dave Howard's "Sweet Petite", keyboardist Travis Colby's "Round It Down", Vachon's "Solid Jam", and sax player and longest standing band member (since 1970!) Rich Lataille's title instrumental. Covers include "Big Mamou", "Black Night", and a rousing version of "New Orleans", made popular by Gary (US) Bonds. There are many opinions as to which Roomful lineup is preferred, and I've heard them all. To these ears, this is their best yet. Give it a try, then check out some of their other offerings- you just might become a "Room Head", too!In 2000, former Roomful of Blues manager Bob Bell wrote that the band "is, and always has been a living, breathing creative unit". How right he was. "Raisin' a Ruckus" is their 19th album, and with three new members, the current incarnation is as strong as any before it. New vocalist Dave Howard has the phrasing of Sugar Ray Norcia, but possesses the soulful grit of Kim Wilson.One of the highlights of the disc is "Lower on your list of priorities", an original he first recorded with his band the High Rollers (check out that band's "Sure Bet" to hear how hot this Rhode Islander is on harp). "Ruckus" has some well chosen covers including "Big Mamou" by the late Cajun saxophonist Link Davis. Jesse Mae Robinson's "Black Night" features a beautiful guitar solo by band leader Chris Vachon, who knows how to fit guitar into horn charts better than anyone performing today. "New Orleans" is given new life with a great horn arrangement featuring saxophonists Rich Lataille and Mark Early, with trumpeter Bob Enos, who sadly passed away on Jan 11, just four days before this recording was released. "While I can" is an original penned by Vachon's wife Bethie and features her and Howard in a duet remarkably similar to Lou Ann Barton and Kim Wilson. The title cut is a swinging Lataille original worthy of earlier instrumentals in the Roomful canon like "Red, Hot and Blue "and "Back on Front Street". Russian born bassist Dimitry Gorodetsky brings the vintage jump blues style to this band, while new drummer Ephraim Lowell drives the group, especially on "New Orleans" Personnel changes-about fifty to date-usually weaken a band of this stature.Not so with Roomful of Blues. A five star effort is just about what we can expect from a living, breathing creative unit.Just received my copy and was just elated by the new vocals of Dave Howard.For those of you Roomful of Blues fans that liked the 'sound' of the Sugar Ray Vocals..........Dave has his own blazing gritty sound, but it reminds me of the Sugar Ray days.This CD will be a welcome bluesy, swinging addition to your 'jump blues' collection.Check out tracks Sweet Petite, Life Has Been Good and Lower On Your List of Priorities.Sadly, master trumpeter and long time musician for Roomful Of Blues, Mr. Bob Enos has passed away on January 11th, 2008 on his way to a blues-cruise getaway.The last song on this, Bob's last CD with Roomful of Blues, is aptly entitled..........Life Has Been Good. So were you Bob, and thanks for the many memories of swing, jump blues that we have listened to over the years with you. I work in a record store and the store manager has been a fan of Roomful of Blues for a while now. When he put the record on over the sound system in the store, I started dancing in the aisles! Great energy, excellent vocals, tight playing and clever lyrics abound all over this record. This has to be the best band playing besides Bob Dylan's backing group and the E Street Band. Highly recommended.
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