Jazz Articles

Damon Fowler: Alafia Moon

by Doug Collette
April 2, 2021

The title of Damon Fowler's Alafia Moon is enough to pique the curiosity, but the stylish and mysterious cover art makes listening to the album irresistible. And it's wholly worth it too, finding out in the process of absorbing the man's eighth solo album that the graphics are the creative output of Flournoy Holmes, artist for of the gate-fold design of the Allman Brothers Band's Eat A Peach (Capricorn, 1972). Such facts combine with the prevalent blues-rock style ...

Mike Mattison: Afterglow

by Doug Collette
March 20, 2020

Through his singing, songwriting and overall stage presence, Mike Mattison has thoroughly distinguished himself in recent years as a member of the Derek Trucks Band and the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. In that same interim, the Minnesota native has also continued to pursue his career as a multi-media artist, maintaining his literary endeavors, plus recording solo as well as a member of Scrapomatic with Paul Olsen. The latter is just one of the familiar names credited on Afterglow, Mattison's first ...

Scrapomatic: Sidewalk Caesars

by Doug Collette
July 21, 2008

The challenge faced by Scrapomatic's co-leaders, vocalist Mike Mattison and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Paul Olsen, is a formidable one which is faced by both posers and genuine proponents of the blues--to turn the simplicity and passion that distinguishes the genre into a genuine means of personal expression.

“Longhaired State" is a prime example of this principle successfully at work as Scrapomatic swings throughout the track. It's notable that there is a guest who seems to elevate their playing--Count M'Butu, a ...

Sean Costello: Cuttin' In

by Ed Kopp
May 1, 2000

With Cuttin’ In, 20-year-old Sean Costello serves up a retro-sounding release that includes gritty jump, raucous Chicago blues and funky New Orleans R&B, all done up with the know-how and agility of an artist twice Costello’s age. Unfortunately, the tinny analog sound – obviously intended to lend a 1950s air to the proceedings - detracts somewhat from the music. Still, the production is not so bad that blues fans should ignore this album.Costello first gained attention as the ...