Toronto bluesman Danny Marks wears his influences on his sleeve and in his songs on his fourth CD “A Friend In The Blues.”
Marks has been a fixture on the Toronto blues scene for many years. This CD shows why. His music sounds like a smooth, jazz tinged Amos Garrett as he sings about Lonnie Johnson on “Blues For Lonnie Johnson.”
He drops several blues names , “BB, T-Bone, Mavis” and many more in the catchy, horn and piano powered “Blues Party Tonight.”
The horn section makes “A Friend in the Blues” sound like it was recorded in the late ’50s.
On the other hand, “Uncle John,” and “Back to the Blues,” are tenderly picked acoustic songs that sound like they were written on the back porch with a few good friends on a warm summer night.
“Back to the Blues” has a tasty guitar solo and soulful background vocals from Sherie Marshall.
He adds a touch of gospel on “ the Lonesome Valley,” but throughout, his vocals and guitar playing reminding me of Amos Garrett.
The title track is a peppy acoustic number guaranteed to get your head nodding and toes tapping.
“The Other Side, is a loungey spaghetti western style number with a catchy ’60s pop style guitar riff which sounds like a sitar.
One of the highlights, “Mixed Up Girl,” is very similar to blues classic “Rolling and Tumbling.” It has a sexy slide guitar.
Artist: Danny Marks
Genre: blues
