Kipori Woods
" Blues Gone Wild "
Louisiana Red Hot Records

BluesWax Rating: 7

Bob Putignano says, "...have some friends over, serve up a bunch of jambalaya, suck down some oysters, a few brews, and enjoy "Blues Gone Wild"

Big Easy Funky Blues

It's been nearly twelve years since the last Kipori Woods album, so it's great to have him back. I was fortunate to have seen him onboard with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band a few years back and enjoyed his spot in the band, but I think that might have been a one-time shot. Blues Gone Wild is Kipori's third solo album, twelve tracks are offered, two covers, and the balance of the tunes were either authored or co-authored by Woods.

The album starts with two covers, first up is Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham's classic "Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On," its offered in a more swinging setting than the original, and also includes new and bawdy lyrics that makes it "R" rated, but it's fun, and the band is tight. Earl King's "Ya Mama" is next and it finds Kipori in wah-wah mode, which sounds odd to me, but kudos to bassist Roy Pope who provides lively contrasts. Woods' "Me and My Baby (Getting' Down)" is funky and playful, as is the instrumental "Tip Groove," which sounds like a track that Tower of Power could stomp over; there's more thumping bass from Pope, and nice B3 from David Tarantolo. "Uptown Blues" has good energy, with solid guitar work from the hands of Woods. A second instrumental, "Free Flow," allows the entire band to share the spotlight with their leader, and it's another funky romp.

Reminiscent of another Crescent City star (Walter "Wolfman" Washington), there's some cool stutters and stops on Woods' "Full Circle," that also shows off some of Woods' hottest guitar playing on this very danceable recording. The so-called bonus track, "Back In New Orleans," is different from all the previous tunes, it has a honky-tonk groove aided by Tarantolo's piano as opposed to his B3 organ, but it's nothing special.

So in summary this is a nice return to studio recording for Kipori Woods, his songwriting is good, his vocals have developed further, but it's his guitar that receives and deserves the attention, and gets the spotlight. Hopefully it won't be another twelve years till the next album. In the meantime, have some friends over, serve up a bunch of jambalaya, suck down some oysters, a few brews, and enjoy Blues Gone Wild. That's what I did.

Bob Putignano is a contributing writer at Blues Revue and a contributing editor at BluesWax. He is also the heart and soul of Sounds of Blue.comBob Putignano a senior contributing editor at BluesWax. He is also the heart of Sounds of Blues at www.SoundsofBlue.com. Bob maybe contacted at: bob8003@yahoo.com

Bob Putignano: www.SoundsofBlue.com