by Kevin T McEneaney
Last Thursday, at Daryl’s House in Pawling, Misty Blues soaked the wooden rafters with words and music that reverberated with down-home honesty and riffing pleasure. Gina Coleman’s clear contralto voice was in top form as were her emphatic arm gestures. Misty Blues is one the top blues bands in this country; it is a pleasure that they are available in the Northeast.
Gina opened with “Silver Lining” which explains how coping with hardship can change one’s perspective on life: tough times can bring clarity and a new way of thinking that can bestow strength. Aaron Dean on sax wailed and got gritty on exploding low notes. Coleman and Dean put the audience on notice that this music dealt with reality and not the idle fantasy often found in pop music.
“Swing My Blues,” written by Gina Coleman, invokes that more mellow line of blues meditation where on keyboard David Vittone could tinkle with swing rhythm behind Coleman’s genial and inviting vocals.
“Enough Lovin’ for Two, also written by Gina, proclaims her gentle and gracious attitude toward love; it featured Cameron Bencivengaon on lead guitar with riveting, upbeat, solo riffs. All three of these opening songs are on her recent album Silver Lining.
“How the Blues Feels, “also written by Gina, a classic blues complaint that exalts psychological reversal from the underdog in a deflated romance with a growling boast of having the upper hand (which may not be true as the music offers an ironic hue, especially in the saxophone monologue by Dean).
“Granville T” was about the man, Granville T. Woods who invented the electric roller coaster. Woods, an American inventor who held more than 50 patents in the United States, was the first African American mechanical and electrical engineer after the Civil War. Self-taught, he concentrated most of his work on trains and streetcars. Here Rob Tatten on drums roared with precise resonance and propulsive drive as Gina articulated her driving, roaring excitement. I relived riding the old Cyclone Rollercoaster on Coney Island when I was eleven. I went with my mother beside me in the car and she was so freaked out that it was “Never Again!” Gina’s song is the official recording at the MEROE Museum, available online in the Metaverse. The corner of Stillwell and Mermaid Avenues in Coney Island is named Granville T. Woods Way. Gina’s song remains an unbeatable, memorable classic in the history of blues music!
“Spoonful,” another haunting blues classic, made famous by Howlin’ Wolf, offered a feminine version while keeping its hypnotic rhythm where the bass guitar of Diego Mongue (Gina’s son) delivered that low grinding beat with spontaneous flare. I love both Gina’s and Howlin’s versions, as in enough loving for two.
“Up Above My Head,” a gospel song made famous by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, offered a more bluesy version of this classic with sax and guitar riffs by Dean and Cameron. (A four-volume CD set of Tharpe is available and I heartily recommend it.)
“Hold On” is an Odetta classic that I heard Odetta sing at the University of Dayton when I was a freshman student. I was blown away by Odetta’s performance, especially that song. Gina’s tribute album Tell Me Who You Are: A Live Tribute To Odetta has won many album awards.
“Where Your Blues Come From,” another original by Gina, features driving dramatic monologue-like rap that begins with low-key vocals, shifts to madcap overdrive, and ends with sudden eloquent silence, yet every musician in the band, especially Diego on bass guitar excelled, along with Chantell McCullough on vocals who had joined for the last three songs.
Celebrating 25 years of performances and many impressive recordings, Misty Blues Band was nominated for seven Grammy Awards this year. If you notice them playing anywhere near you go, enjoy an exhilarating experience! Much of their work is available on YouTube. Check it out!
