Delta Wires – ” if somebody told me…….” – Executive Producer : Anthony ” Little Tony ” Calabrese / Produced By – Ernie Pinata, Tom Gerrits , David Bowman, Tony Huszar , John Christensen and Richard Healy – Mud Slide Records – 2023
The first time I played this CD in my car I was floored by the music and all the talents involved in pulling this together. Cranked the music way up and just got lost in the rhythmic madness that is… Delta Wires..
…and after listening to their latest, ” if somebody told me….”, a few dozen times now, in the house, in the car, I am convinced that EVERYONE has to have this band in their collection, and most definitely, have to have ” Delta Wires” on their “must see ” live performance list. What an incredible band!!
Exciting 8-piece band that showcases a lot of talent. Ernie Pinata, bandleader, vocals and harmonica, packs plenty of excitement and emotion into his harp work. His vocals are the perfect fit for the horn-driven rhythm and blues, fiery, funk, and classic blues that flows easily through every track. Richard Healy on guitar just sizzles, and his solos are combustible firestorms. The horn section is mind-blowing – David Bowman, former member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, trombone; John Christensen, a music educator who has recorded with Kenny G., trumpet; Caleb Murray, Alto and Tenor Sax, has played with rock, funk, blues , Christian Contemporary, Latin, Hip Hop, and Reggae groups around the world . On drums there is Tony Huszar, a high-energy\, kick ass funky drummer who loves hard-driving roots music; and Richard Sylvester on keyboards, can easily switch grooves without any hesitation, driving the music into fascinating melodies and riffs with the flick of a finger or two .
“Delta Wires” easily veers off into creative directions that sound fresh, reminiscent of horn-driven blues outfits like “The Electric Flag” (led by guitarist Mike Bloomfield , drummer Buddy Miles , and keyboardist Barry Goldberg) , the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Blue Stone Ivory, (to name a few ) , their horn and harmonica driven West Coast Blues ties together blues roots and the modern, electric sound (thus their name – ” Delta Wires “. If they do a song that someone else has done they pick it apart and put their own sound on it – check out one of my favorites , ” Voodoo Cadillac”, which pays tribute to the Gary “U.. S.” Bonds classic but drips with the swampy humidity of the Louisiana bayou, a scorching bit of Nawlins’ funk that will have dancing your pants off ; ” Sloppy Drunk” from Sonny Boy Williamson swings with wild abandonment ; ” Dimples ” from John Lee Hooker gets a complete makeover with Eric Pinatas scorching harp work front and center ; “Blues in Hoss’ Flat” from Count Basie has a horn arrangement from David Bowman that brings to life the glorious days of the big band era, is a remarkable showpiece for the horn section , and will definitely have you heading for the nearest dance floor. Eric Pinata: “……….playing from the heart is the key “
.Tom Gerrits: “………..it’s about loving your music, being creative, and loving who you are creating with “.” Delta Wires “is celebrated for their incendiary live shows, described in the liner notes as an “incandescent experience”. If you aren’t fortunate enough to experience this incredible band ‘live’ then “if somebody told me….” is the next best thing. Their tight and highly-polished horns, fierce bluesy guitar, and that crying, emotional harp are a powerful combination that brings the blues traditions to contemporary audiences world-wide. ” Delta Wires” has superior song writing, inventively creative arrangements, and outstanding musicianship. Seek out “Delta Wires” and get ready to party! Outstanding and highly recommended!
Eric Pinata – bandleader, vocals, harmonica
Tom Gerritis – bass
Richard Healy – guitar
Tony Huszar – drums
David Bowman – trombone
John Christensen – trumpet
Caleb Murray – saxophone
Richard Sylvester – keyboards