Been A Long Time Coming
...If you have not yet had a chance to see Root Doctor live, you really, really owe it to yourself to make it happen. This is a HELLUVA band. Loads of synchronicity and soul in their playing; tons of dynamics; and simply GREAT CHOPS.
Drummer Bobby Gardner and bassist James Williams are a deeply funky rhythm section and singer Freddie Cunningham has pipes that won't quit! But I gotta say, the highlight for me was the playing of... Greg Nagy and... Jim Alfredson. Greg is simply a FEROCIOUS guitar player, who manages to draw from a deep well of influences and inspirations without really sounding like anybody else. And Jim's work on Hammond was, frankly, jaw dropping.
The band veers from deep blues to deep soul with a few forays into funky jazz. But what's so impressive is just how organic that mix is. You never get the impression they're trying to "school" the audience with their virtuosity.
The band's affection for one another was obvious, as was their respect for their fellow bandmates' talents. When Jim ventured into a long, elegiac coda to close out "Green Onions," the rest of band watched with rapt attention. It was a fun moment to watch and just one highlight of a great show..."
Jeff Konkel
Living Blues Producer of The Year
Broke and Hungry Records
(Performance review)
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