My personal opinion: a must in any blues collection !!!
Review by Vincent Jeffries
This collection of ten blues and blues-rock tracks represents jazz guitarist
Scott Henderson's tribute (if not complete return) to the emotive guitar
playing of his early guitar influences: Jimmy Page and Albert King.
Released in 1994 after a string of highly acclaimed jazz fusion recordings,
Dog Party won equal approval from the fickle guitar virtuoso press and
fan base, winning every important magazine readers poll for best blues
recording. Accompanying Henderson on drums and vocals is drummer,
vocalist, and fellow Tribal Tech member Kirk Covington; bassist Richard
Ruse; and a host of heavyweight guest guitarists, vocalists, keyboard
players, and other instrumentalists. The music is comparatively direct
relative to Henderson's fusion work, but the guitarist's chord and phrasing
mastery is plenty evident throughout Dog Party. Choice tracks include
the vibrant "Milk Bone," the fuzzed-out and excessive "Hound Dog" cover,
and the furious opener, "Hole Diggin'." These stretched-out tracks are
pure musical treats, while the more pop- and rock-structured cuts have
an effect that might leave fans feeling as if something (specifically,
the guitarist's tasty soloing) is being unduly held back. Smart, syncopated,
and snappy, Dog Party is a feast of stylish blues served with grace and feeling.
Track links:
1. Hole Diggin'
2. Fence Climbin' Blues
3. Dog Party
4. Same As You
5. Milk Bone
6. Hell Bent Pup
7. Hound Dog
8. Dog Walk
9. Smelly Ol' Dog Blues
10. Too Many Gittars
Personnel:
Scott Henderson (guitar);
Kirk Covington (vocals, drums);
Erin McGuire (vocals);
Linda "Zig" Zegarelli, Pat O'Brien (harmonica);
Mike Whitman (saxophone);
Stan Martin (trumpet);
Scott Kinsey (keyboards);
Willie "Scrub" Scoggins, Steve "Huey Thibideau" Trovato, Keith "Mr. Big D" Wyatt, T.J. Helmerich (guitar);
Richard Ruse (bass)
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