Review of Fire Red Moon by Larry Schara
From the first few measures of Craig Chaquico’s new CD, Fire Red Moon on Blind Pig Records, you can instantly tell he is from the West Coast. Imagine if Steely Dan or the Eagles decided to make a blues CD and you’ll have a good idea of the overall sound and feel, and yes, this is a blues CD. All you staunch blues purists can move along, there is nothing for you here. But for those of you, like myself, who believe that a musical genre is like a living, breathing organism and must constantly evolve and grow to stay fresh and vibrant, then this is definitely a CD for you!
Craig Chaquico has a long and storied career as guitar player. As an early ‘70s teenager in the San Francisco area, he often appeared on stage and in the studio with the likes of Carlos Santana, The Grateful Dead, David Crosby and the Jefferson Airplane. When the Airplane reformed as the Jefferson Starship he was asked to join the band. After a long run, including 20 gold and platinum albums, the band eventually broke up. Chaquico then moved on as a solo artist performing a jazz/new age style of music, releasing another 10 albums and a receiving a Grammy nomination. He’s obviously not a newcomer. As for his progression into the blues, in a recent interview Craig Chaquico said, “If it wasn’t for Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship, my solo career, I wouldn’t be able to do a blues record now, which is my latest record and the one I’m most proud of. My musical career really is the same road but on different scenic turnouts–the rock ‘n’ roll and then the new age jazz and now the blues. That’s where I am now on my musical journey.”
The CD opens strongly with Chaquico’s “Lie to Me” featuring the deep, husky vocals of Noah Hunt from the Kenny Wayne Shephard Band on vocals. The groove is infectious with the unmistakable West Coast feel and Chaquico’s jazz influence throughout. His well-crafted original,“Devil’s Daughter,” follows with the remarkably high tenor of Rolf Hartley soaring on vocals. Again this song, arrangement and performance could easily show up on an Eagles album, and that’s not meant in a negative way at all.
Fire Red Moon features several instrumentals — a pleasurable change from most blues releases. Chaquico takes “Born Under a Bad Sign” to a uniquely different place as an instrumental that really shows off his guitar playing. I’m sure Albert King and Booker T Jones would approve! Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ and Tumblin” and Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” get similar treatments with Rolf Hartley’s excellent vocals adding to the latter. One of my favorites is “Little Red Shoes” an excellent Chaquico-penned song with some fine guitar playing that is just an outright fun tune. My other choice pick is “Fogtown Stroll,” an instrumental with that obvious West Coast feel, plus some tasty B-3 organ moving along behind Chaquico’s wonderful guitar.
This is not a typical blues record by any means, but as Chaquico’s musical journey has evolved over the years, he has brought all those influences and experiences with him, moving both his career forward and taking the blues to a new and interesting place!
Larry Schara is a 40 year veteran of the music industry as a musician, engineer, producer with 9 Grammy nominated credits, a couple of gold records and a fond remembrance of working with Ray Charles, B.B. King and Chuck Berry among others.
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“…Craig is one of THE local success stories, along with Timothy B. Schmidt of the Eagles, Steve Perry of Journey and the guys in Tesla. In other words, I’m on it big time!…” – Mick Martin – MICK MARTIN’S BLUES PARTY– KXJZ – Antelope, CA
“…Yes, I’ve listened and enjoyed. Craig’s guitar playing is fantastic, and there’s a instrumental (Track 8?) I’m especially found of. Can get it on Lobster show after next weeks Raiders preempt…” – Paul Wells, The River, The Lobster Sunday Brunch- San Francisco, CA
“…I love it! Craig kicks ass (as always) on this-getting Noah to sing on the one tune was a cool idea…” – Mark Mayfield –KSLX , Morning Show, Phoenix, AR
“…Listened to the album like I said I would. All I can say is that I was ‘awestruck’. Normally. I do not put an entire album in our on-air library, but Fire Red Moon was well worth putting all in…” – Norm Browning – KKFI – Kansas Cit, MO
“…Just wanted to let you know that the Craig Chaquico CD ‘Fire Red Moon’ came in & it sounds grea ! Just what I want for my show brother!…” – Mike Lytle – KKFI-Kansas City, MO
“…Yes. I played it and talked it up. You can hear it on KPFA.org last Sat.’s show. Very good debut…” – Tom Mazzolini – KPFA – Blues By The Bay – San Francisco, CA
“…I think it is my new favorite cd. It is very good, a little different. He is so talented. We have been playing it…” – Bill & Pat Hudson — The Blues Team — Good Morning Blues II WRFG 89.3 FM Atlanta, Georgia
“…Received!!! That cat can still belt out the tunes!! Great album…” – Paul Rowlett – KMOD – SmokeHouse Blues Show, Tulsa, OK
“…I got “Fire Red Moon”. Great stuff, fantastic guitar. Favorites include Lie To Me, Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (fabulous), Fire Red Moon and my absolute favorite Fogtown Stroll. Thanks, – Billy Rose KROS –The Big Blues Broadcast –Clinton, IA
“…Got it, heard it, played it. It’s awesome!…” – Michael Right –KXRA –Nothin’ But The Blues, Alexandria, MN
“…love it! I’ve been a Craig Chaquico follower for years, I’m a big smooth jazz fan. I already have ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ in the Blues Power rotation, and will be showcasing a at least 2 more tracks in the future…” – Michael Goza –WQNA – Blues Power – Springfield, IL
“…Great album Peter. Smokin Lie To Me last Sunday and again this week…” – Rick Ballew – WRFX – Smokin’ Blues — Charlotte, NC
“…I did receive the CD. It’s awesome by the way…” – Sheila Cain — Blues City Radio – Longmont, CO
“…Receive and LOVE the CD. Have been a big fan for years…” – Anthony DeFazio, H. Hawaii Media/Kauai
“…Yes, love it. I’m hitting Lie To Me and Born Under A Bad Sign, right now. But, this is a CD that I’ll be playing all the cuts eventually…” –Ken Lovejoy – WBCG – Blues Beach – Port Charlotte , FL
“…I have it and I love it! Thanks, Holly…” – Holly Harris –– WBOS BLUES On Sunday, Salem,MA
“…Craigs new disc is great. I will be featuring it soon and will chart it as well…” – Mike Urick Blues After Hours, WBSD ,Burlington Wi
“…Yes, just picked the CD up yesterday and listening to it now – love the sound – great production! Will be featuring it next week…” –Butch Kara — KZGM FM – KALEIDOSCOPE– Cabool, MO
“…We really like this CD – Craig plays like a pro with a very crisp, clean sound and driving beat. Very good! Thx…” – Todd and Cynthia Hines –KVNF – Crawford, CO
“…Just had a great big helping of pork! Really enjoyed the Craig Chaquico! thanks again…” – Ted Todd – Blow Torch Blues – KKZX – Spokane, WA
“…Yes, Excellent!…” – Kevin Hendrickson KJKJ -Riverside Blues Show –Crookston, MN
11/2012
“…PLAYING TRACKS 3&8 AND REALLY HAPPY WITH THE NEW DIRECTION HE’S GOING IN…” – Carol Handley, Internet radio, Smooth in Seattle, Seattle, WA
“…Great stuff…” – Kevin Barnes – Bluesville – KBEM, Minneapolis, MN
“…Got the cd’s…wow great stuff..that fits our style..tks..will be playing during our show and the cd’s will also be loaded into the automation program that plays music during off programming hours..tks again…” – Patrick Henry – KYRS, Blues Now and Then, Spokane, WA
“…I added Craig’s New CD Nov 3. I have enjoyed “Lie to Me”and find myself returning to it…” – Jim Santella, WBFO – The Blues, Buffalo, NY
“…YES! I’ve been playing it for weeks now and really like it! Love the instrumentals and the rocking ‘ Little Red Shoes’ or whatever ( just off the top of my head!) GREAT CD!…” – Cheryl Mogul – WMNF – Saturday Soulful Soiree – Gulfport , FL
“…Sounds good, I’ve played the title track and Born Under A Bad Sign over the past couple of weeks…” – Dave Isaac – WKIT – Blue Monday, Bangor, ME
“…Great CD like the first song for airplay especially…” – Scott Fraley – OUT O’ THE BLUE RADIO REVUE – WCVE – Richmond, VA
“… Craig’s album. It has not received as much airplay as it rightfully deserves and I will be working on making sure his spins are increased because it is a very professional album in every respect…” – Sam Reese – Fresh Cuts – WXCS 92.9FM Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania Independen Noncommercial-Local Radio