MIKE CRANDALL BAND

“Black Rain”

The Mike Crandall Band has racked up a number of prestigious awards for being one of the best blues bands in the area. Two time winners of the Connecticut Blues Challenge; finalists in the Memphis, Tennessee International Blues Challenge; headlining band at a number of regional blues festivals; opening act for legendary names like James Cotton, Ronnie Earl, and Duke Robillard…....the Mike Crandall Band has chalked up quite an impressive musical resume in their dozen-plus years together playing the blues. Now the band has released “Black Rain”, a brand new disc featuring 13 tracks that offers a bit of everything for the blues music fan.

Mike Crandall’s harmonica playing, as well as the solid foundation of heartfelt rhythm and blues music, is the core that makes “Black Rain” a strong recording. Whether is be the high energy swing guitar sound on the disc’s opening number “Jump Blues,” the dark moodiness of “Black Night”, or the up-tempo swing on tracks like “Country Mojo” and “So Many Times”, Crandall and company prove that they can belt it out with the best of them. Crandall divides vocal chores with fellow bandmate Joe Vic, and the diversity of the two singers keep the music interesting from start to finish. The rest of the band; Raynor Roberts (guitar), Max Camfield (bass), Vance Delay (drums), and Rick Harrington (guitar), each bring impressive musical resumes to the table and are well schooled in the art of fine blues musicianship. Their playing possesses the pure energy of a live show and is flawless in its delivery.

The Mike Crandall Band has been receiving rave reviews from their live performances for quite some time now. With “Black Rain”, the Mike Crandall Band now brings that same energy and creativity to the studio for all to hear. Blues fans will certainly appreciate what they have to say.

- Don Sikorski

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