CD Reviews

"Industrial Strength"

Wendy DeWitt & Kirk Harwood

Wette Music

If you want to hear boogie piano done right, look no further than Wendy DeWitt. She has been tearing up stages with her Chicago and Texas styled playing for a number of years, working with the likes of Hank Ballard, Otis Rush and Steve Freund, while sharing performance time with people like Charlie Musselwhite, Hadda Brooks and Etta James. You can hear a lot of the masters like Otis Spann, Memphis Slim and Sunnyland Slim within her playing and her vocals may bring to mind fellow blues pianist Marcia Ball. In other words, Wendy has the full package that screams out for attention.

On her latest release, Industrial Strength, she has teamed up with drummer Kirk Harwood, whose rhythm supplies a natural beat behind her keyboard readings. Harwood’s credentials credit time playing with Norton Buffalo, Roy Rogers and Huey Lewis amongst others. They are joined by a host of guests throughout the disc including Chicago raised blues guitar maestro Steve Freund, pianist Macy Blackman, Western Swing Hall of Famer Tommy Thomsen from Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, Dave Aguilar from Norton Buffalo’s band and ragtime bassist Marty Eggers.

The music on Industrial Strength is very inspiring, especially the instrumentals. Her take on “Summertime,” combining it with the classic lines of “Flight of the Bumblebee” is brilliant. It makes the song romp, yet it is very recognizable and a delight to listen to. Tracks such as “Nervous,” “Boogie Woogie Stomp” and “Bass Key Boogie” sound like they could’ve come out of a speakeasy in New Orleans’ Storyville or a Kansas City gambling den some fifty-sixty years back. “If I Could Just” is a soft, heartfelt number with lovely piano filled with brushed drums and filled with emotional vocals. “Love And Appreciation” is a fun little ditty that opens with whistling and is backed with tuba. You cannot help but smile while listening to it. “Lucky Old Sun” is packed full of soul so deep that you just want to stand up and testify her playing and vocals are that powerful. The album closes out with the song “Gone,” where Wendy reflects on the memories of past friends, one by one, everybody leavin’ on.

Industrial Strength is highly recommended for anybody who has a love for piano blues. If you’re a fan of Marcia Ball or Eden Brent’s style of playing, you’re going to be thrilled with Wendy DeWitt. Definitely a keeper with this disc.

Total Time: 43:40

Nervous / Summertime / Lucky Old Sun / Don’t Tell Me You Love Me / It’s Too Late / Jungle Boogie / Boogie Woogie Stomp / Wings Of Love / Bass Key Boogie / If I Could Just / Love And Appreciation / San Francisco / Gone

Reviewed by Greg Johnson