CD Reviews
"Very Lucky Man"
Sean Carney featuring Omar Coleman
Sean Carney Get Down Blues Music
Sean Carney and Omar Coleman are two long-time, well established blues artists based in the Midwest. Carney was the winner of the 2007 International Blues Challenge and received the illustrious Albert King Award for Most Promising Guitarist in the competition. He has played alongside and toured with renowned blues greats as Teeny Tucker, Henry Gray, Jimmy “T-99” Nelson and Big Joe Duskin. Omar Coleman comes from Chicago where he has been burning up stages with his extraordinary harmonica playing and vocals as a member of bands led by the likes of Chico Banks, John Primer and The Kinsey Report. Together Carney and Coleman have created a terrific pairing for a recording titled Very Lucky Man.
This album features Sean Carney’s band Marty Romie on bass, Jan Roll on drums and the excellent pianist John Popovich, covering mostly a number of well-known classic blues tunes alongside three numbers penned by Coleman (one co-written with Carney). Saxophonist ace Doug James is also on hand for several selections. The musicianship is top-notch with Carney’s always on the spot guitar and Coleman’s harmonica.
The songs themselves have been smartly selected to highlight both artists as they trade vocals. Highlights would have to include the funkified original “Good Provider,” the Junior Wells/Buddy Guy great “Snatch It Back And Hold It,” Junior Watson’s “Looking Back,” James Oden’s “Nineteen Years Old” and B.B.King’s “Sell My Monkey.” Those just may be personal favorites on this disc, but the complete package is incredible and should be amongst many lists for the best recordings of the year.
Coleman and Carney have been touring together throughout the Midwest and into Europe. Hopefully they will head our way to promote this outstanding recording. I know I’ll be the first in line to catch that show if they do. Very Lucky Man is blues excellence!!
Total Time: 55:57
Very Lucky Man / When My Baby Left Me / Good Provider / I’m The Man Down There / It Hurts Me Too / You Don’t Love Me / Sell My Monkey / Snatch It Back And Hold It / That’s Alright / Drivin’ Wheel / Looking Back / Trying To Do Right / Nineteen Years Old / Checking On My Baby
Reviewed by Greg Johnson
