Album Review of
Too Far from the Bar (feat. Little Charlie Baty)

Written by Duane Verh
August 23, 2020 - 6:08pm EDT
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When it comes to music, predictability can be an unflattering term.  However, the likelihood of a satisfactory outcome, blues-wise, with the convergence of talent such as that present here, is as welcome as it is virtually certain.  Vocalist/harmonica player Sugar Ray Norcia fronts a quality lineup featuring the late guitarist “Little” Charlie Baty, pianist Anthony Geraci and producer/guitarist Duke Robillard.  Sugar Ray’s versatile, workingman’s vocal style is at home be it blues or ballad as evidenced on tracks including Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Bluebird Blues” (nice harp work here as well) or a gem from the Harold Arlen songbook, “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues”.  His own catchy contribution that serves as title track should garner attention.  Mr. Geraci contributes continuous energy to the proceedings and Messer’s Baty and Robillard both work up nice stretch choruses throughout.