Great
bands produce great musicians and Roomful is no exception,
with cast of 8 great musicians this has to be one
of the hardest working bands in the US. They were
in the STL area for just one night flying out of and
back to New Jersey just to give us a great taste of
their sounds – plural! They have many sounds,
and this band has been pumpin’ the “horn
band” blues since like 1970. Check them out
on www.roomful.com
and get a feel for their world wide impact, plus catch
them at a venue near you. I have followed this band
for 10 years or so and have yet to not be amazed at
their energy showmanship and musicianship/expertise
at the blues. They pumped out 15 songs without a break
and had the joint jumpin’. Enos hit his stride
at around the 4th song, and the band then hit a groove.
Vaschon did a great slow blues with more emotion,
you could feel it in the audience. He has gotten soooo
good. And the man Rich L plays the coolest tenor solos,
but then the deep and soulful Bari sends the songs
to the heart. Travis, all over the B3 (sorely missing
these days) and the keys, to kick the songs into another
gear. It is all good, all night, all Roomful. They
should have a new CD in the next few months but any
CD of ROB’s is a good buy.
Their
CD’s are never below a 4.5 and usually a 4.8
or 4.9 on the STLBlues–o-meter
A
quick glimpse of the band
Mark DuFresne – Vocals – Mark has like
a 3 plus octave range all tight, all controlled,
all good
Chris Vaschon – Guitar – This cat has
been around but he has really matured, Mastering
his axe
Dima Gordodetsky – Bass – clasicall
and classic he is the drivin’ underpinning
of the band
Jason Corbiere - Drums – Solid drums a trademark
of ROB, Jason’s right there. Rock steady
Triavis Colby – Piano and B3 – Best
keys ROB has had very tight and cool fun to watch
Rich Lataille – Tenor/Alto – Since 1970
the rock on which Roomful is built – Too much
Bob Enos – Trumpet – Bubba the coolest
musician I with a horn - bar none
Mark Earley – Bari/Tenor – Gotta love
anyone who can smooth a Bari. Great addition
Thanks
ROB – Later - Gator
Venue Quickie on the Argosy
The
Argosy at Alton has to be one of the best band venues
in the area with great lighting and sound. The room
is intimate but large enough to carry the sound.
To my liking it is SMOKE-FREE, very comfortable
and the food and drinks are very reasonable. Soon
Highway 364 will be done so it will be like a 30
minute drive to the showroom. Of course you are
welcome to stay and gamble. The Marketing staff
(Todd Ribick and Jim Fitzpatrick are very welcoming
and want to have more blues events there so you
bands and agents let’s make it a Blues Venue
like no other in the area. When Argosy hooks up
with STLBlues.net the blues will grow up the lazy
river.
Thanks
Argosy - Later - Gator
Gator@stlblues.net
Here's Cornbreads
review of 'ROOMFUL OF BLUES – STANDING ROOM
ONLY', their 2005 release on Alligator.
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