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Dudley Taft: Screaming in the Wind

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: American Blues Artist Group
Released: 2014.05.20
Time:
 51:12
Category: Blues, Country
Producer(s): Tom Hambridge
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.dudleytaft.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2014
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (Skip James) - 2:45
[2] Pack It Up (G.Chandler/Gonzales) - 4:19
[3] Red Line (Dudley Taft / Richard Flemming / Tom Hambridge) - 4:13
[4] Screaming in the Wind (Dudley Taft / Richard Flemming / Tom Hambridge) - 4:16
[5] 3DHD (Dudley Taft / Tom Hambridge) - 4:39
[6] I Keep My Eyes On You (Dudley Taft / Tom Hambridge) - 5:10
[7] The Reason Why (Dudley Taft / Richard Flemming / Tom Hambridge) - 4:48
[8] Rise Above It (Dudley Taft) - 3:49
[9] Barrio (Dudley Taft) - 3:44
[10] Sleeping in the Sunlight (Dudley Taft / Tom Hambridge) - 4:02
[11] Tears in Rain (Dudley Taft / Richard Flemming / Tom Hambridge) - 4:11
[12] Say You Will (Dudley Taft) - 5:16

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Dudley Taft - Guitars, Vocals, Liner Notes
John Kessler - Bass
Jason Patterson - Drums on [1,3,4-6,8,10-12]
Tom Hambridge - Drums on [2,7,9], Backing Vocals on [11], Producer
Reese Wynans - Hammond B3 Organ on [2,4,5,6,7,9,11]

Muscle Shoals Horn Section:
Charles Rose - Trombone on [2]
Jim Horn - Tenor & Baritone Saxophones on [2]
Vinnie Seizielski - Trumpet  on [2]

Ann McCrary - Backing Vocals on [8]
Regina McCrary - Backing Vocals on [8]

Michael St. Leon - Engineer
Ashley Shepherd - Mastering
Vic Wright - Art & Dudley Photos

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded at the Switchyard, Nashville; Reendering Plant, Nashville; Muchmore Studio, Cincinnati. Mastered at Audio Grotto.



Blues Rocker Dudley Taft recently relocated back to the Midwest but he certainly bought back some of that Seattle sound with him. His third solo release Screaming In the Wind was recorded in Nashville by the man with the Midas touch, producer Tom Hambridge but make no mistake this is no country album and as Taft says himself “this aint your granddaddy’s blues” either. The twelve songs cover an expansive muscular landscape of heavy grooves supplied by bass man John Kessler, drummers Jason Paterson and Hambridge and some great guests including former SRV sideman Reese Wynans on organ and the legendary Muscle Shoals horn section. The clever rhythmic reinvention of blues standard ‘Hard Time Killing Floor,’ kicks off the album and then the horns join in for a slinky cover of Freddie King’s ‘Pack It Up.’

The time shifting boogie ‘Red Line,’ reminds us it’s all about the guitar as Taft demonstrates what he has learned as a disciple of Billy Gibbons and the Texas sound. The title track began as sound bite theme for American Blues Scene and under the tutelage of Hambridge developed into a grungy blues anthem, sort of a fusion of Alice In Chains and SRV. Taft then tries a couple pop rock experiments, the topical 3DHD and the island tinged ‘Rise Above It,’ before returning to the blues on ‘The Reason Why,’ which features some classic B3 counterpoint from Wynans. Taft shows his 90’s rock roots on the Middle Eastern tinged ‘Rise Above It.’ The McCrary sisters add authentic gospel sound to the sing along drinking song ‘Barrio,’ along with some smooth Spanish guitar from Taft. The Seattle sound returns on the rolling groove rocker ‘Sleeping In The Sunlight,’ with the apt lyric “I’d be sleeping in the sunlight, I’d be dancing in the rain.” The album concludes with the atmospheric ‘Say You Will,’ featuring a Pink Floyd like synthed-out guitar coda. Yes more Guitar. (4/5)

Rick J. Bowen - Examiner.com Entertainment



Blues-rock guitarist Dudley Taft announces a May 20 release date for his new CD, Screaming in the Wind, on his American Blues Artist Group label. The new album was produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge, best-known for his work with Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, GeorgeThorogood and Johnny Winter, and recorded at The Switchyard and Rendering Plantin Nashville, as well as Taft’s new Muchmore Studio in Cincinnati. The newrecording facility is part of the house and property Dudley recently purchasedfrom legendary guitarist Peter Frampton.

The new CD features a dozen songs, most of which areoriginals penned by Dudley Taft, including several co-written with TomHambridge (who also plays drums on a couple tracks) and Richard Fleming, plusscintillating covers of songs by Skip James (“Hard Time Killing Floor Blues”)and Freddie King (“Pack It Up”).

“Screaming in the Wind is my third solo effort and the firstalbum I’ve done produced by someone outside the band. Several songwritingsessions in Nashville with producer Tom Hambridge and songwriter RichardFleming helped the songs take shape before recording them,” says Taft. “It wasrefreshing to work with other great songwriters for the first time, and itgives Screaming in the Wind a different flavor.”

Taft’s regular band of John Kessler on bass and Jason Patterson drums is augmented by the addition of former Stevie Ray Vaughankeyboard player Reese Wynans on the sessions. “Reese plays some wicked B3 organon the CD,” exclaims Taft. “He really shines on a bunch of the songs, elevatingthem to levels I never imagined. Check out his ripping solo on ‘The Reason Why’.”

Other special guests on Screaming in the Wind include the acclaimedMcCrary sisters, who bring their smooth gospel harmonies to the song “Barrio,” whilethe Muscle Shoals Horn Section shines on “Pack It Up.”

“So far, I have done a Freddie King song on every CD, andthis was no exception,” states Taft. “I love the funky vibe and tightarrangement of ‘Pack It Up.’ We poured gasoline on it and lit a match.”

The title track of the album started as a custominstrumental riff Taft did for the “American Blues Scene” website. “They toldme it should be a song,” he recalls, “and I think it may have turned out to beone of the strongest on the album. Tom Hambridge and I worked hard to find thekey imagery in the lyrics to tell the story.”

Speaking of instrumentals, Dudley Taft really cuts loose onthe appropriately named track, “Red Line,” demonstrating why he’s been dubbedone of the hottest guitarists on the planet. Fans of classic ZZ Top riffs willbe smiling from ear-to-ear when they hear Taft “spanking the plank” on thatone.

“The riff from Skip James’ ‘Hard Time Killing Floor Blues’got stuck in my head last year,” Taft remembers. “I thought giving it a Led Zeppelin‘Black Dog kind of interpretation would make it fresh.”

The final song on the CD, “Say You Will,” has what Taft calls“an epilogue, where the gears shift and a David Gilmour influence surfaces,taking the listener off into oblivion. That was such a fun track to record!”

Dudley Taft’s last CD, Deep Deep Blue, released in May,2013, received universal acclaim from fans and critics alike, including beingnamed on several “best of” lists at the end of that year. He will support thenew CD release with touring both in the U.S. and overseas, where he already has a European tour planned in May and June that will take him to the Netherlands and Germany.

Copyright © 2008 - 2015 BluesMagazine.nl



Fans of blues rock guitar and those of Dudley Taft and his chosen career path will love this album. Using the six string as his flag, Taft plants it and, once again, lays claim to his little part of the blues rock world. Nasty, filthy guitar work and superior tone; just what you’d expect from the bearded guitar wailer.

His first release, Left For Dead (2010) had a desert southwest feel to the music and story line with just a little Seattle grunge, while Deep Deep Blue (2013) saw him start to explore more of the rock side of the blues. Screaming In The Wind is no exception to this progression for the Cincinnati-based guitarist. Dudley spent twenty years in Seattle and was in the thick of the grunge movement, so there is a touch of eclectic influence in his playing.

The layered guitars on track three, “Red Line” are brilliantly reminiscent of Thin Lizzy. In fact, if  ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy had a baby, this song would need to go in for blood test, and perhaps an appearance on the Maury Show would be in order. Dudley also unleashes some Texas shred on this one and John Kessler is delivering a knock out blow with a fat lower end keeping perfect tempo with drummer, Jason Patterson. They are both locked in throughout the entire album. Track six, “I Keep My Eyes On You” has a funky guitar riff straight out of the 70’s that will make the listener think of The Ohio Players. Track five, “3DHD” shows how talented Dudley is at crafting a rock & roll — if not a pop melody. It has plenty of guitar, but parts of the song have an almost Badfinger vibe. Tracks ten & twelve seem to be the songs that are the most connected to the previous two albums, although the last song leaves the desert and heads into some Pink Floyd territory. Left For Dead (Part 3)?

Also of note is the title track. It started out as a one minute long custom instrumental riff Taft did for the American Blues Scene Magazine fundraising video at the end of 2012. “They told me it should be a song,” he recalls, “and I think it may have turned out to be one of the strongest on the album. Tom Hambridge and I worked hard to find the key imagery in the lyrics to tell the story.” Track seven feels like the most straight up blues song here. That riff is still catchy as hell.

The album is set for a May 20 release on Taft’s own American Blues Artist Group label. Former Stevie Ray Vaughan keyboard player Reese Wynans lends his mastery of the keys to Screaming In The Wind and Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood, Johnny Winter) produced the album and played drums on a few tracks. Screaming In The Wind was recorded at The Switchyard and Rendering Plant in Nashville, as well as Taft’s new Muchmore Studio in Cincinnati.

Other special guests on Screaming in the Wind include the acclaimed McCrary sisters, who bring their smooth gospel harmonies to the song “Barrio,” a tale of self induced misfortune, while the Muscle Shoals Horn Section shines on “Pack It Up.”

Fans of blues-rock, the  electric guitar will be more than  satisfied by this release and should be once again blown away by Taft’s tone.  We highly recommend picking this one up and playing it load and often.

Casebeer - April 7, 2014
American Blues Scene™



A time-tested veteran to the game, Dudley Taft is at it again. His discipline in the blues is well respected, and his compositions pay homage to just that. His newest album, Screaming In The Wind, continues his tried and true resume.

Dudley delivers some versatile tracks, ranging from ballads to head bangers, bluesy head bangers. “Pack It Up” is a jazzy tune, chock full of that good ‘ol brass section. “Red Line” is a complete 180 from the former. This track kicks things up a notch, with a powerful, driving riff that sinks its claws deep. This tremolo of sounds culminates into a high-octane solo on lead guitar. “Screaming In The Wind” is a little Hanni El Khatib, with a steady, edgy riff throughout. This one pits guitar and vocals against one another, as they duke it out for sole ownership. This track also boasts nice harmonies with solid keys and percussion to back it all up. “Sleeping In The Sunlight” turns the tables for an unexpected sound in the mix. Dudley brushes off the slide for this tune. A tasteful acoustic intro entwined with electric licks, this song has a catchy beat and chorus.

Screaming In The Wind is a classic example of Taft’s talents. He offers an admirable testament to the blues to all those out there seeking something of the nature. His talent is not missed, as it shines through on all tracks.

The Review: 8/10

Copyright © Blues Rock Review



Every now and then if a artist or band is lucky enough, they get the opportunity to really put some spit and polish on their music, taking it to a whole shiny new landscape. Such is the case with Dudley Taft's Killer new release "Screaming In The Wind", an album that shows us why he is considered one of the very best Blues Rock artists out there.

"Screaming In The Wind" marks the third release I have gotten from Dudley Taft and with each subsequent release he has managed to raise the bar to a whole new level. His 2013 release "Deep Deep Blue" had no problem at all making it into my Year End Review as Best USA Blues Rock Album and #1 on my Top Ten Blues/Rock Albums List Worldwide. "Deep Deep Blue was one of those rare albums for which I could not stop listening to it, once I started, with my first thought being, when it was finished, was that I can't wait to listen to it all over again." It is that exact feeling that "Screaming In The Wind" has now instilled me with.

"Screaming In The Wind" consists of 12 amazing Tracks of which the majority are new originals written by Dudley Taft in addition to several being co-written with Tom Hambridge, as well as, Richard Fleming. In addition to Co-writing, Tom Hambridge also stepped in as Drummer on several of the Tracks, but his biggest contribution was of course the fact that he produced "Screaming In The Wind", hence the spit and polish I was talking about. Hugely thought after as a Producer, Grammy Award winner Tom Hambridge has put his stamp on countless projects, most recently, Buddy Guy's "Rhythm & Blues", James Cotton's "Cotton Mouth Man", and Joe Lewis Walker's "Hellfire". All those Artists had immense praise for Hambridge with James Cotton saying, "Tom Hambridge is the best Producer I've ever worked with ". "Screaming In The Wind" marks Dudley Taft's first departure from having his albums produced in house and boy oh boy, he could not have picked a better person for the job than Hambridge.

"Screaming In The Wind" starts the ball rolling with "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" (Skip James), the first of two Covers with the other one being Freddie King's "Pack it Up". For this Track we find the lineup of Dudley Taft (Guitar/Vocals), John Kessler (Bass), and Jason Patterson (Drums). This Powerhouse Trio configuration appears four more times on this album and, for me, was the more favorite of the tunes, really allowing them a chance to show us their raw emotion, with perhaps the most potent of the five being Track 3 "Red Line". "Red Line" is a real road hugging grinder with Guitar shredding galore, really nice Bass, and a Drum beat that would not stop, reminding me a bit of Golden Earrings "Twilight Zone".

Speaking of Drum beat, we get another big sound from Tom Hambridge, whom performs his magic on a three Tracks, the best for me being the Killer Track "Pack It Up", a rather infectious little number that in addition to Taft, Kessler, and Hambridge, also features Reese Wynans (B3 Organ), and the Muscle Shoals Horn Section featuring Charles Rose (Trombone), Jim Horn (Tenor/Baritone Sax), and Vinnie Seizeilski (Trumpet). By the time this Powerhouse of Talent was through with this Track, I only had one thought and that was, "Now That Is What I'm Talking About". "Pack It Up" was the only Track to feature the Horn Section, but it was certainly enjoyable enough that I wish it would of been part of a few more Tracks.

Track 9 "Barrio" was another Track that featured the lineup of Taft, Kessler, Wynans, and Hambridge, which on it's own would of been good enough, but then you add the heavenly Backing Vocals of Ann & Regina McCrary to the mix and now you take the song to a whole new magical level. "Barrio", a slow tempo affair, came across with a bit of a Blues/Gospel orientation. Certainly different than anything else on "Screaming In The Wind", but really quite enjoyable, none the less.

One song that really caught my attention was Track 5 "3DHD". It contained a very catchy chorus line, slightly Rock/Pop in nature, and then we get turned back to some more really tasty Guitar from Taft. I have not heard anything like this from Taft previously and that is where more of the Hambridge influence seems to have nicely crept in, as he Co-wrote this one with Taft.

"Say You Will" very nicely finishes off "Screaming In The Wind" as we get the final dose of Taft, Kessler, and Patterson. This beauty, the longest on the album, has some really unique almost Psychodelic work on Taft's Guitar. A really great finish to a Brilliantly Performed and Brilliantly Produced album, one in which will have Dudley Taft and Company on the minds of many come Best Of season.

John Vermilyea - Blues Underground Network
 

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