Hello Mojo!
Catfood, 2022
8/10
The Chicago soul/blues extraordinaire Derrick Procell brings along an incredible backing band for these 10 well thought out tunes that are primarily originals.
“Skin In The Game” opens the listen with Procell’s soaring pipes alongside Johnny McGhee’s spirited guitar and Mike Middleton’s trumpet that help make for a warm climate, and “Hello Mojo!” follows with animated keys from Procell, as his smooth singing suits the lively melodies well.
At the halfway point, “A Tall Glass Of You” isn’t short on grooves, where Richy Puga’s agile drums and Sueann Carwell, Meredith Colby and Jessica Ivey’s cozy backing vocals are used strategically, while “I Can’t Say No” uses dynamic brass superbly amid Zac Harmon’s guitar and Frank Otero’s trombone.
Closing out the listen are “Who’ll Be Next In Line” (a Kinks tune) and “Bittersweet Memory”, where the former offers a breezy and bouncy display of timeless blues, and the latter adds a bit of intimacy to the poetic and romantic demeanor.
A very smart listen that has a spontaneous feel, Procell’s a veteran musician, and his many decades of experience help make Hello Mojo! an extremely enjoyable body of work.
Travels well with: Todd Sharpville- Medication Time; Ronnie Earl And The Broadcasters- Mercy Me