Just Say The Word
VizzTone, 2021
9/10
In the area of young blues talent, it doesn’t get much better than Gabe Stillman, who plays guitar like a seasoned vet and sings with a set of powerful pipes. Here, he brings us 13 originals and a pair of covers, as Colin Beatty (bass), Ray Hangen (drums, percussion), Taylor Streiff (Hammond B3 Organ, piano, keys) and several guests accompany him.
“Stillman” starts the listen with the rhythmic and precisely textured bluesy fun of “Give Me Some Time”, and this energy continues to the spirited guitar work of the soulful “Let It Go”, as well as the thick and rugged “No Time For Me”.
The middle tracks offer us the warm and pretty Americana of “Alabama Wildflowers”, while “No Matter What You Wear” recruits Anson Funderburgh and Sue Foley” to the bouncy, piano fueled fun. “Ain’t Gonna Change”, another fantastic track, then shakes and rattles with a firm rock’n’roll spirit that will be relevant for decades to come.
“Don’t Go Cold” lands near the end, and benefits from a poetic, emotive mood, and “See BT Blues” exits the listen with organ and guitar working together as Stillman’s vocals channel a beat poet sort of feel.
A diverse, mature and exciting listen, if you’re a fan of anything blues related, you’d be wise to familiarize yourself with this youngster, cause he is very quickly going to become one of the best.
Travels well with: AJ Fullerton- The Forgiver And The Runaway; Bob Corritore & Friends- Spider In My Stew