Album Review for Smooth Gentlemen – Album Title – Smooth Gentlemen.
Released on Flower Records
Smooth Gentlemen are two Polish musicians, celebrated piano and Hammond organ player, composer, Bartłomiej Szopiński who has won the “Piano Player of the Year” award in the “Blues TOP” poll no less than ten times, and versatile guitarist and vocalist Maciej Sobczak.
Actually, ‘smooth’ in this case is apt. Their blues is velvety and unconventional but in a very good way.
Their repertoire consists of J.J. Cale, Bob Dylan, popular blues and boogie standards, and on this fascinating 7-track CD, they demonstrate a mature skill in blues composition with the moody Overdrunk Love.
What makes this blues duo different is Szopiński’s rich skill on the piano. Both in Europe and the USA, he’s played with the best, among them Joe Bonamassa, Eric Burdon and Ana Popovic.
Sobczak’s versatile vocals and guitar take us through various styles. He sounds like Mr. Zimmerman on Dylan’s North Country Fair and provides a controlled rendering of John Lee Hooker’s, Crawling Kingsnake, plus a nice laidback version of Seasick Steve’s romantic Walking Man.
This is top-drawer European blues by two truly smooth gentlemen. Poland has a lot to be proud of.
Album Review by Roy Bainton
For More Info – Smooth Gentlemen
