This is Sugar Ray Norcia's Big Band album. Between 1994 and 1997 Sugar Ray Norcia was the lead singer and front man for "Roomful of Blues". This is also a re-union album as 4/5th's of the original "Roomful of Blues" horn section and founder Duke Robillard, all guest on this recording. The core band is composed of The Bluetones; so, Greg Piccolo, tenor sax; Doug "Mr. Low" James, baritone sax; Carl Querfurth, trombone; Bob Enos, trumpet; and Duke Robillard, guitar; join Sugar Ray, vocals and harmonica; Michael "Mudcat" Ward, acoustic bass; and Neil Gouvin, drums. Ex-Bluetones Anthony Geraci, piano and "Monster" Mike Welch, guitar, are also along for the ride.

On half the tracks Ray re-creates R & B songs from the early 1950's. Opening with Louis Prima's "Oh Babe", he covers Dave Bartholomew's "I Want To Be With Her"; Buddy Johnson's, "You Better Change Your Ways"; Big Maceo Merriweather's "Do You Remember?"; Wynonie Harris' "I Like My Baby's Pudding"; and Nat King Cole's "Until The Real Thing Comes Along". Ray also covers Ella Fitzgerald's "My Last Affair" from the early 1940's and Sonny Boy Williamson II's blues standard "I Don't Know" recorded in 1959. Ray is ambassador to this by-gone era but his voice gives the songs the timelessness that they deserve.

Having fully absorbed the genre Ray has also written seven brand new tunes. The humorous "Little Green Talking Frog" is a story song reminiscent of "It Should Have Been Me". Other originals include "Money Taking Mama", "Shut Your Face", "No Sorry No More", "The Last Words of A Fool", "Oh, Oh, Oh Pretty Baby", and "Think It Over Again".

Blues singers do not necessarily have to have the best voice as long as they have the passion, but when singing with a big band a clear voice and annunciation become more important. Sugar Ray, named appropriately for his sweet as sugar voice has all the intonation necessary to express the emotions within his material. For this reason Sugar Ray and The Bluetones, whether as a big band or as a smaller quartet are one of the best bands performing today.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com