Tin Pan Alley - Blue(s) Hour (2016)

The three letters TPA stand for the German blues band Tin Pan Alley . Kaiserslautern / Enkenbach-Alsenborn is given as the hometown. The history of the combo goes back to 1989, when the thirtieth anniversary was already within reach. On the homepage "Live im Cotton Club" (1998), "Talking With The Blues" (1999), "Plug'n'Play" (2009) and the present record with the fine title "Blue (s) Hour" listed. »The highlights included several large appearances as a" back-up "band by the American blues legend Louisiana Red, numerous festivals (including the international blues festival Kammgarn Kaiserslautern, blues festival Leingarten, Luxembourg blues and jazz rally and the live performance with "coffee or tea" on SWR TV. «

In a quintet line-up, the Tin Pan Alley formation covers a fairly wide range of styles within the blues. On "Blue (s) Hour" the boundaries were not drawn with a hard pencil, so that the orientation to jazz fits into the musical framework without any problems.

With a total playing time of just over fifty-eight minutes, spread over eleven songs, the album is very well filled and you can look forward to a very well filled hand of original compositions. There are also cover songs by Robert Johnson , Charlie Daniels , K. White / M. Pugh ( Steamhammer) , Aaron T. Walker , and Gregg Allman .

Right at the opener "Hamster Wheel", a composition by Werner Steiner , blues rock gets this disc going at high speed. You could also consider this song as a kind of introductory round, because Albert Koch uses his harp and Werner Steiner, just mentioned, his hotly spiced electric guitar as a solo. Keysmann Knut Maurer is on fantastic, funky trails. The rhythm department made up of Frank Schreiber (bass) and drummer Helmut Koch is the driving force behind the number. Great start at "Blue (s) Hour".

With a great a cappella introduction, animating changes in tempo and the slidable guitar, "She's Loving Money" is the motivating bridge to Robert Johnson's "Crossroads". Tin Pan Alley turns the template into a rocking country blues that stands out benevolently from the cream version.

Wow, what a groove! If not the dance leg, at least the foot rocker sets in by itself. Musically, the "Bad Dreams" are not that dark. On the contrary! Here melody, rhythm and great lead vocals are used. Great radio again from the buttons. Depending on requirements, Knut Maurer commutes between keyboards or piano. The inserted twin sound of harp and guitar is the icing on the cake of the own composition. This two-instrument sound continues stante pede in the well-known "Junior's Wailing".

Albert Koch not only has a great blues voice, but is a true acrobat on the small instrument and Werner Koch promotes his great guitar runs from a large barrel of ideas. The other creative force Knut Maurer plays absolutely at eye level with the other band members.

After the great staged "Junior's Wailing", the combo focuses on contrast, because "You Don't Have To Lie (To Play The Blues)" develops its blues feeling based on jazz. In my view, this song is a highlight. "Stormy Monday" and "Whipping Post" are outside of any criticism and Knut Maurer's composition "Maisy" has a wonderful swing groove foundation on which the musicians can let off steam, so to speak. There are many layers of solos and the songwriter shows once again what he can do.

The album title "Blue (s) Hour" fits perfectly with the extensive blues of Tin Pan Alley . The almost one hour of total playing time is extremely entertaining. Recommendation!