Comments for theBLueVooDoo, Sparkle and Shine

Some of the comments about the Sparkle and Shine CD Kevin Doyle of "voodoo healin'" Radio CKMS said:” I like this one. With equal parts "the BAND" and "Little Feat" what more could you ask for. Well, the BLUES and this disc delivers the goods Terry Iredale, of Tecka's Tracks in Australia said:” Just received the newey from you guys. Another fine "Eclectic" Album. These guys turn Acoustic Guitars into a new "Power Source". Recommend it? "Bloody Oath Mate." John Taylor of the Blues on Stage Review stated: ”The roots are in the blues, but this is by no means another collection of tired riffs shoehorned into a twelve-bar structure, All in all a top-notch effort, well worth seeking out. JC Shepard said, "The Blue Voodoo hit it again--a bit rock, a lot of roll, toe-tappin twang and blues through and through, Sparkle and Shine surely does.” Americana DJ, KRFC-FM Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Sheryl and Don Crow-Music City Blues Review-Nashville, Tennessee say: “Excellent musicianship and smooth harmonies are the trademark of this outstanding group from north of the border.”

The Blue Voodoo Receive Five Stars on sparkle and shine release I've been blown away by this band, The Blue Voodoo! First off, the vocals on this album are off the wall. Every song on this cd is absolutely everything that blues music could and should be; full of passion. Rick Dalgarno has a style all his own with his rip roaring rock vocal sound and scorching guitar licks. Sparkle and Shine just wouldn't be an awesome album without Chris Weekes keeping a tight rythym on the skins, Ted Tosoff blasting the rythym guitar, and Daniel Ross keeping the soul in check with big bad bass. Everything from the lyrics, to the production, the overall sound of this album, and band in general kicks butt! I'd have to say these boys have a hold on the blues so you'd better jump on with them and hang on for the ride. Fabulous!! Waylon Digges Roots Music Report

The Blue Voodoo " Sparkle And Shine " BVCD12832 Reviewed by: John Taylor Email: john.taylor@ca.ey.com The blues, emotionally speaking, are universal. Heartache and sorrowand the very human need to cry out in acknowledgement and defiance of it all are part of our shared experience. It's why traditional delta blues can still reach us across the years. But the blues rely on truth, and if ones truth includes a musical education significantly more sophisticated than most early practitioners of the form, combined with an urban experience they couldn't have imagined . . . well, the blues that result are going to sound different. Vancouver's "The Blue Voodoo" guitarists Rick Dalgarno and Ted Tosoff and percussionist Chris Weekes have never picked cotton under the blazing Mississippi sun. But the driving rhythms and stark imagery of delta blues infuses every groove of "Sparkle and Shine", their stunning follow-up to 2003 "Ride". Although there are touches of electric guitar here and there, the overal feel on "Sparkle And Shine" is acoustic. Dalgarno contributes both six and twelve-string as well as slide guitars along with dobro and acoustic harmonica; Tosoff is on acoustic rhythm for most songs and contributes electric bass on some (with Dan Ross guesting on the rest); and percussionist Weekes, whose arsenal includes djembe and box o rocks, is as likely to be welding brushes as sticks. All three share vocal duties, Dalgarno and Tosoff taking the lion's share. Weekes feral growl is strikingly effective as employed here (sparingly), but both Dalgarno and Tosoff are top-notch, rough-hewn and real throughout. Tosoff's brother (and the band's number one booster), Bryon, adds sparkling piano on several tracks to excellent effect. And then there are the songs. By no means restricted to twelve-bar convention, there's often a hint of southern soul at play, and whoever's responsible (notes don't list individual writers, and credit the band as a whole with arrangements, they have an uncanny way with hooks. Add in layered guitars and percussion, top with ragged harmonies, and the result is both raucous and righteous. The boys explore familiar themes witness both "Walkin' Shoes" and "Railway Blues", both originals,but they do so on their own terms, with more than a hint of hipster cool and an edgy energy that's utterly irresistible. A rollicking good time from beginning to end, "Sparkle And Shine" is an unqualified delight, a first-rate outing that proves that blues canstand a little livening up, can even (horrors!) be fun! Highly recommended . . . ! www.thebluevoodoo.com JOHN TAYLOR Blues CD Reviews EJAZZNEWS.COM

Sparkle And Shine is the second release from a very talented quartet from Vancouver,British Columbia. They consist of Rick Dalgarno on vocals, slide and rhythm guitar, Ted Tosoff on vocals and rhythm guitar, Dan Ross on bass, and Chris Weekes on percussion. Together, these fellows take the traditional sounds of the Delta masters and put a modern spin on them, all the while holding to the true roots of the blues. There's a lot of good blues presented here. Rick Dalgarno's vocal and slide drives "Walk'n Shoes," which features some tight background harmonies. The title cut is a good-rockin' shuffle that serves as an ode to a young lady who's cookin' up a "little somethin' special" in her kitchen! We had three favorites, though. Chris Weekes' vocal on "Wake Up" makes use of some good echo effects, sounding almost as if it were Howlin' Wolf himself channeled through a harp mic. Rick Dalgarno buys a "ticket goin' nowhere" on a haunting, slide-soaked "Railway Blues," while the opposite is true where the blues meets the gospel on a tale of traveling down life's paths and coming back around "Full Circle." Excellent musicianship and smooth harmonies are the trademark of this outstanding group from north of the border. Fans of slide guitar and Delta-style blues oughta enjoy this one. Check out their website at www.thebluevoodoo.com and tell 'em the Crows sentcha!! -Sheryl and Don Crow ========================================= http://www.musiccityblues.org/documentcenter/bluesletter/Bluesletter% 20February%202005.pdf