PAUL LAMB & THE KING SNAKES

"I'm on a Roll" (2005) reviews: (click pictures for bigger versions - large files)

Blues Matters!, issue #29:
PAUL LAMB & THE KING SNAKES
I'm On A Roll
Blue. 16 tracks. 60.12 mins.
It was our great pleasure to recently attend a Paul Lamb & The King Snakes gig at Selby Town Hall, and this release captures the marvellous variety if not quite the dynamics, humour and showmanship of their live sets. Paul Lamb is simply one of the best harp players around, even when judged in international company. Voted Best UK Harmonica Player 6 years running and recently inducted into the British Blues Hall Of Fame, he nonetheless remains down to earth and in touch with blues aficionados and purists. Chad Strentz is a strong lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, while never taking the spotlight from Spain's Raul de Pedro Marinero. Nearly all the tracks are band-penned, and as usual display the full range of Lamb's eclectic blues styles and influences; jump, shuffles, 12 bar and rock and roll are punctuated with some of the finest harp blowing you could possibly wish to hear. What is amazing is how Paul Lamb's piercing one note solos and fills blend seamlessly into each song. They never dominate, but build on the solid foundation of long time rhythm section of Rod Demick and Sonny Below. There are only three covers; a great version of Big Joe Williams' "Baby please don't go" where the guitar and harp interplay is delectable, his hero Sonny Terry's "You'd better mind" and Jimmy Rogers "My baby don't love me no more". Of the rest, I make special mention of the stunning 8 minute slow blues "Adopted Child". I strongly recommend this CD why not pick it up at a live set somewhere near you.     
Noggin

Belfast Telegraph, 29th May 2005
	Harmonica World (UK), Aug/Sep 2005
Juke Blues (USA), issue no. 59 (October 2005)
	Maverick (UK), issue no. 39, Oktober 2005

The Times, 21 - 27 May 2005: review of the new album "I'm on a Roll": click here

Blues Matters!, issue #25 (April/May 2005): review of the DVD. Full text

RHYTHM & BLUES WEEKEND @ Cricket St. Thomas Hotel, Nr. Chard – 7-9 Nov., 2003
"Which led us to the finale with Paul Lamb & The King Snakes giving us the best harmonica playing I’ve ever seen with a band that served blues, soul and r’n’b of the highest calibre. New addition Raul de Pedro Marinero played some stunning guitar and old member returned Chad Strentz’s vocals were some of the best of the weekend. One more jam till the early hours of Monday morning when Paul Lamb and most of the King Snakes joined in." Blue Matters

"If you don't know who Paul Lamb and the King Snakes are, you are either extremely new to the Blues or you have been missing for the past ten years!
The only difference between Paul Lamb and the great harmonica players from the States is that Paul doesn't have a U.S. passport!
This appearance of Paul Lamb and guests is one of the Jewels in the crown for this festival." - The Great British R&B Festival, Colne. 1998.     more info

"Paul Lamb and the King Snakes have gone about as far as they can go - in this country at least. They've reached such a level of expertise it's easy to see qhy Lamb & Co. have such a large and faithful following. They've developed themselves into one of the most class outfits this country's Blues scene has ever produced." - Scott Duncan for Blueprint Magazine 1996.

"Those of you that have seen Paul Lamb before wil already know what an unbelievable musician he is and quite a showman too. If you missed him last time around be sure to beg, borrow or steal (or buy) tickets to his forthcoming show." - The Jazz and Blues Club, Hong Kong.

"There are not many UK blues bands that I would cover a distance of ground to see live but I would put on my travelling shoes to catch this outfit." - Phil Wight for Blueprint 1997.

"Paul Lamb has to be the tops in the U.K. and Europe for his style of harp playing." - Tim Corbett for "Harmonica World" Magazine.

"Paul Lamb's reputation as a truly great British blues band is convincingly reinforced by their latest album "She's a Killer" on which Lamb's expressive harp impress hugely." - Trevor Hodgett for The Irish Times August 1996.

"Harp maestro Paul Lamb and his band the King Snakes continue to reinforce the band's already considerable reputation." - John Clarke for "The Times", Jan 1997

"It is now more than 30 years since John Mayall and Eric Clatpion cut the Bluesbreakers album and for some the question 'can the Brits play the blues' still seems to be a live one. If any of them were in the audiencce on Tuesday they must have realised that the answer is an extremely resounding YES!" - Robin Lynam for the South China Morning Post.

"A musician who has brought real panache, excitement, and passion to the Blues" - Jalan Jalan at The Penthouse Menara Imperium, Jakarta, Indonesia.

"From the tradition of great british blues players comes Paul Lamb, one of the finest exponents of blues harmonica that Britain has to offer." - Harry Shapiro

"Ahh Paul Lamb, now there's a one off. Sure there are many good harp players around, but few who make things Swing the way he does" - Rock'n'Reel magazine.

"Enjoy the best harp player on these Islands, .....oh what the hell, the best harp player in Europe!!" - Blues and Rhythm magazine.

"Paul Lamb, he could hold his head up in a roomful of harmonica players anywhere in the world. He is a player of tremendous depth, able to switch from one style to another with effortless ease. Truly world class" - Rick Webb for 'Blues in the South'

"Within nano-seconds of Paul Lamb and the King Snakes taking the stage before a 300 plus capacity audience the dance floow had become thronged with dozens of writhing bodies. I kid you not, every one of these ecstatically bopping enthusiasts was a female - and a teenage one at that!
But seriously, how did these five irresistable sex gods actually play?
Well, they played stupendously. Lamb is a terrific harp player with a great fat tone who lethally combines emotional power with formidable technical prowess.
A wonderful band, a wonderful gig" - Trevor Hodgett on live review of The Warehouse, Belfast

"Paul Lamb and the King Snakes are a band that know how to use dynamic range and their lataest album 'John Henry Jumps In' uses that to full effect.
It's an album that confirms their premier position on the British Blues scene. No note, not lick, no drum beat is out of place. Their music cruises with effortless ease." - 'Folk Roots' June 1999

"Britain's top harp slinger with a fine blend of jump blues, swing, shuffles and slow blues all played with proper reverence. Lamb's stellar playing, his tonal and convincing command of the blues harp idiom make him more than a mere imitator, he's an instrumental voice worth following. Stateside Blues fans should keep an eye on this group." - Blues Revue Magazine, Illinois, USA (1998)

"This is Blues harp as good as it gets" - Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.
 
 

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