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Review published Feb 2005,
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Over the past couple years there has been a question going around the Portland Metro area: "Just what is a Papa Salty?" Hmmm? Images begin to abound. Is it a time-worn sea-dog of a sailor with language so crude it could make a gangster rapper blush? Or maybe the animated spokesperson for a biscuit retailer? Maybe even a voodoo spirit traveling the dark of night alongside Legba while loup-garoux howls amid the Spanish moss-covered magnolias? If you listen to the Hudson Rocket Band, they'll tell you it's an adult beverage in a salt-rimmed glass with a shot of Viagra. But if you guessed any of the above, you'd be dead wrong! Papa Salty is, in fact, one of the most promising up-and-coming young Blues acts in Portland today. Don't take my word for it. Grab a copy of their incredible debut CD, "Swing it Big!" and you'll know for sure.
It's really hard to believe that band leader Tim McAllister (Papa Salty himself) has only been playing Blues for two-and-a-half years. Tim cites listening to recordings by such legendary players like T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner, among others, as his inspiration to study the genre in depth. He's absorbed it so well that the sound just bleeds back through his fingers across the strings of the guitar. And, not only does he offer outstanding reads of other musicians' compositions, such as Junior Watson's, "Take Your Hands Out Of My Pockets," or the B.B. King standard "How Blue Can You Get" he is a very skilled songwriter himself. The title track, "Don't Bite The Hand" and "Burnside Boogie" all being examples of a swinging blend guaranteed to get you off of your seat. Personally, my favorites on the CD have to be the cover of Willie Dixon's timeless classic, "Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy" and Tim's lament of a woman drowning in alcohol, "Mermaid Mama," where the twist on words is priceless.
Of course, Tim can't provide all this great music without the support of a first-rate band. On the album, he is complimented by a stellar groove handled by rhythm section, Jim Solberg on upright bass and Julian Brogi on drums; rock solid rhythm to say the least. Perfectly matching Tim's guitar is Kevin LaBaron, pulling out masterful honking saxophone licks that make the music swing naturally. Take one component away from this band and it just wouldn't be right. It's the overall blend that makes Papa Salty work.
"Swing it Big!" does. It swings! A perfect combination of Chicago meets West Coast Swing. The album has set the standards for Papa Salty to strive to surpass in future releases. It'll be tough, as they have created a sensational album here that will be hard to beat. But, I believe in Papa Salty. I believe they have the potential to bring us even greater surprises. Listen to "Swing it Big!" and you'll no longer have to ask the question, "What is a Papa Salty?" You're definitely going to know.
Greg Johnson
President
Cascade Blues Association