Artist:     Ed Randazzo

Album:     Who’s That Man?

Label:     S.A.M

Release Date:     1.11.2019

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The music scene in Northeastern Pennsylvania has several talented musicians, many of whom take the stage at the annual Briggs Farm Blues Fest, where Elmore has been a long-running media partner. We’ve covered Clarence Spady and Dustin Douglas on these pages before and now we introduce you to the gifted singer-songwriter Ed Randazzo. Randazzo has been a popular act at the Fest and in the area. To see Randazzo perform live, usually with his trio Miner Blues, is an unforgettable experience watching and listening to this electro-charged singer with blue blood running through his veins, arms flailing, legs shaking, with a captivating deep voice that summons the spirits. Due to a disability, he does all this while sitting in a chair, bringing audiences to their feet multiple times during his set.

This has a dozen of Randazzo’s hand-picked tunes over the past ten years, a mix of covers and originals written with co-producer Bret Alexander, Tony Halchak also assists in production. Most are culled from previous CDS (Randazzo has three full-length recordings) but there are two new songs “Soldier, Soldier” and “Devil’s Trail.” His cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” featuring the background vocals of Mark Leffler and Friends is also new. Multiple Blues Music Award nominee Alexis P. Suter joins Randazzo on the title tack and on “Still Cry” with her unmistakable deep voice that meshing well with Randazzo’s gospel approach. Their interplay on both tracks with Suter’s wailing and call and response vocals is especially stirring. The searing guitar of Dustin Douglas punctuates “Wade in the Water.”

Most of these are fan favorites and the covers, aside from the Dylan tune, are not ones that have done ad nauseam. He begins with Nina Simone’s “Be My Husband” and follows with Bill Withers’ “Grandpa’s Hands.” “Wade in the Water” and “Ring Them Bells” would seem to be covers just judging from the titles but are indeed different. Randazzo’s sound is gutty and at some even goose bump inducing. He’s been compared to Dylan, Mississippi Fred, and even Leonard Cohen but Randazzo’s gospel blues niche is one that’s not heard that often— perhaps Ollabelle or the more recent offerings from the Ben Harper/Charlie Musselwhite collaborations are better comparisons. Randazzo brings a haunting darkness to some of these tunes such as “Devil’s Trail,” achieving even a deeper intimacy that he does in a live setting, where fans seek the more exuberant tunes.

Last year Randazzo performed at the Briggs Farm Blues Fest in the Sunday Gospel-Blues lineup preceding the Gospel Grammy Award winner, Mike Farris, bringing the audience to their feet and drawing praise from Farris in the process. Give Randazzo a listen. Chances are you’ll be moved too.

—Jim Hynes