Artist:     Al Gold

Album:     Al Gold’s’ Paradise

Label:     Self-released

Release Date:     3.6.2020

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New Jersey-based guitarist and vocalist Al Gold offers a potpourri of blues styles on his punny, tongue-in-cheek titled Al Gold’s Paradise. This is a loose, free-flowing session anchored by his veteran core band, the Suburban Rhythm Kings, which he leads with support from drummer Jerry Cordasco, guitarist Tom Rice and bassist Terry Hemmer.

When asked what New Jersey roots and blues music might sound like, Gold quotes guest harmonicist Johnny Sansone, “it’s all just SOUL with a Delta coating.” That description easily covers Memphis and New Orleans, but these styles are all over the map, bringing in Chicago and acoustic Delta blues too. The many guests who appear on select tracks contribute a special aspect to the album, and bring the total credited musicians to a whopping 13.

The opening “That’s My Baby” is Chicago inspired and features Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s long-time sax man, Baron Raymonde on baritone. On the stripped-down “Paradise (Down Home)” Al Gold plays the slide with support from acclaimed harp man Sansone. V.D. King plays upright bass while Cordasco is on drums. Friend and guitarist Mitch Eisenberg contributed a story from 1893 that is the basis for the lyrics of “Tramps Take Linden.” The story-telling aspect of writing also fuels “Mr. Banker,” a Bill Broonzy-type approach to the banking crisis of 2008 that turns out to be more of a dustbowl protest song, aided by Anthony Tamburro on acoustic rhythm guitar.

“Rambling Pony Blues” owes Peter Green, even down to quoting him in the slide solo. The tune is performed by the core band with Tom Rice on the other guitar. “Boogie in the Dark” is another turn for Sansone, who adds a haunting harp to the vocals of Gold and guest Cassidy Rain. NOLA rears its head for “Got a Mind,” written as a kiss-off to NJ in the style of Dave Bartholomew and Fats with Raymonde again on the bari sax as Eric Heilner pounds the piano, taking his turn simmering on organ for the slow blues burner “Won’t Sleep Tonight” which features a chilling guitar lead. We then have some jazz-blues with renowned players who often work together, organist Jared Gold and guitarist Dave Stryker for “Paradise (Uptown).” They conclude with an instrumental nod to the town where this live recording took place on “Maplewood Limbo.” It’s a New Jersey project through and through with all players who live and/or were based in the state at one time. V.D. King engineered, and ace producer and versatile musician Dave Gross mastered.

The variety of the album is its main appeal. Al Gold’s vocals are not especially distinctive, but the tunes are solid, and his supporting musicians bring it home, New Jersey style.

—Jim Hynes