Coco Montoya
Dirty Deal
Alligator Records
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also available on amazon
With this new disc from Alligator Records you can see how the years of paying his dues are showing magnificent results, his tone and the delicate touch with his guitar on this collection of song are displayed to superb effect. His years of playing and touring first with Albert Collins, later with John Mayhill’s Bluesbreakers, and then as the band-leader, have coalesced on this Paul Barrere and Roger Cole produced disc. His guitar solos are kept tight and poignant and the rock side of his work is kept under a firm rein and doesn’t get undisciplined, and The Blues feel is what is concentrated upon. This guitar player and vocalist started out as a drummer in a number of rock bands; was originally hired by Albert Collins as a drummer; Collins liked him, kept him in the band for about 5 years and became his mentor and taught him his secrets of guitar playing. He started doubling in Albert’s band and playing
some guitar with the band. This mentoring plus his time playing with the Bluesbreakers set him up to go out on his own and the years of hard touring have raised the level of his playing. The band is tight and stays with him particularly on some of the slower numbers such as, “How Do You Sleep At Night”, and “It’s My Own Tears”, where his feel for what not to play as well as his touch on what he is playing comes to the fore. This is his strongest and hottest disc yet and if he keeps on this pace he is going to be starting even more fires.