Barry Darnell and The Mobile Slim Band - Not a Drop of Rain
Blues, Southern Rock, Americana
Georgia, United States
Overall Impression: Barry Darnell and the Mobile Slim Band draw from deep wells of Blues, Jazz, and Soul to deliver an experience both timelessly familiar and completely original - combining smoky cabaret instrumentals with emotionally devastated vocal inflections to drive home the beautiful and bleak lyrical imagery of "Not a Drop of Rain" with skillful style!
Strongest Point(s): Very much of the arrangement at work in "Not a Drop of Rain" simply works - from the song's format and flow to the individual instrumental performances and the lyrical and emotional energies they're supporting. Beginning the track with just upright bass, piano and brush percussion immediately takes listeners into an intimate space and grounds their expectations for the song in the realm of Jazz. The vocals enter with a decidedly more Blues-oriented feel and take on even further color and depth with the addition of vocal harmonies for the chorus. Soulful and subtle saxophone plays of the lead vocal melody nicely from here, creating a dialogue of give and take that mount into cathartic exposition later in the track. Each instrumentalist carries their respective part perfectly, though the bass specifically steps out of the pocket with impressive flair throughout the experience. Overall, this is an impressive piece of Jazz writing and performance, with a stylistically powerful lead vocal expression to guide it home!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of intentionally composed and thoughtfully assembled Jazz and Blues will be able to immerse themselves fully in the space that Barry Darnell and the Mobile Slim Band have built in "Not a Drop of Rain", while the song's heartfelt and heavy lyrics are bound to resonate among discerning listeners who have dealt with heartache firsthand! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Freddy King, Blind Faith, Bo Diddley, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Albert King, Bill Withers, Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Immanuel Wilkins, Jacob Collier, Branford Marsalis, Nat King Cole, PJ Morton, Bobby Darin, Clark Beckham, Quincy Jones, Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.