Big Al and The Heavyweights - "Blues Power" - VizzTone
Recorded at Suite Mix Studios, Slidell, Louisiana - Produced by Big Al and The Heavyweights - Engineered, mixed,and mastered by George Cureau Jr.
Laissez les bon temps rouler !!
Big Al and the Heavyweights - Their music is a wildly spiced gumbo mixed with the best of ingredients, a tempting music mix that is devilishly addictive - contagious Zydeco rhythms, the greasiest of funk, danceable bayou soul, West-Coast boogie, low down blues, rockabilly jump - all washed down with plenty of raw and gritty harp and guitar. Capturing the haunting essence of the swampy Louisiana bayou, the music blends the honky tonk, foot stomping feel of a hell-raising Saturday night with the exciting New Orleans-driven R&B, an irresistible etouffee that seduces and excites.
With the tragic loss of longtime keyboard player and vocalist Wayne Lohr the bandhas returned to its original lineup of harmonica, guitar, bass, and drums - Dangerous Dale Robertson on harmonica; Dennis the Menace Cedeno, bass; Marcel Anton, longtime guitarist and vocalist; and spiritual leader Big Al Lauro on drums. Hailing from South Louisiana the band is a most welcome sonic storm, soaring with energy and enormous excitement. They bring the party, the fun, the good times, wherever they perform.
"Blues Power" spotlights the hip shakin', butt quakin', heart racin' music and songs that Big Al and The Heavyweights have been bringing to audiences world-wide for decades.
“I never forgot where I came from; there would be no Big Al & the Heavyweights without Roguie Ray. Everything is so different all the time. Players change but the spirit of the band and where it all came from remains the same. It’s good to shake things up now and then, people with new musical tastes. We can never replace Wayne, but harmonica player Dangerous Dale gives it a different energy, and bass player Dennis cuts a deep and solid groove. And Marcel is a positive, uplifting force for Big Al, bringing a uniquely positive energy. And going from here, let’s just keep building a wider audience.” - Big Al Lauro
The first single, "If", is a blues ballad that pulses with the ache of a heartbreak. Sung by Anton in the rich, haunting tradition of Bayou soul, his commanding baritone weaves a sorrowful tale of love lost. As the song unfolds, his voice rises into a seamless falsetto that calls to mind the greats of the Louisiana blues scene. The intensity swells after a stirring bridge and a dramatic pause, leading into the final chorus where Anton's voice cuts through the tension: "If you're gonna let me down, don't make it easy." (americanbluesscene.com - January 10,2025)
There are unseen forces that roam the Louisiana wilderness, mysterious corners of the Bayou state, places in the humid, murky bayous where certain kinds of magic seem to take place. Dangerous Dale Robertson's harp work wails like the Rougarou on a moonlit night, elements of unexpected surprises waiting, ready, never following a predictable path. Guitarist and Vocalist Marcel Anton is more like the Loup-Garou of Prairie Laurent, a shape-shifting creature, able to adapt his vocals and ferocious fret work to different musical styles and different genres, his impressive talents stalking every track. Big Al is the Traiteur, the spiritual leader, whose obligation and commitment towards the “voisinage”, or community, is extremely important. He is the cultural glue that holds the band together. Both Big Al Lauro and bassist Menace Cedeno are the roux, allowing for a range of flavors and textures, contributing tasty musical styles, and inescapable grooves that contribute to the overall sound and style of the band.
Big Al and The Heavyweights deliver a tasty treat to every listener on their latest, "Blues Power". They'll certainly cast a spell on you with their signature brand of lively, imaginative, stompin', and soulful American Roots Music. Their raw and gritty sound captures the essence of the swampy bayou, serving up plenty of New Orleans-driven R & B with the traditional Creole and French Louisiana sounds. You won't be able to sit still with this band around!! Great time guaranteed for everyone, check out "Blues Power" as quickly as possible!!
