Reviews Music

Baldori & Migliazza / The Boogie Kings Disturbing the Peace Spirit Records   Bob Baldori, known as Boogie Bob, has been bopping the blues since the ‘60s as one of Chuck Berry’s favorite backup players as well as his personal lawyer, a recording studio owner, producer and world renowned boogie woogie pianist. Baldori sought out the last living link to the original masters of boogie woogie, 89 year old Bob Seeley, producing a documentary about their dueling piano tour in the 2013 “Boogie Stomp!” then parlayed it into a critically acclaimed off Broadway show “Boogie Stomp!” with young award winning pianist Arthur Migliazza. Together again, Baldori & Migliazza have dubbed themselves The Boogie Kings and to memorialize their partnership have taken to the studio to record “Disturbing the Peace” recreating much of their live show without the stage patter. Many of the dueling piano arrangements were worked out by Baldori and Bob Seeley and have a fresh sound as stimulating as their live show. Starting with a blast of blues harp and pounding piano on Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Shake That Boogie,” Baldori’s gentle vocal against the squawks and squeals of harmonica adding a bit of “Shake Your Money Maker.” Starting as a solo piano on Jimmy Yancy’s “Yancy Stomp” building momentum as the second piano joins in and the sound flows into an immense keyboard extravaganza. Their four-handed piano continues into Albert Ammons’ “Boogie Stomp” and Mead Lux Lewis’ “Honky Tonk Train,” taught to Baldori by Seeley, who personally knew both giants, and rolling so fast it’s impossible to tell who’s playing what. The intricate interplay of the dueling pianos on the swing classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” is so pulsating you can almost hear the dancers behind them trying to keep up. Sneaking up slowly they break into an infectiously “Rockin Pneumonia” and on another four-handed powerhouse, Baldori’s “Okemos Breakdown” based on Big Maceo’s “Chicago Breakdown” with a trace of the “Mess Around.” Carrying on they keep things moving with “Suitcase Blues,” then Baldori goes it alone on a slow but moving version of “Tennessee Waltz.” Showcasing Migliazza solo piano and vocal skills with a “Boogie Woogie Man” tale he takes flight into a stinging rendition of “Bumble Boogie.” Boogie Bob breaks out his harp again for Little Walter’s “Blues With A Feeling” taking the forefront with a gentle vocal against a plodding piano till Migliazza breaks free on a solo and they both charge into Muddy’s “Mojo” for the finale. Though this may be the soundtrack to their stage show, the real story of this CD is Baldori passing on the knowledge of this art form to a younger Crown Prince so The Boogie Kings can continue “Disturbing the Peace.” —Roger & Margaret White