Brandon Santini

Live & Extended!
VizzTone

Oh well, nothing new here, same old, same old. Of course when you’re talking about Brandon Santini performing live, that same old, same old is something worth noting. Santini is a stage master. His shows are always explosively sensational, and he knows how to grab hold of an audience with his charm, big teddy bear manner, razor sharp harmonica, and smooth voice that draws you in.

Santini’s latest release, Live & Extended!, is his third solo album, and was recorded live last July at Quebec City’s Festival D’ete De Quebec. It offers a great representation of Santini’s sizzling stage workouts. There are a number of tracks from his Blues Music Award nominated disc This Time Another Year, including the Charlie Musselwhite-penned title track from that disc, “What You Doing To Me,” and “Help Me With The Blues.” Other selections offer a fine history of blues harmonica as Santini covers artists like Sonny Boy Williamson, Big Walter Horton, Frank Frost, and Slim Harpo.

Over and over throughout this live disc, the band truly turns up the heat, with a pound it down rhythm from bassist Nick Hern and drummer Chad Wirl, while Timo Arthur turns out one hot lick after another on guitar. Add in Santini’s harp, and people, this band is cooking with grease! And when he sings to everybody, “Have A Good Time,” he means it and they certainly do. You will, too, if you check out Live & Extended! Brandon Santini keeps playing with the stars in mind, and he’s on the steady course to become one of them himself. From the Muddy Waters’ number “One More Mile” to Brandon’s closing plea of “Come On Everybody,” Santini is going to make you a believer of his stage mastery.

Total Time: 66:07

One More Mile / This Time Another Year / Elevate Me Mama /Evil Woman / Have A Good Time

/ Help Me With The Blues / Got Love If You Want It / No Matter What I Do / What You Doing To Me / My Backscratcher / I Wanna Boogie With You / Come On Everybody