African Winds by Dan Treanor and Frankie Lee

29 Apr

Written by Richard Bourcier
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African Winds is an extraordinary album of blues with an African twist. R&B singer Frankie Lee teams up with a veteran Colorado bluesman, Dan Treanor for a truly different blues experience.

Dan Treanor has been pleasing audiences for three decades since discovering the harmonica while on a tour of duty in Viet Nam. Treanor both collects and builds African instruments. The multi-instrumentalist plays ten of them on this session. Over the years, Dan Treanor appeared with such acts as Son Seals, Louisiana Red, George "Boogie" Daniels and others including his musical partner on this CD.

Frankie Lee is a Texas born singer best known for his work with the Ike and Tina Turner touring show. Lee’s classic R&B vocal style echoes his roots clearly. Now in his sixties, Frankie Lee has appeared with Big Mama Thornton, Gatemouth Brown, Al Braggs, Junior Parker, Buddy Ace and many more. His longtime friend Albert Collins persuaded Lee to move to California in the ‘70s and the pair left for Oakland where Frankie began recording on the Elka and Hightone labels.

African Winds is a pure blues effort in every way and the use of the African instruments enhances the entire presentation. With the single exception of Lonesome Road, all songs are the creations of Dan Treanor and some are quite impressive. It’s safe to say that the purists among us will be happy with the resulting session.

Lee and Treanor deserve your attention with this release and I’ll bet this disk receives a lot of airplay.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Dan Treanor and Frankie Lee
CD Title: African Winds
Genre: Blues
Year Released: 2004
Record Label: NorthernBlues Music
Tracks: Missing; Mean Woman Blues; Love a Woman’s Soul; Tell Me Mama; African Wind; The Groit Man; Got No Lifeline; Black Hanna; Cut With Dynamite; Kidnapped By The Blues; Texas Son; Who’s Playing Who; Lonesome Road; True Love; Cane Flute Soul.
Musicians: Dan Treanor (harmonica, acoustic guitar, dobro, keyboards, bass, diddley bow, ngoni, khalam, cane flute, drum sequencer programming); Frankie Lee (vocals); David Henderson (electric guitar, lap steel guitar, acoustic slide guitar); Gary Feori (drums, snare drum, congas, djembe, tables, surdo, shakers); R.D.Jones (electric and upright acoustic bass); Tom Quinn (drums). Special guests: Sammy Mayfield (guitar, backup vocal); Erica Brown (vocal duet); Peggy Brown (backup vocal); Tony Arceneux (flute); David Hooker (backup vocal); Ruben Flores (percussion).
Label Website: http://www.northernblues.com
Rating: Five Stars