Bob Malone }-- Reviews

Spiritual, cynical, songwriter, Crescent City influenced, West Coast NJ transplantee, heir to the legacy of Prof. Longhair and Dr. John, smooth yet sharp. Bob Malone is all this and more, in a wide ranging display of pianoing that astute, funny and real. To quote his paraphrase of Duke, "it ain't worth nothing if it ain't got no soul." With a city-that-care-forgot insouciance, Bob unleashes musicality and sincerity that is eye opening, toe tapping and ear pleasing all together. Tight horns with an obligatory honking baritone accent Ray Charles-like charts which move over to syncopated ivory funk. Subject matter is diverse. From tales of gender influenced social interactions to geocultural out of placeness, Malone can tell a story with his Cocker-raspy, soulful voice! Few can capture the extremes so well, with joy and deep sorrow, slow soul, rockin' boogie, the odd Loudon or Hiatt cover or C&W written for the Euro-market all done the way Sir Bob does it. For the discerning CD player where one groove can't keep it together, Malone's the ticket.