Bob Malone }-- Reviews

The two CDs are by New Jersey singer, pianist and songwriter Bob Malone. “Born Too Late” was released in 2006 and consists of twelve tracks, all self-penned. His vocal is low, raw and gravelly, with good intonation, and he is a master of the A-Z of ivories, with a real sensitive touch. His lyrics are well structured and often of complex nature. This CD is a mix of jazz, blues, pop, rock, country and folk. “Nasty Little Town” is a funky Blues/jazz number and, in typical New Jersey tradition of songwriting as a social commentary, it’s a put down of Hollywood and its society. A good CD, if a little heavy on the jazz side.

“Ain’t What You Know” is Malone’s latest offering and features guest appearances by Lee Sklar (Jackson Browne, James Taylor), Marty Rifkin (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty) and Mike Baird (Journey, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker). It is a very different CD to “Born Too Late,” leaning more to the commercial market, which is not a criticism, because the music and lyrical quality remain constant. It kicks off with an impressive rock/soul number, “Why Not Me.” The bouncy pop ballad “Small Girl” has a strong Dylanesque feel. The title track is boogie-woogie and shows what an eclectic and quality musician he is. The call and response between lap steel and piano, with rhythm supplied by brass and tight drumming, make this a class track. The cover of The Faces’ “Stay With Me” is a precision innovation into a blues-rocker, with a boogie woogie piano solo. Malone has raised this song to new musical heights – it’s a cracker!