A long and open road
taoboy@cox.net
Posted On January 15, 2018
The Wide Open
Long Road Home
Two Moons Records
This LaGrange, Texas based group pulls some of its illustrious players off the streets of Texas and into the studio for this initial recording; names that are probably familiar to those that follow music, Glenn Fukunaga (electric and upright bass), JJ Johnson (drums), and David Percefull (Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano) to give you an idea of those that are helping to flesh out the sound on this disc. The you have the duo that forms The Wide Open; Season Ammons; guitar, banjo and lead vocals and Allen Rayfield; harmonica, ukulele, guitar, and lead vocals. This duo’s sound is a mix of Americana singer/song-writer and blues, deep down blues. Sometimes there is a bit of instrumentation in the song that causes pause until you realize that it fits perfectly, it just wasn’t expected.
When this duo gets going with the band members it is a much bigger and more powerful sound than their appearance has hinted at, and don’t be fooled by what you see, there is sheer power here as well as a good dose of originality. First off Season Ammons wrote 8 of the 13 songs, Allen Rayfield wrote 3 of the songs, and the other 2 were co-written by the 2 of them. Then you have Season’s voice, when she really opens up on a song such at Raining In Memphis, there is power there that can not be denied, maybe not the raw polished power of Mavis Staples, not the unbridled power of Tierinii Jackson of Southern Avenue, but it is non-the- less a power that opens up other dimensions for you to explore; then there is the soft seductiveness of her voice as in Rainy Day Serenade. The group just is one surprise after another and it is not for the reviewer to spoil all the surprises that await on this disc.
There is great strength in the music here and it was a very nice surprise as the disc went along and revealed itself, and repeated listenings opened up even more depth and wonder that had been subtly hidden from view. Came away with a strong feeling we will be hearing much more of this group from here on out. There is just a plethora of surprises here waiting to be discovered. Enjoy the depth and surprises of this powerhouse pairing.
by bob gottlieb
