'Somewhere Down The Road' is the debut-CD from the Dutch company Mariëlla Tirotto & the Blues Federation. When listening to this disc you will look in vain for influences of great masters like the three King's, Elmore James, Muddy Waters or harmonica-players like Little or Big Walter. No low down dirty blues, but a 'sophisticated' mixture of blues, jazz, funk, soul and Latin. And, to be clear, there is nothing wrong with that.
About 18 months ago the band started under the name Nederblues.nl and, initially, only played numbers from the Dutch blues history of groups like Cuby + Blizzards, Livin' Blues, Flavium etc. Soon it became clear that the group had more to offer and early this year the name was changed into Mariëlla Tirotto & the Blues Federation and work of their own came onto their repertoire as well.
And now there is their first CD. Mariëlla Tirotto, an Italian/Dutch beauty, blessed with a sensual low voice, sings out of her emotions, lives her texts and makes the songs her own. Ten of the thirteen songs are written by themselves, all the texts by the leading lady herself as is the largest part of the music, partly written together with Harald Koll (guitar and bass) and Heins Greten (bass and piano). The blues harp is played by Michel de Kok and John Kakiay is at the drums.
With this CD everything is taken care of, the package as well as the contents. The varied selection of songs is convincingly brought, also the songs left over from the Nederblues.nl period, such as 'Sometimes', sung as if it was written especially for her, 'Window Of My Eyes' with a classical sounding piano intro suddenly changing into the well-known Herman Brood melody, and the funky, less known Eelco Gelling-number 'House On The Hill'. Then their own numbers with very personal texts and the necessary social involvement. Starting with 'Playing The Game', a swinging boogie, 'Confused Woman's Blues', belonging to the better Dutch blues ballads, 'Somewhere Down The Road', funky, subdued with a wonderful text, 'High Fever', beating blues, 'Bad Soul', sinister, threatening. Where necessary, a brass-secti on is brought in for the wanted accents.
The band has delivered a good business card. They have clearly shown what they are capable of which is more than enough to build up a multitude of fans.
They asked J.J. Scherpenzeel to help with the mixing and the total outline. With his work I am used to the music sounding set on the one hand, but still loose and playful on the other. That loose and playful bit is the only thing I actually miss a bit with this disc. But for the rest a CD to be proud of.