Tomás Doncker Band - Moanin' at Midnight: The Howlin' Wolf Project (2014)

Tracklist

01. Evil
02. Killing Floor
03. Back Door Man
04. Moanin' at Midnight
05. Spoonful
06. Blind Melon Morpheus (Missed the Train)
07. Shook Down
08. I Ain't Superstitious
09. Smokestack Lightning
10. Moanin' at Midnight (Ras Jah Ames Dubmix)

Tribute albums are a popular vehicle for artists in a variety of genres and often feature suburban Caucasians reworking songs of icons from the inner city, Deep South or some other gritty locale. What makes Moanin' at Midnight: The Howlin Wolf Project (released July 2014) so special is that it comes from the Brookly- based Tomás Doncker Band -- a group of bonafide inner city musicians who play what they call “Global Soul,” who have studied and been inspired by all the masters, including the Wolf and his chief songwriting partner Willie Dixon.

The seven-piece band led by guitarist-vocalist Doncker, who’s voice draws quick comparisons to Wolf’s deep baritone growl, present ten tracks that they describe as a "hardcore modern blues record.” Eight Wolf classics have been reworked with invention, passion, and fire.

Originally done as a rumba, “Evil” has been retooled as a progressive funk-rock track, while “Killing Floor” was ratcheted back to a slow-burning island soul groove that allows Doncker room to explore the emotional depth of this bad love blues, with his vocals and lead guitar.

“Back Door Man,” is the album’s only traditional blues track, and the band lays down the greasy bump and grind blues with perfection.

The title track has been given a reggae groove, and the band rips through “Spoonful” like the Hendrix Experience. With a dramatic harmonica intro from David Barnes, the album’s only new composition, “Shook Down,” was co-written by Doncker and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. No higher tribute can be made.

The nimble rhythm section turns “Aint Superstitious” into a lively two-step riff, and “Smokestack Lightning” continues the jazzy psychedelia, mixing in some hip Fender Rhoades from Nick Rolfe. Bonus track number ten is a spacious dub mix of “Moanin’ At Midnight,” done by Ras Jah Ames that will no doubt inspire the next generation to investigate Howlin’ Wolf.

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