Fishbelly Black - Turn It Up (2019)

Producer/writer George Mitchell’s long awaited follow up to the acclaimed “Crusader” CD, features 11 cuts of jazz infused funk that loses no ground picking up right where Fishbelly Black‘s last release left off. This Fishbelly Black journey keeps your feet moving from the raucous James Brown influenced “Watch Your Man” to the introspective “So Long Ago”, and covers just about every shade of jazz/funk in between. Smooth Jazz fans are as likely to embrace “ Throwin’ Shade” as they are to the groove of “Sun Shower.” This release combines sax efforts from previous releases with Greg Thomas (from Parliament), Vince Hammond,and Ray Gaskins, all taking their spin at bringing the Mitchell compositions to life. Two new guest additions to the sound are Mousey Thompson’s (James Brown’s drummer) funky drumming and Greg Cooper providing a vocal that will make James Brown fans do a second take. The first single “Turn it Up” sets the pace not only for this new CD but for the entire Fishbelly Black catalog.