Zac Harmon – Floreada’s Boy
12 tracks/54 minutes
Zac Harmon’s latest Floreada’s Boy is named for his mom and he states that it is a tributes to his growing up in Jackson, Mississippi and 50 years making great music. Harmon is one of the blues world’s elder statesmen now, a fine blues and soul singer and just an overall talented guy.
Dedicated to everyone in his life that he’s lost in the past five years, Floreada”s Boy is a fantastic new effort. Zac lost eleven people close to him and he pays them all tribute with a dozen superb cuts.
“Babe & Ricky’s Inn” is a song about a real blues joint, located in South Central, Los Angeles and run for 53 years by Mama Laura Mae Gross, a Mississippi transplant. Harmon released his first album over 20 years ago, which was recorded there live. After leaving Jackson, MS, Harmon made his home in LA and got in with all the great bluesmen there and dedicates this slick cut to them. Up next is “Fake News,” a song about stories propagating to his woman about where he’s been hanging out and what he’s been up to.. He adamantly tells here it’s all fake news as he sings and plays some mean guitar licks. “Glass Ceiling” follows, opening with some stinging guitar and a funky groove. There’s also some sweet organ adding to the mix.
“Let It Slide” is another funky piece with great guitar and a nice beat. Then the soulful “That’s The Way I Feel About You” is a nice duet with Zac and SueAnn Carwell. It’s slow and cool with great organ work and emotive vocals. More funk follows that with “Stress,” a jumping little cut about being stressed out. The guitar is hot and the groove is deep as Harmon describes all life’s foibles that are stressing him out.
“Sugarman” follows with a ringing guitar and vibrant organ as Zac sings abut doing everything he can to be his woman’s sugarman. A deep, slow blues with slick horns is next. “Big Dog Blues” gets down and dirty as he gets some innuendo’s in about his little puppy getting along with his woman’s little kitty cat. “Lonely Rider” is a country inspired soul blues ballad with Harmon delivering an impassioned performance.
He gets funky again with “Never Had A Better Night” where his guitar rings brightly. Then we get some more deliciously slow blues in “Never Forget,” a somber and dark cut where Zac sings with heartbreak and despair. The guitar adds it’s own passion to this one. Piano, guitar and percussion open “Stop The Killing” where Harmon sings about his God being one of love and that we need to stop the murdering of each other. Soulful vocals and guitar, Harmon takes us home with a meaningful message and another excellent performance.
Harmon has delivered another superb album that is likely to be noted during next year’s awards season. This is a fine album with a dozen outstanding performances. I think Floreada can be proud of her boy once again. Her son has done an amazing job with this one. I loved this album; it is most highly recommended!
