Bennett Matteo Band – Shake The Roots
Bennett Matteo Band – Shake The Roots
Format: CD
Label: Gulf Coast Records
Release: 2022
Release date: May 20, 2022
“Shake the Roots’ is basically a mixtape of our influences with sounds that make us happy and stories about our life together,” says explosive guitarist Gino Matteo (Gino’s last name is pronounced “Ma-TAYO), one-half of the duo along with powerhouse singer Jade Bennett.
“We wanted to make a record grounded in blues, soul and funk with zero restrictions and this is what came out when we ‘shook the roots.’ We call it ‘dirtfunk and desert soul.’ I feel blessed to be writing and playing music in this band with Jade. She can sing anything and her tone is my favorite sound.”
‘Shake the Roots’ was produced by multi-Blues Music Award nominee Kid Andersen and Gino Matteo, with all songs written by Gino Matteo & Jade Bennett. The disc was recorded, mixed and mastered at Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California.
Gino Matteo is carving the spot he deserves as a “force of nature” in the roots world. A sensational guitarist, songwriter and powerfully emotional live performer, he empowered the Sugaray Rayford hit machine for nearly a decade. Gino has destroyed countless audiences in the US and abroad with his powerful wit, gut ripping playing, and incredibly
gifted musicianship.
His explosive, spontaneous, and original live show stands with the most legendary of blues players. Gino, along with the gutsy soul-power vocals of his lovely and talented wife Jade Bennett, have been heating up the blues circuit across the western US and internationally.
This hard charging dream team brings a raw and soulful interpretation to roots music, moving it forward progressively and creatively.
In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, they had an album done, but it went on the shelf as the initial label they were signed to deemed it not bluesy enough and that they didn’t know where to put it. That’s when the record’s co-producer and BMB confidant Kid Andersen decided to pitch BMB to Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records, who loved the album and are releasing it. It not being standard blues became a selling point and not a hindrance. The album is a collective of their experiences.
Website: https://www.bennettmatteoband.com/
Tracks:
01. Doesn’t Really Matter
02. Shiny Creatures
03. Believe in Me
04. You’re Nothing
05. Moving On
06. Paid & Broke
07. Warm Inside
08. Oh Lord
09. Table for Two
10. When I Close My Eyes
Musicians:
Jade Bennett – Lead Vocals
Gino Matteo – Guitars
Kid Andersen – Guitars / Background Vocals
Michael Burnham – Bass
Carson Ford – Drums
Jim Pugh & Kid Andersen – Keyboards
Nic Clark – Harmonica
Dmar- Percussion
Lisa Leuschner Andersen – Background Vocals
The Sons of the Soul Revivers – Background
Vocals
Producers: Kid Andersen & Gino Matteo