Review: Fat Harry & The Fuzzy Licks – Zero Ten Alley
Fat Harry & The Fuzzy Licks – Zero Ten Alley
Format: CD – Digital / Label: Continental Record Services
Release: 2025
Text: Bert van Kessel
Zero Ten (010) is the area code for Rotterdam , city of the Maas and the Kuip. And perhaps lesser known, the Blues. Which is what Fat Harry & The Fuzzy Licks prove to be true with this versatile and highly entertaining feelgood album,their second, chockful of cheerful, funky soulblues that will liven up any party. The songs are delivered with gentle vocals with ardent support from enthusiastic female background singers. And there is a prominent role for the happy horns, which really get the party going. The neat and tidy production by bass player Remko Deijl fits like a glove. Singer/guitarist Harold (Fat Harry) Van Dorth had a hand in nine of the eleventracks with a helping hand from other band members on most of them; two were contributed by Remko Deijl.
The tight Chicago groove of the opening track Feel Good Blues sets the tone, and surely” feelgood’’ is the keyword of this party album. The next track is I’m Gonna Leave You with friend of the band Joe Louis Walker on vocals and funky, soulful guitar. He delivers a haunting solo. These may well be his last known recordings as he would die soon after. Remko Deijl’s Set You Free is characterised by the exciting interplay between Harry and the captivating guest vocals by blues diva Robbin Kapsalis. There’s great support from Pascal Lanslots on the organ. The passionate background singers seem inspired by Sting in their lament ‘free, free, set me free’ .
Both on In My Home and I Can’t Give You Everything the passion of the background vocalists is equalled by Harry’s inspired soloing. Fake News is the band’s ironic comment on Trump’s present struggles. Jan de Ligt contributes a dazzling sax solo with solid support from Pascal Lanslots on the organ.
The band really lets go in the swinging instrumental Booked Off, with driving keyboards leading the way. The happy horns truly are in their element here. Closing track Swear I Can Hear You is an emotional slowblues, dedicated to horn maestro Jan De Ligt, who was to pass away shortly after these sessions. Harry’s wailing slide guitar says it all. What a way to finish this fine album!
This is a very pleasant ‘happy blues’- album, made with passion and energy. Some of these tracks could have done with a slightly rawer edge.
Tracks:
01. Feel Good Blues
02. I’m Gonna Leave You (with Joe Louis Walker)
03. Step by Step
04. Set You Free (with Robbin Kapsalis)
05. In My Home
06. Fake News
07. I’ve Seen The Light
08. Can’t Give You Everything
09. Booked Off
10. Ignorant Wall
11. Swear I Can Hear You
Website: https://fatharry.nl/