Review: Roel Spanjers – Birdcatcher II
Roel Spanjers – Birdcatcher II
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Suburban Records
Release: 2024
Text: Pascal Wilhelm
In an intimate setting, I recently witnessed Roel Spanjers playing and discussing New Orleans piano styles. Not only his virtuoso playing stood out (the typical piano“rolls”), but also his soulful voice. “As a hired gun, I think it is important to create something yourself once in a while”, he says.
Birdcatcher’s music is Roots Noir, a blend of The Band, Memphis Hi Records Soul and the music of Allen Toussaint, mixed with blues, folk and the Beach Boys. You can hear Roel is a big fan of the music of The Band. Listen to the first track Back For More when he sings “… to the south side of Chicago.” Beautiful.
His vocal melodies really stand out on this album with ten original songs. Falling short is even an earworm reminiscent of Tom Petty’s work. Perhaps you would expect a piano showcase album, but ‘Birdcatcher II’ really isn’t. His organ and piano playing are there, but this is an album of a true musician creating beautiful melodies with fine musicians (listen to Stefan Wolfs playing the pedal steel on The Fool That I Am).
The core of ‘Birdcatcher II’ is Eric van Dijsseldonk on guitars and added vocals, Nico Heilijgers on bass and added vocals and Rob Wijtman on drums and percussion. Several other musicians contributed to this album: Gabriël Peeters (drums, congas, bass and also producer of the album), Arwen Linnemann (bass), Bart Wijtman (bass), Malford Milligan (vocals), Joppe Bestevaer (baritone and tenor saxophone), Peter Delannoye (trombone), and Simone Roerade and Majorie Pelgrim (backing vocals).
Roel has something to say on this album. About himself (Hand Over Fist and The Fool That I Am) and the world we live in (Falling Short and See Them Off). Roel is also a historian, the song The Ballad Of Peatie Wheatstraw (The Devil’s Son-in-Law) (aka William Bunch, 1902 – 1941), an influential figure among ’30 blues singers, is evidence of that.
Through his experience as a side man, his incredible talent and musical knowledge Roel Spanjers has something to offer. Sadly, good music doesn’t always finds its way to the larger audiences, but that is not the primary reason why real musicians create music, I think. It just needs to be done. Even when it is only once in a while.
Birdcatcher II can easily become the soundtrack of a summer holiday or a new starting relationship.
Simply beautiful.
Tracks:
01. Back For More
02. Hand Over Fist (Halcyon Days)
03. Birdcatcher’s Lament
04. Moral High Ground Blues
05. The Fool That I Am
06. Your Pain Is My Pain
07. Falling Short
08. See Them Off
09. The Ballad Of Peetie Wheatstraw (Devil’s Son-In-Law)
10. Right Road