Dean Haitani – Talk to Me

CD REVIEW -Dean Haitani – Talk to Me
by Chris Spencer

This is a terrific album, and I would be nominating it as among my favourite CDs of 2008, except the album was first released in 2002, and re-issued on the Hard Rush label in 2006.
I enjoyed it much more than another album of Haitani I reviewed in Trad&Now earlier this year.

I think the reason that this CD is so much better is that Dean had a producer.
In Chris Wilson, [not the big fella who plays the harmonica], he chose a great arranger who brought good players to the project, and who has a good grasp of how to get a good mix of guitar playing, appropriate instrumentation with the vocals sounding good.
If electric blues is of interest to you, this album is a must buy.

The album kicks off with “My Old Lady”, an upbeat, driving blues number.
I’m a sucker for the Hammond organ sound with the Lesley turned on and this song has it in spades.

Inspired by this bright start, the album moves into one of the best tracks in “Sea Runs Dry”.
It’s a bit slower, but has a steady beat; Haitani’s guitar just sings – beginning with delicate licks high up on the fret while he concentrates on singing – beautiful – but later he gets into his chops, and his playing matches any guitar playing I’ve heard recently; there’s plenty more organ that allows Dean to demonstrate his talent.  Five minutes of pure joy.

The only cover on this album is “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” that is uncredited as far as I can make out, being described as Traditional on a couple of web sites.
Rather than playing smooth guitar, this one begins with chunky chords, embellished with swishes of that magical organ again.

Three minutes in, Haitani begins to solo and again the guitar gets a good workout.
Things calm down a bit for the next couple of songs; we have a trumpet on the ballad “Always a Woman”; it has the most poignant lyric – She’s got more coins than a wishing well – Not sure what Dean means by this phrase; “Getting Busy” features piano, harmonica; The title track swaggers; then Dean brings out the acoustic guitar on “I Can”; Things get a bit loud and grungy on “Dissin’ Me” and the electric guitar is back.
Another stand out track is “Shepherd’s Warning” that is upbeat, has female harmonies, harmonica and brush drumming.

Finally, if there’s not enough to satisfy any electric blues fan, Haitani finishes the album with an interesting song about his grandfather, a song on which the lyrics take precedence over the playing.

If rhythm and blues is of interest to you, do not listen to this CD, purchase it!