Brad Vickers & His VESTAPOLITANS

The references in the titles are simple: That the album draws on the European-American Jazz of the 'Thirties (using the charming article "le" in the fashion of the musical bistros of Paris), "Hudson's Stomp," to the baptismal name of Tampa Red, "I'm Homesick," to the master of the bottleneck, Homesick James (and also his cousin Elmore), " Boogie for Jimmy Reed," which automatically evokes the obstinate rhythm guitar which has been carried on by thousands of blues and rock bands all over the world.
Instead the design and execution imagined by two New York musicians, Brad Vickers and Margey Peters, it is far from simple: Vickers, a bassist of long experience that has accompanied everyone, from Jimmy Rogers, to Odetta to, Sleepy LaBeef, organized an orchestra (named The Vestapolitans) that pays homage to the shades of pre-War tonalities (using Vestapol and "open tuning" dear to the country blues guitarists.) Retuning his instrument to get the benefit of the acoustic guitar, the leader adds the retro sounds of the sax and clarinet of Jim Davis, the violin of Peters, and the vintage guitar of Dave Gross. Reassessed are timeless classics like Tampa Red's "Give it Up Buddy", that's played between slide guitar and clarinet, "Baby Please Don't Go" (without words—it's the guitar and the violin that sing), "Hesitation Blues," " On The Sunny Side of The Street," and "Hands Off" (this last by Jay McShann, where Margey, with dignity, takes care of Priscilla Bowman's vocal parts.) The result of this long, imaginative jam of hokum blues, dusty jazz manouche, and boogie, are incomparable—and not only in the revisited: original pieces like "Freight Car," "'A' Rag," and especially "Mississippi Shadows," a noir masterpiece with a bit of tension and restlessness, frame "Le Blues Hot" as one of the most uninhibited, original works of these years.
- Eduardo Fassio, IL BLUES, Italy

“This exhilarating collection encapsulates several genres of roots music…Vickers does a wonderful job on guitar and has a nice, soothing voice that is a perfect fit with the material…it’s obvious that Vickers and company had a ball recording it...What may be most impressive is that the group’s original tunes fit so seam-lessly with the older songs…“Le Blues Hot” is just what the doctor ordered for fans needing a fix of old-timey blues, jazz, and ragtime.” - Graham Clarke, BLUES BYTES, UK

At one time blues and jazz were synonymous, Brad Vickers & his Vestapolitans reunite them with a debt to early jazz, swing, acoustic blues, and ragtime, creating a sound that is fresh, swinging and hot. Brad Vickers is a well-regarded bassist who's played with everyone from Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to Jimmy Rogers and Johnny Copeland, and currently backs up Bobby Radcliff and Steve Guyger. Here Brad takes up acoustic guitar in the open “Vestapol” tuning, naming his group The Vestapolitans, and giving this New York City band it's name and distinctive sound. With the addition of Margey Peters on bass and violin, Jim Davis on clarinet and sax and Barry Harrison on drums The Vestapolitans have a style all their own. The twenty tunes on this CD are a mix of originals and classic blues and jazz standards that give it a timeless quality. His originals blend so well with the covers that you'd have to check the liner notes just to be sure.
The original county blues number “Freight Car” starts off this journey with slide guitar leads and clarinet where you'd expect a harmonica. It's a real delight to hear clarinet and violin swing the blues, these standard instruments of early jazz and ethnic bands are rarely used today, and here they're not just an occasional lead, but are used as accompaniment playing off each other and filling out the songs, gives the music a fresh yet familiar feel. Using clarinet is a nice turn around: taking back those parts from the Mississippi Saxophone imitating horns. Brad’s vocals are nice in a homey way, but the real pleasure comes from the subtle interplay of these simple arrangements. The violin starts off an instrumental version of “Baby Please Don't Go” with a driving beat carrying the load as Brad Vickers’ slide work shuffles on out. Rounding out the compilation are traditional numbers like the Rev. Gary Davis' “Hesitation Blues,” Jimmy Reed’s “It's Gonna Be Me (There'll Be A Day),” and “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” Interspersed with these are instrumentals blending traditional numbers like “Up From the Bottom” and “Give It Up Buddy” with his own originals, “Hudson Stomp” and “'A' Rag”. Margey Peters adds vocals on Jay McShann's “Hands Off” with an edge. Her pleading vocals fit this leave-my-man-alone tale. On a more rockin' side you'll find is “I'm Homesick.” With its slide guitar and sax the title may comes from Homesick James, but could just as well be Elmore. They keep on rockin' with “Gonna Quit You” and “Woogie On Down,” featuring a hard-rockin' clarinet and greasy slide guitar, while “Boogie For Jimmy Reed” is driven by a sly high hat. With so many great numbers the stand-out track may be“Mississippi Shadows,” an instrumental giving the swampy feel of sliding on snake oil down some dark back road. This CD listened too as a whole may be a progression from country blues in the beginning, swing in the midsection, and rock towards the end, and moves along on a steady roll. Finishing off this voyage,“Raisin' Praise” takes on the feel of a Sacred Steel church revival meeting. Played on acoustic slide guitar, it leaves you with a sanctified feeling.
Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans are like nothing else you'll find today—and only similar to music you may have remembered from the past.
— Roger & Margaret White, Big City Blues
- Roger & Margaret White, BIG CITY BLUES, United States

“Brad Vickers may be know to some from his recordings with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, or Little Mike & The Tornadoes; or maybe you've been lucky enough to catch his shows. He tunes his guitar in "Vestapol", hence the band name—and what a band!...Excellent slide guitar numbers skiffle, hokum and/or ragtime-styled tunes, or fine down-home blues. A very distinctive and appealing sound.” - Norman Darwen, BLUES ART JOURNAL, Austria

“A CD by a fabulous musician! One of the baddest blues bassists around, it turns out that Brad also knows his way around guitar's neck and microphone! With...great playing and some first-class musicians, "Le Blues Hot" is a CD that should have been released a long time ago!” - Przmek Draheim, RADIO SFERA, Poland

“Brad Vickers may be know to some from his recordings with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, or Little Mike & The Tornadoes; or maybe you've been lucky enough to catch his shows. He tunes his guitar in "Vestapol", hence the band name—and what a band!...Excellent slide guitar numbers skiffle, hokum and/or ragtime-styled tunes, or fine down-home blues. A very distinctive and appealing sound.” - Norman Darwen, BLUES ART JOURNAL, Austria

“Le Blues Hot is precisely that, a singularly unique masterpiece of music, which, in its simplicity is literally brilliant...each song is better than the last...highest praise goes to Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans. One of the 50 Best Blues CDs of 2008" - 5 Stars!” - Mladen Loncar, Soundguardian.com

“Le Blues Hot is precisely that, a singularly unique masterpiece of music, which, in its simplicity is literally brilliant...each song is better than the last...highest praise goes to Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans. One of the 50 Best Blues CDs of 2008" - 5 Stars!” - Mladen Loncar, Soundguardian.com

“Seduces and wraps you up you from the first song. New York singer/
guitarist Brad Vickers, is himself a star of exceptional range...Brad scores a direct hit. An ideal "Hot" welcome to the New Year!” - Marcie Geukens, ROOTSTIME, Belgium

“Seduces and wraps you up you from the first song. New York singer/
guitarist Brad Vickers, is himself a star of exceptional range...Brad scores a direct hit. An ideal "Hot" welcome to the New Year!” - Marcie Geukens, ROOTSTIME, Belgium

“Sophisticated in their apparent simplicity, and demonstrate a solid knowledge of the melodic, cultural
and technical...The result is intelligent, lofty and very 30s-jazz-ragtime” - Andre Hobus, SOULBAG, France

I adore the fresh-astounding-amazing and unusual mix of Blues (slide guitar, upright Bass…) with Jazz (clarinet, sax…).… that's why "Le Blues Hot" made me jump my heart and stomp my feet !!!” - Alain Mallaret, BIG BEAT, France

“Sophisticated in their apparent simplicity, and demonstrate a solid knowledge of the melodic, cultural
and technical...The result is intelligent, lofty and very 30s-jazz-ragtime” - Andre Hobus, SOULBAG, France

“ ‘Le Blues Hot’ investigates vintage blues and jazz styles over the course of 11 new compositions and songs from Jay McShann, Tampa Red, and others. Guitarist Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans maintain a good-time feel with Jim Davis’ saxophone and clarinet evoking a New Orleans party on ‘Where Can My Baby Be?,’ and the ensemble lending ‘Hesitation Blues’ a fresh old-time jazz arrangement. Dave Gross adds guitar to ‘On The Sunny Side of The Street,’ hear roots rock in ‘Woogie On Down’ and ‘Gonna Quit You,’ and find solid Chicago blues in ‘Boogie for Jimmy Reed’ and ‘I’m Homesick’.” - Tom Hyslop, BLUES REVUE, United States

“ ‘Le Blues Hot’ investigates vintage blues and jazz styles over the course of 11 new compositions and songs from Jay McShann, Tampa Red, and others. Guitarist Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans maintain a good-time feel with Jim Davis’ saxophone and clarinet evoking a New Orleans party on ‘Where Can My Baby Be?,’ and the ensemble lending ‘Hesitation Blues’ a fresh old-time jazz arrangement. Dave Gross adds guitar to ‘On The Sunny Side of The Street,’ hear roots rock in ‘Woogie On Down’ and ‘Gonna Quit You,’ and find solid Chicago blues in ‘Boogie for Jimmy Reed’ and ‘I’m Homesick’.” - Tom Hyslop, BLUES REVUE, United States