TME.fm Radio Album of the Month…. is…. Beatles Blues Blast from Gaetano Letizia & the Underworld Blues Band 

 BY ADMINFEBRUARY 11, 20192018, BLUES, NEWS 

Yes folks after much deliberation we have decided on our Album of the Month and what a treat it is, Beatles Blues Blast , 17 of the Liverpudlians great tunes Bluezed up by Gaetano and the boys. 

The Fab Four are unquestionably one of the most influential groups of modern times, with over 500 artists recording cover versions or full tribute albums of Beatles’ songs. The list of artists spans the gamut from Ella to Elvis, the Philharmonic to Phish, even The Muppets and Alvin & the Chipmunks have had a go at them. The Beatles themselves began as a cover band, recording songs by 50’s icons Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Carl Perkins and the influence of classic R&B and blues can be heard on all the group’s albums. Several notable R&B stars had hits with Beatles songs, such as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, but only a few authentic blues acts have ventured into the territory of the lads from Liverpool. 

Cleveland Ohio is the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and birthplace of guitarist extraordinaire, Gaetano Letizia, leader of the Underworld Blues Rock Band, who was a teenager during the years of Beatlemania and the British invasion. The effect of those heady days has stayed in the forefront of his mind for decades and now, with a little help from his friends, Mike D’Elia on drums and bass man Lenny Gray, Gaetano presents “Beatles Blues Blast.” The third disc from the trio is a rowdy romp through 17 classics from the Beatles’ catalog, cleverly arranged and reframed as a funky blues jam session. Recorded live off the floor in a single day at Bad Racket Studio in downtown Cleveland, this lo-fi indie blues rock album takes this magical music back to its roughneck roots of dance clubs in a hard-working industrial town. 

  

In classic Beatles’ fashion the album begins at the end with ‘Come Together,’ which was the opening song of their final studio album “Abbey Road,” where the trio forgo the dramatic intro and jump headlong into the groove setting up the formula for the project. D’Elia turns McCartney’s first drum track into a jungle beat of swamp rock fury on ‘Do It In The road,’ and then we all yell “More Cowbell!” during the four on the floor funk ‘Drive My Car.’ 1960 Motown hit ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ is injected with surf guitar as a tip of the hat to the American bands that also covered it. Harrison’s Rocker ‘Taxman’ is given a Texas Shuffle treatment, and his beloved ode to the six string, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’ shifts between a samba and power ballad. ‘She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,’ retains the funky groove of the Joe Cocker version, and they keep the psychedelic blues rocker, ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy),’ true to its original metal prototype form. The Latin tinged ‘And I Love Her’ has a 70’s Santana vibe, and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love,’ is turned into a Chicago Blues. Letizia steps hard on the fuzz pedal for ‘You Can’t Do That,’ and plays ‘Yesterday,’ as a soft blues rhumba. 

The boys pick up the rooftop party right where the Beatles left off for a rocking ‘Get Back,’ then bring out the full drama for ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’ The novelty song with a great riff, ‘Birthday,’ is tossed in for laughs before a sweet country blues reading of ‘Blackbird’ that features marvelous finger picking lead guitar and articulate counter point on the bass. The aptly chosen closer ‘A Day In The Life,’ also the final track of the 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely-Hearts Club Band,” is bumped up with touches of Soul and Rockin’ Fire for an epic climax. 

By tackling this iconic repertoire, Gaetano Letizia and The Underworld Blues Rock Band, have created a whimsical and yet sincere tribute with “Beatles Blues Blast,” that will find a respected place in the Pantheon of Beatlemania that remains strong some 50 years on. 

Rick J Bowen 

 

 

Reviews for Gaetano Letizia's Resurrection Album

the album really stands out among so much great music as one of the best of recent times. 

Jayson Tanner The Blues Cathedral online radio show 

https://donandsherylsbluesblog.wordpress.com/ 

Tom Letizia review…December 23, 2016… 

Posted by dvcrow56 in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment 

GAETANO LETIZIA 

AND THE UNDERWORLD BLUES BAND 

RESURRECTION 

TOM LETIZIA RECORDS 

RESURRECTION–OLD GUITAR PLAYER–HOT AND COLD WOMAN–STANDING BY THE DOOR–NOTHIN TO ME–THREE HEARTS–PURGATORY–MR. BAD LUCK–SYLVESTER LOVED THE LADIES–LAUGH IN THE DARK–HAVE A LITTLE PARTY–TALK TO YOURSELF–HEAVEN OR HELL–ASCENSION 

Gaetano “Tom” Letizia hails from Aurora, OH, in the Cleveland area.  He’s had private guitar lessons from George Benson and Pat Martino, and studied the styles of B. B., Clapton, and Hendrix.  He has fronted a jazz and a blues trio, along with a solo career that has spanned over 40 years.  For his latest album, and tenth overall, (dating back to 1981), he combines his jazz and blues influences with some rock, reggae, funk, and Latin flavors to create “Resurrection.”  Tom describes the album’s concept as a rebirth of the time before drum machines and other creations  ruined the aesthetic value of pure music. 

This set also utilizes a horn section to spice up several of these cuts.  The set starts with the title cut, an instrumental with a Santana-esque intro that gives way to a full-on slide guitar rumble.  New Orleans rhythm patterns wrap around the musings of an “Old Guitar Player” who tells everyone who asks that “we’re not in Kansas any more!”  The horns give a kick to the amped-up funk of that species of female  whom you can never fully count on, a “Hot And Cold Woman.” 

Male-female relationships get more play, with the story of a stalker groupie who meets Tom’s lover,who’s “Nothin To Me.”  But, if you get wrapped up in that cheatin’ game, look out for the “Three Hearts” about to be broken!  Tom offers up some sage advice for all of us, too.   If you’re having a bad day, let Tom’s guitar lines wash over you,  and just “Have A Little Party” ’til things get better!  And, sometimes, nothing makes better sense than to just “Talk To Yourself to get out of these blues!”  This one is set over a reggae-fied beat, with Tom’s wah-wah guitar all over the solo! 

We had two favorites, too, both taken from a “theologian” point of view, if you will.  A “dream sequence” song has Tom face-to-face with St.  Peter.  Trouble is,  “I can’t let you in–you ain’t been real good, but you ain’t been too bad,” so, welcome to “Purgatory!”  And, a wise man tells him that you can make “Heaven Or Hell every day of your life,” echoing the choices we all must make. 

As you listen to Tom Letizia and the Underworld Blues Band and “Resurrection,” do yourself a favor and listen to the songs in the order in which they are sequenced.  That way, you will get Tom’s intention for the album to be a continuous musical “conversation” of sorts, conveying his message  of music written as a soundtrack to life’s adventures for all of us!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society. 

http://www.midwestrecord.com/MWR1173.html 

Chris Spector 
Midwest Record 

LETIZIA MUSIC 
GAETANO LETICIA & THE UNDERWORLD BLUES BAND/Resurrection:  With 40 years under his belt, when this guitarist talks about missing the old days of creative freedom, you might want to listen to what he has to say.  Having had a front row seat at the creative explosion years, he’s not content to just re-tread things once more and pushes the envelope to let his blues rocking guitar extend it’s reach to fullest.  With all his various guitar heroes riding on his shoulder with him, without going back to the day, this album is loaded with the spirit of how cool it all was when the inmates were running the asylum and the zookeepers had no idea what was going on but enjoyed counting the money their charges brought in.  A certainly tasty set for musos of a certain age that are still looking for some meat in their mix.  Check it out. 

http://www.soundguardian.com/gaetano-letizia-resurrection 

  

Written / by Mladen Loncar - Mike Created: 14 January 2017 

Gaetano Letizia 

fShare 

inShare 

 resurrection 

"Resurrection" is another album that dates from the last quarter of last year, or, if you want the exact date, it is October 7 The album was published by Tom Letizia Records and globally promoted by Blind Raccoon. "Resurrection" is signed by Gaetano Letizia. 

This musician, guitarist and singer comes from Cleveland. No doubt, it really is versatile: he plays and leads two bands, who seek his musical expression in jazz and blues. His solo career stretches over more than 40 years and for him personally in this industry really no mystery. 

In early 2014, he released the album "Voodoo Doll & Other Blues Lessons", which was realized with six composition The Underworld Blues Rock Band; as did last year, when they recorded this new album. In this band are: Larry Keller (bass), drummer Steve Renko and percussionist Bill Ransom, with a brass section that Cinet Keehn (trombone), Mike Fisher (trumpet) and saxophonist Bob ester. There is a back vocalist Robin Stratton. Maybe I should clarify from where the now two names, Tom and Gaetano? This is actually one person, Gaetano "Tom" Letizia and means that the album released through his own record label. 

"Resurrection" offers 14 tracks that carry an inspired fusion of blues, funk, jazz, pop, reggae, Latin and rock styles, excellent and very originally incorporated in offered us a song. As Gaetano true guitar virtuoso, so it is very original and interesting composer. And for the most credit goes to his ideals, guitarists from which he drew inspiration: the range is very large, from Jimi Hendrix to George Benson. It is precisely this width strongly acted on his musical being, that came out of it draws only the best and this is very much felt in his music and guitar manuscript. 

About the album I Gaetano says that it was created to fit everyone. These songs will surely intrigue and inspire you to concentrate and to peacefully listen to us to offer Gaetano & The Underworld Blues Rock Band. Indeed, there is something for everyone. And just so I will not emphasize any song, but refer you to listen to the album in its entirety and to make their own judgments about what you heard. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

Somehow it seems to me that perhaps the best recommendation for the album by Rick J Bowen: 'Gaetano Letizia could have easily written a "standard blues" album that was a retread of familiar themes, but instead with "Resurrection" he and The Underworld Blues Rock Band chose to put a spin on the genre and offer thought-provoking music and lyrics delivered with that adventurous spirit, straight from the heart. ' 

That's it, and now all still up to you, dear visitors Blues Corner, but who loves, let's elect! " 

Will let you know when it gets published. 

Artist: Gaetano Letizia &The Underworld Blues Band 

Title: Ressurection 

Label: Tom Letizia Records 

  

Based in Aurora, Cleveland Ohio, Gaetano ‘Tom’ Letizia has been playing music for over forty or so years now either as a solo artist or within a larger group of musicians and incorporates in his music varying and strikingly evocative elements and sounds, ranging from Blues, Latin, Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Rock and Contemporary music, using all to create a wholly new individual signature fusion of sound. After spending time with legendary guitarists George Benson and Pat Martino ‘Tom’ has evolved and refined his guitar style into one that displays a greater depth of feeling which delivers a mature and richly toned, dense emotional experience for which when listening, one has to immerse yourself  into the music. His precision and distinctive clarity of sound is also a product of studying such equally legendary guitarists as B. B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. 

With this new fourteen track album, ‘Tom’ incorporates the evocative talents of The Underworld Blues Band; he sees this recording as a definitive response to the current miasma of computer generated ‘popular music’. The opening number “Resurrection”, combines a dense fuzz induced slide that opens out to a richly ringing guitar shuffle that rides over a rolling percussion. On “Old Guitar Player”, ‘Toms’ soft, slightly hoarse vocals elegantly glide over an exquisite swinging New Orleans guitar and drum shuffle. The gentle Rhumba infusions of “Nothing To Me”, hypnotises you with its soft Latin percussive rhythms and richly eloquent, delicately woven guitar that bubbles under a narrative of lost love and scorn. “Three Hearts”, has surging horns and mellow flowing guitar, setting the scene for a tale of cheating souls that is aptly emphasised by a later   riding and climbing stark jazz guitar. “Mr .Bad Luck”, uses the ever rising, heart rending horns and singularly natty jazz guitar runs that lead the way into a sad tale of being bounced from entering heaven and directed straight to hell. “Have A Little Party”, has the atmosphere of a key chain swinging stroller, the rumbling percussion and gently bubbling guitar rolls along until the groove changes,  bursting into strident rolling drumwork and happy, rising ringing guitar strokes. “Ascension”, combines the comfort of community and the Blues with a rousing, rolling boogie guitar and a sharply jagged  guitar solo that ends the number. 

Greatly Endorsed!    

Brian Harman.    

CD Reviews  
by Craig Whittington 

Gaetano, or Tom, is a student of music. After he graduated from Kent State with a business degree, he started studying music composition. When he finished that 6 yr program, he studied classical and jazz guitar for 6 yr. He  also took lessons from George Benson and Pat Martino. He’s been playing for 40 yrs and fronts 2 trios, one blues, one jazz. This CD has him playing with a different band, the Underworld Blues Band, a six piece outfit with a Hell of a bass player. 
  
Tom’s vocals are jazz vocals. Tom is a virtuoso guitar player, but he doesn’t feature the guitar all of time. During one lead, the horns are louder than the guitar. Tom wrote all the tunes and does some interesting things with tempo. He doesn’t slip it in unnoticed, he puts it in front when it goes down. There is one short instrumental, but there’s a lot of lyrics on this CD. I have a suspicion that all sorts of cool music theory concepts get played out right before your ears on this CD, but I’m only guessing, because it's beyond me.  
  
  
♪♪          14 tracks          55 minutes         
Hear for yourself:  https://youtu.be/WCmc2g8WsQQ?list=PLTPBkEl9LgxqP_ZZQDW8n53F4BUr9FeS0 

http://www.rambles.net/letizia_resurr16.html 

Gaetano Letizia,  
Resurrection  
(independent, 2016) 

Cleveland-based guitarist Gaetano Letizia leads both a jazz band and a blues band, as well as working as a solo artist. This time out, he is accompanied by the Underworld Blues Rock Band, a rhythm and horn section. The result of their efforts, Resurrection, is neither pure blues nor rock, but a complete fusion: It blends those two genres and adds some funk, pop, reggae and Latin rhythms to the mix. The music these guys present is hard-driving, aggressive and funky enough to suggest James Brown. 

Having been playing professionally since he was 16 and with this being his 10th album, Letizia has pronounced the theme of the album in its title. Resurrection is about the rebirth of the "Old Guitar Player," who introduces himself in the second song, after the introductory instrumental. The songs don't hammer the theme but, throughout, he sings about songs that touch on it, either directly or indirectly. The center song, "Purgatory," is about a dream the singer had in which he held a conversation with St. Peter about the difficulty for a rocker to enter Heaven. When he asks how long he'll have to serve in purgatory, St. Peter gives him the news; he's already there. The song, an uptempo rocking blues, slows down in the middle, playing tricks with the basic tempo for the solos. 

This song is followed by "Mr. Bad Luck," a slow jazz tune with the horns playing response to Letizia's call. It provides a quiet comment on "Purgatory." The album closes with "Ascension," a gospel-based which declares that the blues is here to stay and will wash our troubles away. The very type of music the narrator thought was condemning him is saving him. 

Resurrection is a fine, ambitious album, one that uses music in its infinite variety to make a larger statement. It's also fun to listen to. Michael Scott Cain 2016 rambles.net 

Rootstime Belgium 

Gaetano "Tom" Letizia lives in Cleveland, Ohio, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and bandleader of The Underworld Blues (Rock) Band. Gaetano has been playing guitar since he was fifteen and sixteen from already own band. Gaetano toured nationally with Tiny Alice, Ohio Jug band founder vocalist / bassist George Woideck. Gaetano took private music lessons with George Benson and Pat Martino, two well-known jazz musicians, who are also excellent blues musicians. After his university studies in 1973, Gaetano is a scholarship for two years to study at the Conservatory of Baldwin Wallace. In 1975 he goes to study classical guitar at Dr. Loris Chobanian and during the next six years of jazz guitar with John Stebal. Today Gaetano still studying and he himself is also a certified music instructor. 

Gaetano was on stage with Matt "Guitar" Murphy Blues Brothers and he was in the studio with June Core, the drummer of the band of Robert Jr. Lockwood Band and Charlie Musselwhite. 

Gaetano is active in a jazz trio and a blues trio and with the six-member Underworld Blues Rock Band. The tenth album (the successor of 'Voodoo Doll & Other Blues Lessons "[2014]) by Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Rock Band called' Resurrection '[2016]. The fourteen original tracks he gebackt by Larry Keller (bass), Steve Renko (drums), Bill Ransom (percussion), a horn section (Bob Esterle: sax - Mike Fisher: trumpet & Tim Keehn: trombone) and singer Robin Stratton. 

The numbers Gaetano wrote his usual mix of blues, funk, jazz, pop, reggae, Latin and rock. "Resurrection" ( "Resurrection - Resurrection"), the title track which opens the album, is one of three "send stones", which helps define the thematic structure for the playback order on the album. The short track opens quite mysterious, that it becomes a blues shuffle. In the autobiographical "Old Guitar Player" which follows, Letizia is completely changed from style and impose our vision of an older music from around the world. The funky "Hot & Cold Woman" introduces us to the energetic horn section. Drummer Steve Renko below demonstrates his mastery of time and technology in the intro of "Standing By the Floor", a song that embraces multiple styles. "NothinTo Me" is a seductive Latin track and the bluesy "Three Hearts" the winds determine the groove. In "Purgatory", a typical roadhouse shuffle, Letizia tells us about his encounter with Saint Peter at the gates of Purgatory. "Mr. Bad Luck "is a striking sultry blues number, with in the end a sax solo by Bob Esterle. For "Sylvester Loved the Ladies" Letizia uses an overheated salsa, to tell his story of a local hero, who is very active in the nightclubs. We continue to dance in "Laugh in the Park" and "Have A Little Party", a rumba with wisdom: "When life gets you down, have a little party" "Talk to Yourself" is a therapeutic song and in " Heaven or Hell "Letizia confronts us with questions about current social ills and the contemporary definition of happiness. The final track "Ascension" "Ascension") is a gospel-like song about hope, with the message that everything will be better "if we let the music play" ... 

"Resurrection", the "Resurrection"? No, the confirmation! Gaetano Letizia has been over forty years musician and hear. 'Resurrection' confirms its great technicality as guitar series, but also shows his sense of soul, funk, blues, Latin and hear jazz. Gaetano is next composer combines excellent fusion musician, who styles. Pat Letizia, his father, Gaetano saw a businessman, but "the blood creep where it can not go ..." and the appointment was "a 50-50 deal and split or his time on music and business." Gaetano is now over sixty and his children have graduated, the house is paid off and he himself has said goodbye to the business: "That was my father's dream, not mine, '' he said. And now? Well, now it's his turn to sing the blues. . . in a good way. " 'Resurrection' is not a "standard" blues album, but an album that provokes the listener thinking move. 

http://rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2017/JAN1/CD32.html 

http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2017/01/tom-letizia-records-artist-gaetano.html 

Thursday, January 26, 2017 

Tom Letizia Records artist: Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band - Ressurection - New Release Review 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Resurrection, from Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Resurrection, Gaetano Letizia shows you right up front that you are in for something special. Gaetano, who plays guitar and sings, is joined by Larry Keller on bass, Steve Renko on drums, Bill Ransom on percussion, Bob Esterle on sax, Mike Fisher on trumpet, Tim Keehn on trombone and Robin Stratton on vocal. A dynamic guitar intro unfolds into a jazzy, laid back shuffle with Letizia twisting the blues on his guitar as only he can do. Very nice. Old Guitar Player has a really nice drum line compliments Renko and Keller's bass work sets the tempo. Letizia's vocals are straightforward and his guitar playing fleet and stylistic. Very nice! Latin infused, Hot and Cold Woman, really moves and with Mike Fisher popping up the top on trumpet. Letizia's vocals are crisp and his rhythm guitar tight. His soloing on this track is slick and meaty. Keller and Renko set a solid bottom on Standing By The Door and Letizia injects a jazzy funk. Sit back and watch the sparks fly as this guy runs his solo lines and breathe easy listening to how nicely paired Keller and Renko are as they get wound up. On Nothin To Me, has a smoky feel with a heavy bottom and cool riffs. Mr. Bad Luck is a hot slow blues number with really nice guitar runs and blues phrasing, backed by Esterle, Keehn and Fisher. Very nice! Another track with a dash of Latin, Sylvester Loved The Ladies, features Ransom and Keller under Letizia's vocals. Esterle and Fisher cruise along nicely adding nice warmth and Letizia's Spanish style guitar riffs are well articulated. Heaven Or Hell had a funky feel with nice lines from Keller and Letizia's lead vocals nicely backed by Stratton. His guitar work is quick and interesting. Wrapping the release is Ascension, a rockin shuffle with ripping guitar lead, broken by nice jazz chords. This release shows several diverse influences fused into one power packed release. Check it out. It's way cool. 

Artist: Gaetano Letizia &The Underworld Blues Band 

Title: Ressurection 

Label: Tom Letizia Records 

Based in Aurora, Cleveland Ohio, Gaetano 'Tom' Letizia has been playing music 

for over forty or so years now either as a solo artist or within a larger group of 

musicians and incorporates in his music varying and strikingly evocative elements 

and sounds, ranging from Blues, Latin, Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Rock and 

Contemporary music, using all to create a wholly new individual signature fusion 

of sound. After spending time with legendary guitarists George Benson and Pat 

Martino 'Tom' has evolved and refined his guitar style into one that displays a 

greater depth of feeling which delivers a mature and richly toned, dense emotional 

experience for which when listening, one has to immerse yourself into the music. 

His precision and distinctive clarity of sound is also a product of studying such 

equally legendary guitarists as B. B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. 

With this new fourteen track album, 'Tom' incorporates the evocative talents of The Underworld Blues Band; he sees 

this recording as a definitive response to the current miasma of computer generated 'popular music'. The opening 

number "Resurrection", combines a dense fuzz induced slide that opens out to a richly ringing guitar shuffle that 

rides over a rolling percussion. On "Old Guitar Player", 'Toms' soft, slightly hoarse vocals elegantly glide over an 

exquisite swinging New Orleans guitar and drum shuffle. The gentle Rhumba infusions of "Nothing To Me", 

hypnotises you with its soft Latin percussive rhythms and richly eloquent, delicately woven guitar that bubbles under 

a narrative of lost love and scorn. "Three Hearts", has surging horns and mellow flowing guitar, setting the scene for 

a tale of cheating souls that is aptly emphasised by a later riding and climbing stark jazz guitar. "Mr .Bad Luck", 

uses the ever rising, heart rending horns and singularly natty jazz guitar runs that lead the way into a sad tale of 

being bounced from entering heaven and directed straight to hell. "Have A Little Party", has the atmosphere of a key 

chain swinging stroller, the rumbling percussion and gently bubbling guitar rolls along until the groove changes, 

bursting into strident rolling drumwork and happy, rising ringing guitar strokes. "Ascension", combines the comfort 

of community and the Blues with a rousing, rolling boogie guitar and a sharply jagged guitar solo that ends the 

number. 

Greatly Endorsed! 

Brian Harman. 

http://flyinshoes.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gaetano-laetizia-the-underworld-blues-rock-band-resurrection-own 

GAETANO LAETIZIA & THE UNDERWORLD BLUES ROCK BAND Resurrection (Own label – www.underworldblues.com) 

·        Posted by Norman John Darwen on February 3, 2017 at 13:32 

·        View Blog 

“You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover”, sang Bo Diddley – but looking at the late 60s quasi-psychedelic cover of this CD and the band name, and even after listening to the Hendrix/ Freddy King hybrid of the title track, you could certainly be forgiven for expecting a heavy blues-rock set. Well, no, it’s not. Cleveland, Ohio-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and bandleader Gaetano also has a parallel jazz career which sometimes comes through in his playing - think of Robben Ford maybe - and on this CD he draws on the New Orleans marching band beat for ‘Old Guitar Player’, a Latin sound for ‘Sylvester Loved The Ladies’, brassy funk on ‘Hot & Cold Woman’, hip jazz with ‘Standing By The Door’. Hopefully you’re beginning to get the picture. Gaetano himself confesses he has always enjoyed mixing up music genres (he even throws in a little reggae on ‘Talk To Yourself’), and let’s face it, he does do it so well, even if here he keeps at least one foot in the blues on every track. His voice is cool and so too is his guitar playing, fronting a band of experienced veterans. He is certainly worth checking out – unless all you want is heavy blues-rock, I guess. 

Norman Darwen 

Hope it is useful, 

All the best, 
Norman 

Southland Blues E weekly 

GAETANO LETIZIA 

Resurrection 

Self-produced 

          With his Underworld Blues Rock band, guitarist Gaetano Letizia recalls the blues spirit of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as the 1960s popularity of Santana. His livelihood rests in both the jazz world and blues; he's studied with the best of the best. But there's nothing uptight about his presentation; Letizia knows how to communicate with his audience and he makes it work comfortably. 

          "I'm just an old guitar player" he sings on the second track as he explains that he's dedicated to the music and prefers to tell it like it is. The same way that blues was developed over a century ago, Letizia wants to speak out about troubles and events running around the country. Along with horns and plenty of rhythm, he delivers his messages loud and clear. With each selection an original composition, Letizia sings about making a living at the daily grind, fighting against depression, opening one's eyes toward optimism, and searching for the kind of true love that lasts. His guitar, as expected, helps him to deliver each message convincingly. Letizia covers all the bases with the combination of his original songs, his jazzy guitar, his powerhouse backup band, and his expressive vocals.  

      -- Jim Santella 

Will let you know when it is published online. 

Gaetano Letizia & the Underworld Blues Band return for Resurrection (Tom Letizia Records), a noteworthy follow-up to their impressive 2014 release, Voodoo Doll & Other Blues Lessons.  As on their previous releases, Letizia and band (Larry Keller – bass, Steve Renko – drums, Bill Ransom – percussion) mix their brand of blues with jazz and funk, but also manage to incorporate a few other genres into the mix….pop, reggae, Latin, and rock.  

This time around, a three-piece horn section (Tim Keehn – trombone, Mike Fisher – trumpet, Bob Esterle – sax) adds to the fun.  Letizia is a master guitarist with a 40+year music career.  His influences range from Hendrix to George Benson to B.B. King, and you get a sense of all these influences within the fourteen original tunes.  He graciously yields the spotlight to his band at various times throughout the disc, however, and they make the most of their time.  

Since the album is a bit of a concept album….Letizia refers to it as a “creative resurrection of that wonderful time when music was a love of the adventure of life, written for all…..before the commercial engines stole the music industry from us”……the songs are divided into three distinct suites by three tracks, “Resurrection,” “Purgatory,” and “Ascension.”   The title track, an instrumental blues shuffle, opens the disc, the hearty “Purgatory” recounts Letizia’s dream of a conversation with St. Peter, and the closing track “Ascension” mixes gospel with the blues and optimistically states that “the blues is here to stay.” 

The remaining tracks include “Old Guitar Player,” an autobiographical track which finds the veteran musician sharing his views and frustrations with the world, the New Orleans-based, horn-fueled “Hot & Cold Women,” the funky R&B number “Standing By The Door,” “Mr. Bad Luck,” a well-paced slow blues with lots of fine guitar work from Letizia, the Latin-flavored “Sylvester Loved The Ladies” and  “Laugh In The Dark,” and “Talk To Yourself,” which has a reggae backbeat.  

Resurrection is a fine blues album.  Letizia’s blues and jazz guitar background, and his rapport with his talented bandmates, makes for compelling listening, but his sage and profound lyrics will also make you think while you’re listening.        

Hello Betsie , ci-joint New Playlist , encore une fois One more Wonderful superbe signature d'un Great groupe du Singer guitarist Gaetano LETIZIA , Excellent  BLUES BAND   .  A très bientôt  ,  bonne promo Betsie  ,  amitiés Jean Louis  . 

                   
Radio Beton France 

http://www.keysandchords.com/album-review-blog/gaetano-letizia-resurrection 

Heel wat artiesten werden beïnvloed door Jimi Hendrix of Jon Spencer. Gelukkig houdt Gaetano het met zijn authenticiteit en creativiteit heel wat spannender dan de gewone en ordinaire blues artiesten. Met zijn tiende album ‘Resurrection’ musiceert hij op een speelse en inventieve wijze. De Aurora, Ohio (Cleveland) gebaseerde singer-songwriter/gitarist speelde in het verleden zowel bij een jazz als een blues trio. Zijn muzikale carrière omvat dan ook meer dan vier decennia. Hij begon op zijn vijftiende met gitaar spelen en speelde amper een jaar later als professional in een zijn eigen band. Letizia had zelfs privé lessen van grootheden als George Benson en Pat Martino. Na zijn studies aan de Kent State University ging hij muziekcompositie studeren aan de Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Of Music. Gaetano speelde in het verleden ook met Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy en had opnamen met June Core en Robert Lockwood Jr. Nu heeft hij met The Underworld Blues Rock Band een zeskoppige band met Larry Keller (bas), drummer Steve Renko en percussionist Bill Ransom. Samen met de blazerssectie van Tim Keehn op trombone, Mike Fisher (trompet) en saxofonist Bob Esterle vormen ze de basis voor de veertien nummers. En die zijn een heerlijke mix van jazz, blues, reggae, latin en rock. Het album opent met het titelnummer ‘Resurrection’. Gaetano’s glinsterende gitaarshuffle komt meteen in de spotlights en deze schuiven ook heerlijk aan in het autobiografische ‘Old Guitar Player’. Na zijn kijk als veteraan op deze muzikale wereld expireert de blazerssectie het New Orleans getinte ‘Hot & Cold Woman’ enige funky maatstaven aan. De drumintro in het nummer ‘Standing By The Door’ geeft de normering voor het daaropvolgende Latin begeesterde ‘Nothing To Me’ en het bluesy ‘Three Hearts’. De blues track ‘Mr. Bad Luck’ wordt hier alweer gekenmerkt door de blazerssectie en een gearomatiseerde outro. Het nummer ‘Sylvester Loved The Ladies’ maakt op zijn beurt dan weer gretig gebruik van opwindende salsa grooves, en met de dancebeats in ‘Laugh In The Dark’ en het rumba ‘Have A Little Party’ hoeden we onze dansschoenen nog even aan. Na de moderne compositie ‘Heaven And Hell’ komt het gospel geïnfluenceerd ‘Ascension’ onze danskater wegspoelen.  
Gaetano Letizia heeft allerminst een makkelijk weg uitgekozen voor dit nieuwe project. En laat dat nu net zijn muzikale capaciteiten kenmerken. 
  
Philip Verhaege (4 ½) 

Many artists were influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Jon Spencer. Fortunately Gaetano keeps its authenticity and creativity a lot more exciting than the usual and ordinary blues artists. With his tenth album 'Resurrection' he makes music in a fun and inventive way. Aurora, Ohio (Cleveland) based singer-songwriter / guitarist played in the past in both a jazz and a blues trio. His musical career also includes more than four decades. He began his fifteenth playing guitar and played barely a year later as a professional in his own band. Letizia even had private lessons from greats like George Benson and Pat Martino. After his studies at Kent State University, he studied music composition at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Of Music. Gaetano also played in the past with Matt 'Guitar' Murphy and had pictures with June Core and Robert Lockwood Jr. Now he has with The Underworld Blues Rock Band a six-member band with Larry Keller (bass), drummer Steve Renko and percussionist Bill Ransom. Along with the horn Tim Keehn on trombone, Mike Fisher (trumpet) and saxophonist Bob Esterle they form the basis of the fourteen songs. And a delicious mix of jazz, blues, reggae, Latin and rock. The album opens with the title track 'Resurrection'. Gaetano's shimmering guitar shuffle comes straight into the spotlight and this also slide delicious in the autobiographical "Old Guitar Player '. After his outlook as a veteran in this musical world expires the horn New Orleans tinted 'Hot & Cold Woman' some funky benchmarks. The drum intro in the song "Standing By The Door" gives the standard for the next Latin spirited "Nothing To Me" and the bluesy "Three Hearts". The blues track "Mr. Bad Luck "is already here characterized by the horn section and a flavored outro. The song 'Sylvester Loved The Ladies' will turn again full advantage of exciting salsa grooves, and the dance beats of "Laugh In The Dark' and the rumba 'Have A Little Party' we guard a bit on our dancing shoes. After modern composition 'Heaven And Hell' is the gospel geïnfluenceerd 'Ascension' wash away our dance hangover. 

Gaetano Letizia far has an easy path chosen for this new project. And that's just attributes his musical abilities.