On his new disc, I'm Not To Blame, veteran Miami soulman Bobby Stringer more than lives up to the album's promise of "deep soul, downhome blues and a lil' funk." While he can smoothly croon a silky soul ballad, Stringer is equally adept at getting down with a slowburning blues. Dig his sweat-raising vocals on "I've Been Trying To Get Next to You," in which the singer engages in a little back-and-forth with the heated guitar licks of South Florida blues stalwart Jimi Fiano. Throughout, Fiano and his frequent bandmates, bassist Vinnie Fontana and drummer Guido Marciano, provide expert accompaniment, and are joined on a few tracks by saxophonist Stan Waldman and backup singer Betty Padgett.
You can catch Stringer on-stage 8-midnight tonight (Saturday, Aug. 29) with his Special Touch Band at LJ's Paradise Gardens Banquet Hall (12783 S.W. 280th St., Homestead, 305-257-1006). On Sept. 5, he'll share the marquee with longtime friend and colleague Jesse Jones Jr. for what's being billed as An Evening of Jazz and Blues at the South County Civic Center (16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, 561-495-9813). Saxophonist Jones will supply the jazz part of the evening with his own set, while Stringer and Special Touch do their own funky thang. At the end of the evening, both men will come together to relive their glory days in the clubs of Coconut Grove, Overtown and Liberty City in the 1960s and '70s.
In the meantime, check out my interview with Stringer, which appeared on WLRN on Friday.
