IRONMAN MIKE CURTIS The One Man Blues-Jazz Band "Doin' It All Myself" USA Music Group Records Division USA CD-1025 Twelve tunes from the master of "guitarmonica", as some are wont to call the combination of guitar and harmonica. But unlike most who play guitar and harmonica at the same time, Curtis plays these exceptionally well. A virtuoso level player, Mike can skillfully play a single diatonic (blues type) harmonica in all keys, a feat many expert harmonica players view as all but impossible. Having won or placed in several guitar competitions, IronMan is no slacker on this instrument. He also plays bass pedals at the same time. Bass pedals are similar to the bedals on a console organ. And Mike can really swing with his basslines, too. Curtis adds to these a very powerful and rich singing voice with a vocal range extending covering bass, baritone, and tenor. IronMan is a lot of fun to listen to. Whether he's playing a tongue in cheek Texas shuffle like "Next Time You See Me I'll Be Gone", a heart- tugging blues ballad like "Things Ain't Gonna Be The Same", the rowdy "Rollin' and Tumblin' filled with slide guitar and harmonica, "Rogaine", Mikes baldface satire on Cocaine, the incredibly moody and emotional instrumental "Moulin Rouge", or the real jazz versions of "Billie Jean" and "Take 5/Blue Rondo A La Turk", you just can't help but imagine IronMan having the time of his life playing and singing. This is extremely infectious. If music could kill, this old boy would be quarantined. SONGS: 1. NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME I'LL BE GONE (Curtis) 2. THINGS AIN'T GONNA BE THE SAME (Curtis) 3. ROLLIN' AND TUMBLIN' (James) 4. PLAY THEM BLUES (Curtis) 5. MOULIN ROUGE ( 6. ROGAINE (lyrics by Curtis) 7. SMOKIN' HARMONICA (Curtis) 8. UGLY WOMAN (Curtis) 9. WHAT'S GOIN' ON ( 10. SAY IT DON'T SPRAY IT (Curtis) 11. TAKE 5/BLUE RONDA A LA TURK (Brubeck/Desmond) 12. BILLIE JEAN (Jackson) 1. NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME I'LL BE GONE (Curtis) A fun Texas style blues shuffle. 2. THINGS AIN'T GONNA BE THE SAME (Curtis) A sad blues about a cheating mate who wants to come back. The harmonica cries real tears on this one. 3. ROLLIN' AND TUMBLIN' (James) Great rendition of the old Elmore James classic, but with an original twist. Curtis does some amazing things on slide while playing in unison on harmonica. Excellent vocals, too! Instant party tune! 4. PLAY THEM BLUES (Curtis) Corny lyrics "I play them blues for you, I play then 'cause it's what I like to do") but great jump music. If this doesn't get you up and dancing, call the coroner. 5. MOULIN ROUGE ( Yes it's the hokey old song by the Percy Faith (yawn) orchestra, but IronMan breathes new life into this harmonica instrumental, backed with just guitar chords and arpeggios. This just might be the best song on the album. 6. ROGAINE (lyrics by Curtis) A parody on JJ Cales COCAINE and as Mike puts it "The drug song for my generation", this is one funny song, most appreciated by those with paucity of pate. 7. SMOKIN' HARMONICA (Curtis) Jazz harmonica instrumental with a hip hop beat. 8. UGLY WOMAN (Curtis) "Sure 'nuff good lookin', but she's ugly as sin to me". Moving Led- Zeppelinesque ballad about a married man with a wife and three kids and the would-be "other woman" trying to tempt him into ruining his family. 9. WHAT'S GOIN' ON ( World class Jazz harmonica instrumental rendition of MArvin Gayes classic. 10. SAY IT DON'T SPRAY IT (Curtis) Tongue in cheek look at the fellow who always sits next to you in the bar, who constantly talks, and spews forth more than verbosity. 11. TAKE 5/BLUE RONDA A LA TURK (Brubeck/Desmond) Incredible harmonica instrumental, backed with guitar and bass pedals. Blue Rondo A La Turk was the flip side to Dave Brubecks hit single Take 5. 12. BILLIE JEAN (Jackson) Jazz instrumental version of Michael Jacksons tune. To order the new CD by IronMan Mike Curtis, "Doin' it all myself", please send US currency $15.00 plus US$2.00 shipping/handling (non- continental US send US$15.00 plus US$4.00 s/h) to: IronMan Mike Curtis CD 7921 Wilkinson Avenue North Hollywood CA 91605-2210