“Caught In The Act, Live From The Voodoo Cave”
What is a Wumbloozo you might ask, it could be many things but this one sure ain't boring. Made up of three diverse East Coast transplants led by Michael Richard on vocals, guitar and featured songwriter with his partners in musical mayhem Herbie Katz aka Doctor Fun on harp and Ben Beckley beating the drums keep things interesting. Hooking up with west coast natives Mark Peters on bass and Stan Harrison playing keyboards they hit L.A. burrowed into the Voodoo Cave and got “Caught In The Act.”
The curtain rises with a bluesy harp blowing a swooping rhythm behind a Bob Seger like growl of a vocal on “Sidetracked” before switching to a jump blues of “Gamblin' Man,” the piano beating out the boogie behind the Mississippi sax of Dr. Fun and Richard's guitar. The band beats out a bluesier rhythm leading to a Stones like groove as Micheal is ready to kill that “Mule Been Kickin'” in his stall and the hard charging “Louise” could be a Jay Geils Band out take. The “Getaway Man” fluid bass lines and minimal percussion lead the Dr. and Michael in a moody Stan Ridgeway like crime noir tale.
Along with blues rock, Wumbloozo delves into a Grateful Dead influenced Americana feel mixing accordion and a lonesome harp with slide Dobro and slips into “Flat Boat” and the waltzing country tune “Dancin' With The Devil.” The gentle country harp based ballad “Born To Love Her” bleeds into the mournful harp leads on the bitter sweet love tale of “You're My Jones” and the moaning back porch slide guitar in “Dinner Bell” resonates. The finale, labeled as a live outtake, creeps back with they're blues rock roots, starting out with the words “just start playing your ass off, dirty and loud” as they slip and slide around the dark groove of “Tell Nobody.”
Wumbloozo blends many styles and this live CD they've been “Caught In The Act.” ....Roger & Margaret White.. Big City Rhythm & Blues Reviews
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A lot of the audience was quite surprised when Wumbloozo took the stage. They know Michael Richard well in these parts, because he has won the Center of the World
songwriting contest two years in a row, and he regularly comes through on his solo acoustic tours.
If the BMA’s had a songwriter category, you would all know the name Michael Richard well. He is one of the most insightful and gifted lyricists I have ever come across. In fact at the Frazier Park VFW post 9791, when they raise the flag for Memorial Day and for Veteran's Day, they play the National Anthem, and then “Under the Bridge”
off Michael’s acoustic album.
“Confessions” is an amazing collection of stories and characters that you can tell is a direct line to Michael’s soul. Released as a Wumbloozo record, it is only Michael, guitarist Greg Krueger, and the late, great Herbie “Dr. Fun” Katz on harmonica. The rest of the band said they couldn’t see through wet eyes while listening to the demo, much less try to accompany it. It is heart wrenching and powerful. I was listening to it on the balcony as I wrote this, and the patron in the next room insisted I sell it to him.
So with this reputation as a folk blues poet, Michael blew their minds when he brought Ben Beckley on drums, Mark Peters on bass, Stan Harrison on keys and Greg with his masterful lead guitar chops. It was a throw down...Raul Watson Blues-E-News
If the BMA’s had a songwriter category, you would all know the name Michael Richard well. He is one of the most insightful and gifted lyricists I have ever come across. In fact at the Frazier Park VFW post 9791, when they raise the flag for Memorial Day and for Veteran's Day, they play the National Anthem, and then “Under the Bridge”
off Michael’s acoustic album.
“Confessions” is an amazing collection of stories and characters that you can tell is a direct line to Michael’s soul. Released as a Wumbloozo record, it is only Michael, guitarist Greg Krueger, and the late, great Herbie “Dr. Fun” Katz on harmonica. The rest of the band said they couldn’t see through wet eyes while listening to the demo, much less try to accompany it. It is heart wrenching and powerful. I was listening to it on the balcony as I wrote this, and the patron in the next room insisted I sell it to him.
So with this reputation as a folk blues poet, Michael blew their minds when he brought Ben Beckley on drums, Mark Peters on bass, Stan Harrison on keys and Greg with his masterful lead guitar chops. It was a throw down...Raul Watson Blues-E-News
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Wumbloozo I wanted to write and thank you all for your outstanding contribution to this year's Blues Bash!! Well done my friends!! You guys sounded great, you got the audience involved, up and dancing!! Very cool!! Way to go ...after all, it is feel good music right? Your band is outstanding...and Michael ...you still got it man! There were 'Miles of Smiles' all around !! ...What more could I ask for!.....Robb Bower promotor Julian Blues Bash
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A band I just heard of Wumbloozo, not only has a great band and songs but the stories to go with them. Michael Richard has a wealth of songs that are real life and thick with blues…Big City Rhythm & Blues Aug/Sept issue
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Wumbloozo brought the blues to Irvine Lake with an old school band, the real deal. This is the rhythm section to die for. This is the band to watch for!...Marnie Ring/ Big City Rhythm & Blues Aug/Sept issue
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In a world full of imitators, Wumbloozo is the real deal. They are an original band that plays original music. They take blues back to its roots and then put their spin on it. They play blues… the way it oughta be…. High Desert Music Festival
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“The mix of tunes, stories and humor found on this CD is unlike anything I've heard before. There is a feel of unique reality, experienced only by those who have lived in the South for part of their life and especially interacted with the impoverished, but plucky, working men and children of perhaps the tobacco or cotton industry. The humor, and 'tongue in cheek' sarcasm and story telling are seemingly an outgrowth of the experiences of hardship and youthful optimism. Again, fun and smiles all the way through this CD of original music and lyrics. This team should go far and we will look for a follow-up to this collection.” Four Stars!…New Blues Review/Chicago Linda Kay Field
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“Their name says it all – Wumbloozo. They are a conglomerate of different sounds. They go everywhere. They’re incredible!”….Terry Gladstone, Host of Local Licks KLOS-FM, LA
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“Lots of great tunes and the groove throughout is right there. It draws you in and then just drives you straight through to the end. Great stuff.”…Lonesome Lenny Williams, host of Blues 2 Ya WHFC-FM, Bel Air, MD
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The music is earthy, rootsy and cuts to the bone. Really nice work played well and totally in the pocket. Very refreshing, and honest material."…Vinnie Zummo, recording artist and former Joe Jackson guitarist
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“Last week we received a CD from a group called Wumbloozo. There’s a tune on this CD - you know, every now and then I listen to a CD and there’s a tune on it that gets caught in my head. And you gotta play it. This tune is awesome. It’s called ‘You’re My Jones’ from Wumbloozo. Now isn’t that tune gonna stick in your head - it’s catchy, great tune.”
-- Paul Parello Sr., Host of Paul Parello’s Blues Power WRMN, Chicago
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“A sampling from the upcoming second Wumbloozo CD, another catchy one, I think you’ll really like called Cadillac Rag”
- Paul Parello Sr., Host of Paul Parello’s Blues Power WRMN, Chicago
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“Please accept my apologies for not getting back to you sooner regarding this incredible album from your band Wumbloozo. It's really been our pleasure to give the Wumbloozo record some airplay here in Central New York and introduce the band to our listeners.”-- Eric Cohen, Music Director, WAER radio, Syracuse, NY*
“I received your CD yesterday and gave it a listen - there's a lot of good stuff there, I will be giving it plenty of airplay. Thanks for sending it.”-- Dan LaCasse, host of “Dan’s Blues Room”, WRBC 91.5 FM, Lewiston, ME
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“I have reviewed the release and have added for airplay on our blues/roots shows. This is a nice piece of work!”--Dana Fargnoli, Blues Director, WCNI 90.9 FM, New London, CT
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“Excellent music! Blues the way it oughta be. :)”...--Naomi Fox, Wire Duck Records
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“Now that’s what I call Blues!”..Marty Buttwinick, author of How To Make a Living as a Musician
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“I love the music - have listened to it over and over and the songs are really great. I think it has a very good chance of doing extremely well.” (Caught in the Act sent to Memphis for “best self-produced cd”) --Lynn Parker (President of the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society) And the cool comments continue to pour in from Facebook/MySpace:
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“Thanks, and I feel like I am in an elevated state, shall we say, when you guys are playing. I feel like I can float or fly or flow (say that real fast...).Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, so thanks for making such great music”…….Cyndie
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“Hi, guys - love the songs; it's the real living deal. If you come over to England, you'll get a warm welcome in the Surrey Blues Delta.” ….Cheers, Dickie Hartt
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“Really dig your sound. ‘Your my Jones’ is cool.” ….Peace, Lyle
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“Wow! You guys are phenomenal. The audience totally enjoyed you. True professionals ... who know how to have fun with the crowd. Thanks for giving us such pleasure in going out tonight. You make it very worthwhile!” ….Rie & Pedro
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“Hey Wumbloozo! I like your sounds. Of course I dig a good harp player and I am really crazy about good bottleneck!” …..Dickie Neely
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“I love the music. Sweet stuff man.” ….Wrecked Skateboards
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I’m listening to the CD right now…..You guys are it!.....CH Irvine CA*
“Wowow, it is like having my very own Wumbloozo concert in my front room
or car or .....Really captures the magic!! (Caught in the Act) ….. Cyndie
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I've had the pleasure of hearing many live blues acts, especially over the last 2 years, and Wumbloozo has become one of my very favorites. See you Saturday at Irvine Lake!.....Howie Rogers, AXIS IV STUDIOS MusicUCansee)
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THANKS FOR A GREAT SHOW AT JULIAN. YOU GUYS ARE TOPS! TELL ALLTHE BAND WE THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE TIED FOR FIRST PLACE AT JULIAN WITH JOE WOOD. AUTHENTIC!....JS