The Best of Jazz - Humphrey Lyttelton BBC Radio 2 - 13 Dec. 2005
" Down to earth, straight ahead no nonsence urban blues"... "These guys know their stuff"...
"Highly enjoyable"... "Authentic blues, and they're British"
- Humphrey Lyttelton
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| BBC Radio 2 – Paul Jones Blues Show - 25th May 2006
..." Incredible Blues Puppies - A dream lineup, and for my money, one of the best blues bands around...
- Paul Jones
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Review – Incredible Blues Puppies - Puppy Fat – Blues & Rhythm UK
This London Based four piece have a pedigree to satisfy Cruft’s raging from work with Pine Top Perkins and Sugar Blue, To The Yardbirds, Nine Below Zero and Otis Grand. There are some fine performances in the Chicago style, and a nod occasionally to Texas and California and Alan Glen’s harmonica work is a Stand – Out, and recalls Billy Boy Arnold. He is also adept on guitar (he shares the duty’s with John O’Reilly), and the rhythm section of Jim Mercer (bass) and Dino Coccia (Drums) provide the necessary Kick. A fine debut from a talented addition to the UK Blues scene.
Norman Darwen – Blues & Rhythm
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Juke Blues - UK May 2006 - Puppy Fat - The Incredible Blues Puppies
Should you like your blues just like it says on the tin, then The Incredible Blues Puppies would be worth a punt (guess what the picture is on the CD cover' Everybody say aaah'). These blokes have all played in top British bands over the year Big Town Playboys, Yardbirds, Paul Lamb etc.) and they make the sort of sound that you would expect with such a pedigree (no doggie pun intended). This is a straight dow the line selection of familiar sounds played people who know what they are doing.
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| Blues Revue (USA) - April 2006 - Puppy Fat - The Incredible Blues Puppies
The Incredible Blues Puppies have chosen a name that fails to hint at their serious musicianship. The London-based group centers on interplay, counting on the understated guitar of John O'Reilly and Alan Glen (Glen doubles on harp) and an expert rhythm section of Jim Mercer (bass) and Dino Coccia (drums). Exciting readings of "Just a Little Bit," "Walking to My Baby," and "T-Bone Jumps Again" play well, as do the band's own "7 Years Too Late," the somber, Latin-shaded "Angle of Dissent," and the shuffle that gives Puppy Fat (Note 1010) it's name.
Tom Hyslop
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BBC Radio 2 – Paul Jones Blues Show - 9th March 2006
Paul played three tracks from the CD Puppy Fat, that were recorded Live! At the BBC Maida Vale Studios in January 2006.
… "Incredible Blues Puppies are in session tonight and they really are good Dogs"…
“7 Years To Late”
…"Dino Coccia is one of the most swinging and inventive drummers in the blues field….they are all excellent"...
“Puppy Fat”
…"Great! …Superb Harmonica playing from Alan Glen who is also a good guitar player, very good"…
“61 Highway”
… "Terrific John O’Reilly’s Vocal & Guitar…Alan Glen on Harp, Jim Mercer on Base, Dino Coccia on Drums Excellent!"....
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The Incredible Blues Puppies – Puppy Fat – Note Records – 33.15 – 10 tracks
The Incredible Blues Puppies is a name (and what a great name) that may be new to a lot of people but the guys who make up the Puppies should be very familiar with a celebrated musical pedigree. Alan Glen, vox, guitar and harmonica will be familiar from his work with the Yardbirds, Nine Below Zero, Little Axe and the Barcodes to name but a few. Jim Mercer, vox and bass, has been with Paul Lamb & the Kingsnakes, the Muddy Waters Band and Pinetop Perkins, Dino Coccia, drums, has playing credits galore including Larry Garner, James Carr, Tutu Jones and, of course, the Barcodes whilst John O’Reilly, vox & guitar, leads the Blues Engineers and has played with, amongst others, Big Town Playboys and Sugar Blue. Find out more about the band members’ incredible cv’s at http://www.hants.org.uk/barcodes/IBPhome.html
Puppy Fat is, in my opinion, a really cracking debut CD from a grouping which really works so well featuring, as it does, two excellent but very contrasting guitar styles from Alan and John plus three vocalists. Variety is the key word with some superb covers such as the excellent “T Bone Jumps Again”, a wonderful version of Taj Mahal’s “Good Morning Miss Brown”, Jim Mercer’s lovely arrangement of the Fred McDowell track, “61 Highway”, G L Crockett’s “Man Down There”, one of several tracks which features one of the CD’s two producers, Roger Cotton with some lovely Hammond, Rosco Gordon’s “Just A Little Bit” and Kim Wilson’s “Walking My Baby”.
There is also a handful of original material ranging from the angst laden and very wry Dino Coccia composition “Angle of Dissent” through a wonderful instrumental which is also the title track (“Puppy Fat”) credited to all four band members a Jim Mercer arrangement of another Dino Coccia song “7 Years Too Late”, a song about the aftermath of scratching the seven year itch and the rocking and oh so catchy opener, “Another Kind Of Love”, which is credited to Glen/Greaves/O’Neill/Giddings/McAvoy.
The CD has a great range of material, all of which should please Blues lovers of all creeds and genres and really makes wonderful listening. Alan plays some superb harmonica and both his & John’s guitar work is great to listen to and most enjoyable. John’s guitar is contrasting but every bit as enjoyable whilst Jim & Dino make every track live with their spot on rhythms. Other guests include fellow Barcoder Bob Haddrell on vocals and Wurlitzer and Dave Briggs who guests on vocals and guitar. The overall result is a CD which should find a place in everyone’s collection and certainly makes me very keen to catch this talented combo live before too long. Released in January 2006 this has to be a contender for my CD of next year!
Ashwyn Smyth - digital blues - http://www.digitalblues.co.uk - http://www.phoenixfm.com.
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Puppy Fat - Blues in Britain - Feb 2006
Puppy Fat is the debut from the Incredible Blues Puppies, who featured in the recent Jim Mercer interview in Blues In Britain. Although only formed in 2004, the individual puppies all have strong Blues pedigrees, having been around the scene for several years.
The fact that the Incredible Blues Puppies are more of a straight ahead Blues band, comes through on the opener "Another Kinds Love", Written during harp maestro Alan Glen's time with Nine Below Zero, it is driven along at a rocking pace by Dino Coccia's incessant beat. In fact, the rhythm section features quite heavily on several tracks, and gives the excellent title track its classic Chicago feel.
The Puppies manage, for the most part, to steer clear of the hoary old chestnuts in their choice of covers, The main exception is "Just A Little Bit", although they do deliver a rather thumping version that fair races along. They also balance it by including a fine version of "Man Down There" from the person with one of the shortest ever Blues recording careers: G.L. Crockett only recorded three and a half singles.
Puppy Fat is a solid debut. The Incredible Blues Puppies fall mostly into the Chicago bracket, with a little Texas/West Coast and Delta thrown into the mix for good measure. The playing is top notch throughout but, given the credentials of the band members, they play things a bit too safe, and it would have been nice to have had more original tunes. The short play police will also be after this one, since it clocks in at just over 33 minutes.
Gordon Baxter - Blues in Britain
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The Incredible Blues Puppies - Puppy Fat (Note Records)
The Incredible Blues Puppies are Alan Glen (vocal, guitar, harmonica), John O'Reilly (vocal, guitar), Jim Mercer (vocal, bass) and Dino Coccia (drums, percussion) and they certainly are not puppies in British blues circles. Puppy Fat provides Alan Glen another vehicle on which to showcase his not inconsiderable guitar and harmonica talents. The album starts with Another Kind Of Love, one if only four self written songs on offer. This is stylish British R&B that gives an upbeat beginning that bodes well for the rest of the set. Alan Glen is one of Britain's top harmonica players and playing of this standard will help to cement that position. Good Morning Miss Brown is a Taj Mahal song and the rhythm section of Coccia and Mercer provides a pounding beat akin to a train in full flight. The instrumental title track is another of the self-written songs and has Glen on form with his harmonica leading the way. Another original is Angle Of Dissent, written by drummer Coccia. This has a clever lyric but the style will take a little getting used to. Man Down There is a fast paced blues that has Glen playing his lungs out again and both he and John O'Reilly provide excellent guitar backing. This was written by lesser known bluesman G.L. Crockett whose main claim to fame was Think Twice Before You Go.
When you think of T-Bone Walker you think of jazzy blues and that is exactly what you get on T Bone Jumps Again. Another giant, Mississippi Fred McDowell, is covered next. His 61 Highway has a beat added by arranger Mercer and there are times when this works. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times but there is no denying the quality of the playing. The Puppies get a little frenetic on Rosco Gordon's Just A Little Bit before returning to the more sedate swing blues of Walking To My Baby. This is a Kim Wilson song and is therefore harmonica led but the guitar does get a surprising solo as well. The closing track is 7 Years Too Late and Mercer's arrangement of this Coccia song is much better. They finish in the manner that they started and give us British R&B of the highest order and with Roger Cotton guesting on Hammond they could not have gone wrong.
David Blue
http://www.netrhythms.co.uk
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The Incredible Blues Puppies
Puppy Fat – Note ecords – NCD 1010 2 – www.note-music.co.uk
Note : 3 CD et demi.
Alan Glen est un Bluesman qui sait non seulement s’entourer, que ce soit au sein des Incredible Blues Puppies ou des Barcodes, mais qui sait également mixer compos originales et reprises à la sauce maison qui font mouche, comme ce grand Good Morning Miss Brown signé Taj Mahal, ou cette exceptionnelle version de T-Bone Jumps Again. Sur les dix titres de cet album swingant et péchu on retrouve une rythmique implacable et impeccable en tout point, avec un duo Jim Mercer à la basse et Dino Coccia à la batterie, qui démontre, le bougre, qu’être derrière les fûts peut s’avérer être source d’inspiration, en signant, seul, un magistral Angle of Dissent qui mériterait de figurer dans une compil des meilleurs titres bluesy de ce début d’année. Sur chaque titre de ce CD, la gratte de John O’Reilly fait merveille, toute en finesse ou plus en puissance, soutenue dans ses envolées par l’harmonica de Alan, comme dans le très enlevé Man Down There, ou le fougueux Just a Little Bit. Un Walking To My Baby aux saveurs très « rock à Billy » vous fait dire qu’ils en ont de la pêche, ces british là, avant de vous demander, comme moi, pourquoi les bons CD du moment dépassent rarement les 10 titres. Hé oui, déjà 7 Years Too Late, co-signé swingin’ Dino Coccia (encore lui!) et Alan Glen, et vous n’aurez qu’une envie, relire en vitesse le manuel de votre lecteur CD pour savoir comment programmer le replay de tout l’album.
Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer
(BLUES MAGAZINE)
Babel fish translation....
Alan Glen is Bluesman which can be not only surrounded, that it is within Incredible Blues Puppies or of Barcodes, but which also knows original mixer compos and recoveries with the sauce house which make fly, like this large Good Morning Miss Brown signed Taj Mahal, or this exceptional version of T-Bone Jumps Again. On the ten titles of this swingant album and péchu one finds a rhythmic relentless and impeccable in any point, with a duet Jim Mercer with low and Dino Coccia with the battery, which shows, the guy, whom to be behind the barrels can prove to cause inspiration, while signing, only, masterly Angle of Dissent which would deserve to appear in a compil of the best titles bluesy of this beginning of year. On each title of this CD, scrapes it of John O' Reilly made wonder, all in smoothness or more in power, supported in its flights by the harmonica of Alan, as in very removed Man Down There, or impetuous Just has Little Bit. Walking To My baby with savours very "rock'n'roll with Billy" makes you say that they have fishing of them, these british there, before requiring of you, like me, why good CD of the moment seldom exceed the 10 titles. Hé yes, already 7 Years Too Late, Co-signed swingin' Dino Coccia (still him!) and Alan Glen, and you will want only one, to read again of speed the handbook of your reader CD to know how to program the replay of all the album.
Francois PFEIFFER <f.pfeiffer@accord-langues.com>
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The Incredible Blues Puppies – Live!
PhoenixFM Blues Nights at Pam’s Bar, Brentwood – 3rd February 2006
The Incredible Blues Puppies is a new name for many but I doubt that will be the case for long. Playing the first of the PhoenixFM Blues Nights at this well known and loved venue, the Puppies delighted their audience, virtually all of whom were seeing them for the first time. The band’s line up comprises four seasoned and highly experienced musicians whose CVs read like a veritable roll of honour. With Alan Glen on guitar harp & vocals, John O’Reilly on vocals & guitar, Jim Mercer on vocals, standup bass & bass guitar and Dino Coccia on drums, these are four musicians who gel superbly, who take it in turns to introduce songs, often adding a bit of history or a personal recollection and who clearly really enjoy playing together.
Playing a great and very varied mix of material, they featured original numbers taken from their excellent CD, “Puppy Fat” such as Dino’s wryly humorous song, “& Years Too Late”and the wonderfully rocking Nine Below Zero number, “ Another Kinda Love” written by Alan and the rest of NBZ when he was with the band.
There was Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen”, T Bone Walker’s “T Bone Jumps Again”, Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied” and a show stopping “Stone Fox Chase” (the Old Grey Whistle Test theme) which included a stonking drum solo from Dino.
Reminiscences of Peter Green, Duster Bennett and other great names from the recent and not so recent history of the Blues, the Puppies not only entertained but also made the music live. Their consummate musicianship shone through with Alan & John’s very different guitar playing styles blending superbly, John playing a number of beautiful solos, never flashy, always skilful, Alan’s picking often understated but very much in the groove.
Jim’s bull fiddle added a depth that an electric bass just cannot achieve and yet, w hen he picked the guitar, it was always right in the mix. Dino’s drumming has that effortless quality that only the best possess and his two solos dazzled whilst his ensemble playing was rock solid and always spot-on, Alan’s harp playing was the best I have heard from him and he emphasised just what an underrated player he is on this instrument. And he plays guitar and he sings and he writes! No wonder he gets to play with so many great names!
I am not sure that musicians of this experience and skill can describe themselves as Puppies, but Blues they play and Incredible they are. Make sure you catch them soon!
Ashwyn Smyth - 5th February 2006
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| January 2006 - Zeitgeist - http://www.zeitgeist-scot.co.uk/
The Incredible Blues Puppies – Puppy Fat – Note Records
You often find that when musical veterans with a certain pedigree get together it all goes horribly wrong. And the Puppies certainly have a pedigree.
Alan Glen was a member of The Yardbirds between 1996 and 2003 and has also recorded with Nine Below Zero, Little Axe, Dr Feelgood, Alannah Myles and numerous others. Jim Mercer has worked with Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes, Pinetop Perkins and Muddy Waters. Dino Coccia has session credits with Andy Shepard, Patrick Moraz and Grace Jones and live shows with Jo-Ann Kelly, Homesick James and Lowell Fulson. John O'Reilly has worked with The Blues Engineers and The Big Town Playboys. Finally, Dave Briggs has performed with Scotty Moore, D.J.Fontana and Sonny Burgess. Frankly you couldn't get a much better CV than these guys.
Now bearing in mind how badly this could have turned out, it gives me great pleasure to say that it's a joy from beginning to end. If you like white boy blues then you're going to lap this up. Mixing up originals as well as classics from Taj Mahal and T-Bone Walker amongst others, this is the perfect soundtrack to the blues basement party in your head.
The best covers are the Mississippi Fred McDowell track, “61 Highway” and G L Crockett's “Man Down There”, with the instrumental title track being the winner amongst the original material. As well as the outstanding (and contrasting) guitar work from Alan Glen and John O'Reilly, the former also provides some splendid harmonica work. A joy from beginning to end, it's good to hear a band playing the music they love, the way they love. Highly recommended.
S A Hamilton
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Review From - Back To The Roots - Belgium - Feb 2006
Gitarist, componist en harmonicavirtuoos Alan Glen houdt er een paar groepjes op na die stuk voor stuk in blues doen, altijd rootsy en toch noolt te fanatiek. Bij The Barcodes durven de toetsen al eens centraal staan, bij de Blues Puppies, zijn nieuwste project, is dat de gitaar. Twee gitaren eigenhijk. Eén: die van John O'Reilly van de The Big Town Playboys en van de fel onderschatte en overigens bij ons onbekeride Blues Engineers, met een vtoeiend en soms vettig geluid. Tweet die van Alan Glen, omkijkend naar Robert Lockwood en andere delta- originals. Dankzij de stevige ritmesectie (bassist Jim Mercer en drummer- liedjesschrijver Dino Coccia) en Glens subtiele harmonica, duiken we met de groepscomposLtie 'Another Kind of Love direct de elektrische traditie in, hoewel eec subtiele boogie op de achtergrond meespeelt. Daarna volgen een springer van Taj Mahal, eec luie T-Bone Walker, Pen eerbare Fred McDowell ('Highway 61'). ja zelfs eeri Km Wilson die Glensmondharmonica utdaagt. Het titelr,ummer, eigen werk, is een instrumentaaltje dat in 1964 niet zou hebben misstaan op een compilatie van de Nieuwe Britse Bluesgoden. Geen wonde dat Alan Glen nok lid is van de vernieuwde Yirdbirds. 00k de overige due eigen composities sluiten mool aan. Kortom, een professionele, fris geproduceerde, stevige set die op geen enkel ogenblik over de top gaat, noch aari afkooksel doet denken. Meer info: www.note-music.co.uk
Eddy Bonte
Babel fish Translation
Gitarist, type-setter and harmonic avirtuoos Alan Glen keep a couple groups after those one after the other in blues do, always rootsy and nevertheless noolt too fanatical. At The Barcodes the tests dare already once at issue are, at the blues Puppies, its newest project, are that the jet ear. Two jet ears eigenhijk. One: that the fel and moreover sounded at our onbekeride blues Engineers underestimated of John O'Reilly of the The piglet Town playboys and of, with vtoeiend and sometimes greasily. Tweet which of Alan Glen, looking round to Robert Lockwood and other delta originals. Thanks to the firm rhythm section (bass player Jim Mercer and drummer-liedjesschrijverdrummer-liedjesschrijver drummer-liedjesschrijver Dino Coccia) and Glens subtle harmonica, we dive into with the groepscomposLtie Another child or Love directly the electric tradition, although eec subtle boogie on the context take part in. Afterwards springer of Taj Mahal, eec follow lazy T-Bone Walker, pen honourable Fred McDowell (' Highway 61 '). yes even eeri km Wilson which Glens harmonica utdaagt. The titelr, ummer, own work, are an instrument nematode which will not have notted become in 1964, on a compilation of the new British Bluesgoden. No wound that Alan Glen cam member is the Yirdbirds renewed of. 00k the remaining due own composities connect mool. In short, a professional, fresh produced, firm set which concerns think afkooksel on absolutely no moment the top, nor aari does. More information: www.note music.co.uk
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