CD Review Rack- July 2000   -Richard Cuccaro

Ray Bonneville/Rough Luck Prime CD  PCD68

This is my first acquaintance with the Primal Audiophile Series-- solo, live-in-the-studio recordings
designed to capture the artist as you would hear him in a small musical venue. It aspires to capture 
the  essence of the artist and pay homage to the  saying, "less is more." It certainly succeeds here.

Ray Bonneville peers out at us from the cover of his latest CD, looking over the border from Canada, 
with a slightly quizzical look.
Although great roots-oriented players like Ray enjoy success in Canada, he might be asking himself,
"What will it take to put a dent in the the U.S market?" If this record doesn't produce some results, 
I'll be asking the same thing.

Ray is a consummate contemporary blues player, telling stories in the here and now, but using  
traditional techniques in virtuoso fashion. He plays, alternately, a 1957 Gibson J50, an early 1960's Epiphone
arch-top electric guitar, a 1930's National Steel guitar, and a rack-held harmonica. For good measure, 
on occasion, he uses a footboard.to keep time.The voice is a cross between Mark Knopfler and how Bob Dylan 
would really like to sound.

The first track, "What Was I to Do?" begins with the sharp bee-like humming of the rack-held harmonica 
(think "Paul Geremia"). A rock-steady boogie-woogie beat, thumb and finger-picked on an amplified guitar
underscores the title's rhetorical question. Ray tries unsuccessfully to leave the woman he has just spent
the night with. He sings: "True as a razor and the morning sun's east / she stood near as a tailor yet so 
out of reach." He ends it with, "defenses fall by the edge of the deep / and the child inside is easily seen."

The album indeed speaks of rough luck and rough situations. I am reminded of the deceased boozing, 
whoring, horse-playing but brilliantly erudite Charles Bukowski, the "Dirty Old Man" of poetry. 
Ray's been a lot of the same places. While Ray's means of expression is different, somehow I know 
that Charles would have understood.

To order the CD, call 1-800-PRIME-CD or online at www.primecd.com

Jessica Schoenberg/Humanisms Sway Gypsy Records SGCD 199-2

Size is not everything. It can be deceptive. A small wiry woman opens her mouth to sing
and what gets revealed is a powerhouse vocal instrument that is alarming in its strength.
Additionally armed with an articlately recorded work, she is a force to be reckoned with. 

Jessica Schoenberg will at times remind people of Sarah MacLaughlin and at times, Ani DiFranco.
She's just Jessica Schoenbeg and that's enough. 

I first heard her voice coming fom the small shelf speakers at the sadly now-defunct Guitar & Pen 
Bookstore/Cafe in Riverdale in the Bronx where she pefomed last year. I remarked at how 
interesting the voice was, and was told by the venue operator that my comments would be relayed to her agent. 
Some time later, a promo pack and this CD arrived in the mail. Some days are just more rewarding than others.

Jessica's soaring voice explores the regions of hope in a world that slaps us down. She has the tools 
to get the job done. In the face of lying, sad, and otherwise despicable "humanisms," she has the courage
to sing "never give up!"