REVIEW

“Calling themselves a “soulful, organic band,” The Jimmy James Gang pumps their music full of horns, keys, funky rhythm guitar and bluesy vocals. Based in Boston, Mass., they released their first album, Welcome to the Real World, in 2006. “Strange River” is the featured track.  The band has a core of seven members, but can swell to 15 as different musicians join in at various gigs. Before he joined the band, lead singer Jimmy James played with The Medium Wallys, a four-man blues outfit. James also plays acoustic guitar and harmonica. Guitarist and singer Gene McAuliffe and keyboardist, percussionist and singer T. Powers used to anchor Woodpile, a roots-rock band with an alt-country touch. The Gang also includes drummer and percussionist Dave Westner, who plays with singer-songwritersTodd Tibaud and Jabe; bassist Paul Kochanski, also a member of The Swinging Steaks; electric guitarist Greg Burgess, also with The Amazing Royal Crowns; and mandolin player Sean Staples, who plays in The Resophonics and Jabe. As to the soul-charged horn section, tenor sax player Paul Ahlstrand can be heard on numerous CDs, from Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters to Susan Tedeschi. On baritone sax, Doug James is a regular member of Duke Robillard’s band. On trumpet, Scott Aruda has been, for years, a well-known session player in Boston, as well as a teacher at Tufts University. And, on slide trombone, Jeff Galindo is a professor at Berklee School of Music.”  NPR Review, 11/21/06