Just Say the Word
Artist: Gabe Stillman
Label: Vizztone
Released: 2021
Number of Tracks: 15
Duration: 68:28
Website: https://www.gabestillman.com/
Review by Mixmaster Linc
Gabe Stillman is a young guitarist and vocalist and a 2015 graduate of the Berklee School of Music. He leads his blues and rock power trio out of his hometown in central Pennsylvania. In 2019, he was a finalist at the 35th Annual International Blues Challenge and was the recipient of the Gibson Guitar Award.
Beyond his trio, Gabe is joined on Just Say the Word by keyboard player, Taylor Streiff (formerly of the Nick Moss Band), the Texas Horns, Sue Foley (on guitar and vocals), Greg Izor (on chromatic harmonica), and Anson Funderburgh (on guitar and producing). Of the 15 tracks, Stillman wrote or co-wrote 13 of them, with two covers, Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “I’ll Take Care of You” and Bill Withers’ “Friend of Mine.”
Stillman’s guitar work is exemplary, but his vocals are not tremendously engaging. You don’t notice as much on the blues songs, but on the rock songs, his singing is a little lightweight. It’s not that he ever hits a wrong note, it’s just that I prefer to hear some gravelly rasp.
In total, the good songs are really good, and the fair songs are just fair. I give Just Say the Word 3.5 stars out of 5.
Hear for yourself: Listen on YouTube
