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Frank Bey – Peace

By Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © Jan 2025

Nola Blue Records is proud to announce the release of Peace, an eleven-track compilation of the late Frank Bey’s music. Marking five years since his passing, the album spotlights many of Frank’s lesser-known works from earlier in his career.

Because of there being forty-plus performers it isn’t feasible to list them all, but as I touch on certain songs, I’ll do my best to give credit where it is due.

Having been a big fan of Frank’s recordings with the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, it pleased me to see them featured together on the opening track. It’s a cover of Milton Campbell’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”, and it features” Frank on vocals; Loralee Christensen on background vocals; Anthony Paule on guitar; Tony Lufrano on organ and keyboards; Nancy Wright on tenor sax; Tom Poole on trumpet; Mike Rinta on trombone; Endre Tarczy on bass; and Paul Revelli on drums. Recorded ten years ago, during the Bey/Paule Band era, this is actually the first time it’s being released. The track is a smokin’ mix of soul, funk and blues that features that fabulous rhythm that the Soul Orchestra was famous for; killer guitar leads by that orchestra’s leader, Mr. Anthony Paule; and those patented powerfully soulful vocals of Frank’s. Hearing this outstanding performance for the first time, I now wonder how the heck this one ended up on the cutting room floor back then?

“Blues Comes Knockin'” (J. J. Monjack) is one of eight tracks that represent Frank’s recorded work with his bandleader and friend of more than twenty-five years, Jeff Monjack, and the late Kevin Frieson. It features Frank on the vocals; Jeff on guitar; Kevin on bass; Jay Davidson on keyboards; Sark “On The Harp” Damirjian on harmonica; and Thomas Jefferson on drums. This one is a straight up smokin’ shuffle with Frank offering his advice on what to do when the blues come calling. Most importantly, is to check the caller ID, put the phone on speaker, and – since he’s better at this than we are – let him take it from there. Musically, with Kevin, Jay and Thomas in a powerful rhythm groove behind them, this one is highlighted by killer blues guitar and harp runs from Jeff and Sark.

Another of Jeffrey’s originals is “Bed For My Soul”. It’s a duet that features him flawlessly pickin’ at an acoustic guitar and Frank on the very spiritual and thought-provoking vocals like “I got a bed for my body, but I got no bed for my soul”. Think about that for awhile…..then do something about it.

It’s songs like this that make me doing a review take much longer than it should – I just can’t get enough of them. This one is titled “If You Want Me” (F. Bey, K. Frieson & J. Monjack), and listening to this six-and-a-half-minute long song was by far the best thirty-plus minutes of my day. This is slow, soulful blues at its very, very best. Checking all the boxes are Frank, putting on a commanding soulful and emotional vocal performance; Jeff, playing some of the best damn slow and scorching blues guitar runs you ears could possibly have ever heard; Andrew Samuels, giving the slow blues groove that Kevin Frieson (bass) and Brian Wolfe (drums) are locked into, it’s heartbeat on the organ; and the horn section of Bob Maxom on the sax and Reginald Watkins & David (Bubba) Scott on trombone, adding a solemn vibe.

“Blues In The Pocket” (K. Frieson) starts off with Frank taking us to church as he preaches about the blues. However, don’t get too comfortable in those pews because once the band fires up the funk, you won’t be able to get to the dance floor quick enough. Those responsible for you wanting to shake your money maker are: Jeff on guitar; Doug Travis on keyboards; Kenny Taylor on trumpet; Allen Weber, John Thompson and Jay Davidson on saxophones; Kevin on bass; Omar Hill on percussion; and Kevin Sullivan on drums.

When you try to think of those responsible for promoting peace in this world, it’s hard to ‘imagine’ where to start. However, if you narrow that field down to songwriters, it just got a whole lot smaller, with one particular name shooting right out at you – John Lennon. With that being said, there could not have been a better song to close out Peace with than his “Imagine”. This rendition, which I’ll unapologetically say is the best I’ve ever heard is being done by: Frank on vocals; Kid Andersen on guitar; Jim Pugh on organ and piano; Lorenzo Farrell on piano; Nancy Wright (solo) and Jack Sanford on sax; John Halbleib on trumpet; Ric Feliciano on trombone; Jerry Jermott on bass; Derrick “D’mar” Martin on drums; and Mike Rinta on the horn arrangements. If you’ve not heard this version of this anthem, listening to Frank singing his heart out, and the superstars accompanying him all putting on a masterful nearly seven-minute performance, it alone will be – as the saying goes – worth the price of admission.

Other tracks on what I’ll take the liberty of calling a tribute to Frank Bey, include: “One Thing Every Day” (M. H. Schermer); “Midnight And Day; (K. Frieson); “City Boy” (K. R. Moore, aka Keb Mo); “Walk With Me” (J. J. Monjack & A. Samuels); and “Change Is Gonna Come” (S. Cooke).

For more information about Peace, and the inspiration for the project, visit www.nola-blue.com/frankbey. If you’d like to purchase a Peace CD, a limited edition will be available exclusively via Bandcamp while supplies last, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Frank’s widow, Toni Bey. As usual, please let whoever you come in contact with know that the Blewzzman sent you.

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