Brandon Santini

Which Way Do We Go?

Momojorecords

Brandon Santini was born in the Piedmont region, specifically Chapell Hill, North Carolina, and raised in nearby Burlington. In his early twenties he moved to Memphis and began fronting the Delta Highway Band. In 2009 they received a Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist. Santini released his own debut recording “Songs of Love, Money and Misery” in 2011. His 2013 follow up “This Time Another Year” resulted in two more BMA nominations, “Contemporary Blues Album of The Year”, and “Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica”. In the latter category he was nominated alongside Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin, and James Cotton. In 2016 Santini released “Live & Extended” and was nominated for two more BMA’s. He followed up this time with 2019’s “The Longshot” on Ben Elliot’s American Showplace Music. That same year Santini and guitarist Jeff Jensen collaborated on “Tennessee Redemption”. His last album was 2022’s “Don’t Shake The Devil’s Hand”.

“Which Way Do We Go” was recorded in August and December 2024 at the High/Low Recording Studio in Memphis. The album was produced by Jensen, and engineered by Toby Vest, Pete Matthews and Ron James. It was mixed by Matthews and Vest, and mastered by Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters.

The ensemble includes Santini, lead vocals and harmonica; producer/guitarist Jensen, who guests on three tracks; Timo Arthur, electric guitar; Cliff Moore, bass; and Ron James, drums and percussion. The album opens with the title track, “Which Way Do We Go?” as Santini sings “the world is turning, with or without us, what I want to know, which way do we go? clap your hands for the one’s you love, brothers and sisters which way do we go?”. On “The War Ain’t Over”, Santini continues “brothers and sisters, the war ain’t over, brothers and sisters the fight is on”.

“See That Pony”, “Look out my window, see that pony run…wake up Mama, see that Cadillac roll, I’m way from home, got nothing left to lose…don’t look now, don’t you want to go”. “Ain’t Turning Back”,”I’m a naturally born loner, I ain’t turning back…I’ve been down the road and I ain’t turning back”, with backing vocalist Jesse James Davis adding the harmony. On “Do What Comes Naturally”, Santini hits those high harp notes, “if you gonna have to  do it, do what comes naturally…cause if you gonna have to do it, do what comes naturally”.

“Mile After Mile” with more great harp as Santini sings “my heart gets in  trouble, walkin mile after mile…I stumble down that passway with no end in sight…I can’t find no peace in that churchyard, walkin’ mile after mile”.  “Working On A Mystery” with guitar from Jensen “when I first laid eyes on her…when she turned and looked my way, I didn’t know what to say…I’m working’ on a feeling I can’t seem to understand”. “Trouble Stay Away” with guitar from Timo Arthur “I say trouble stay away from me…your telephone ring, got the devil on the line”.

“Blues So Bad” , “blues so bad, I can’t help myself…blues so bad, why you follow me…lost my soul down in New Orleans…blues so bad, why do you torture me…only god knows when”. “Baby’s Got Soul” features some great  bass, “my baby’s got soul in so many ways, she takes me down to the river  to wash my troubles away”. On the closer “She Got The Way”, “she got the rhythm from her head to her shoes…I want the world to know my baby’s so fine…oh lord, she got a hold on me”.

Santini says about “Which Way Do We Go?”, “It felt great to return to my former hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, to record with my touring band and longtime musical comrade and friend, Jeff Jensen…these deeply  personal songs were written during the pandemic and it’s aftermath, and  the album features the raw power that this band takes with them wherever we go. This is a moment of reckoning. If we don’t find our way with love  and compassion, I fear what lies ahead”. I love how the songs evolve, that they seem to blend into one another, there order seems to have a purpose. The direction is clear Brandon Santini just seems to go up, higher and higher.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

BUY NOW