Dennis Herrera

Four

Deep Groove Records

“Four” is co-produced by Dennis Herrera and Rich Wenzel and recorded at Ardent Audio Productions in Torrance, California; the album was mixed and mastered by Wenzel with some additional recording completed at “Kid” Andersen’s Greaseland Studio in San Jose.

Dennis Herrera was born and raised in San Jose, just a heartbeat away from San Franisco, the home of the hippie generation. Herrera states “as a kid in the 60’s, I was introduced to rock n’ roll via the transister radio by my mom, we listened to a pop AM station…I got tuned into The Yardbirds, Animals, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Sam and Dave, and Wilson Pickett; when I was 15 I saw James Brown live, and I was blown away”. Herrera was given his first guitar by his grandfather, and won the student talent show. Herrera found his favorite rock groups, the Stones, Savoy Brown and the original Fleetwood Mac, covered songs by Sonny Boy Williamson, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, and John Lee Hooker, just to name a few. The inspired Herrera has three previous CD’s.

“Four” opens with “Can You Feel It” an instrumental with Jeff Jorgenson on saxophone; Wenzel on Hammond B-3 and piano; and the rhythm section of Bill Stuve, bass; and Lee Campbell, drums. “All Said and Done” is a great vocal from guitarist Herrera as he croons “I take my time to pick and choose my women, and when it’s done, I’ve had my fun…I don’t worry my baby’s by my side again, it’s the luck of the draw, so they say”, Wenzel is on the B-3, while Sanford plays saxophone, and Sid Morris plays piano.

“Long Time Comin'” once again features Jorgenson on sax, while Gordan Peeke plays percussion; and Morris piano; this is a great blues that sounds both old and familiar, yet new at the same time; Stuve is on bass. while Robi Bean plays drums. All I want is “Blues and Roll”, with Morris on piano, also includes Bill Bates on 2nd guitar. “Tenderness I See” with backing vocalists Tony Jones and Nina Mac, includes Frank DeRose, bass; and Lee Campbell, drums “let me kiss you, your sweet tenderness I see…it’s all I know, your tenderness I feel, all day and all night”.

“Insta Groove” is another instrumental with some more great guitar from Herrera, with Jorgenson on sax, and Wenzel on organ, “I still can’t believe…I read the news…and there we are, running from each other…it’s all too much…I know it’s true”. “Lazy!” features some more great guitar from Herrera, infectious drumming from Campbell, and Wenzel on piano, “I feel lazy, oh now, honey you just know what to do, you got me feeling good thru and thru”.

On “All This Time”, with Sanford on sax, Herrera sings “I hear the music play, you might not hear what I say, but I can hear the music play, all this time”.  “Preskitt” features Stuve, bass; Jorgenson sax; and Wenzel on the Hammond B-3, “I wake up in the morning, looking out my window…I’m keeping it real with the woman of my dreams”.

Two old songs are re-visited “Mean Ole Texas Shuffle” from 2015 with Anson Funderburgh added on guitar; and a revived version of “You Stole My Heart” from 2018, with Jorgenson on sax, and Wenzel playing piano.

Dennis Herrera’s “Four” is a solid album of twelve songs, with rhythmic upbeats, of traditional blues grooves inspired by a multitude of distinguished blues master’s past and present. Herrera should reach a wider audience and greater recognition, with the release of this fine collection.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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