Kat Riggins

Cry Out

Gulf Coast Records

While growing up in Miami, Katriva Tabitha Riggins’ was instilled with a love for music. Her parent’s record collection included R n’ B, soul, gospel, hip-hop, country and rock n’ roll. Her primary influences soon became Nina Simone, Tina Turner, Etta James and Koko Taylor. Riggins landed a gig singing jazz and blues standards at a lounge in Sunny Isles, Fl. and in 2011 toured Asia and the Middle East with a top 40 cover band. She recorded her debut album “Lily Rose” in 2014. Riggins opened the 2016 Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk Blues Festival and later that year released her highly anticipated sophomore effort “Blues Revival” on Bluzpik Records. She followed up with 2018’s “In The Boys Club” also on Bluzpik, and dedicated the album to the early blues women who first busted down the club house door.

This is Riggins’ fourth studio album and first for Gulf Coast Records. The album was produced by Mike Zito, engineered and recorded by Daniel Lynn at the Music and Art Studio in Memphis, and later mixed and mastered by David Farrell. The band heard includes guitarist Zito; Lewis Stephens, keyboards; Johnny Sansone, harmonica; Doug Byrkit, bass; and Brian Zielle, drums. There is also a special guest appearance by Florida’s favorite son Albert Castiglia.

The music is composed by Zito (sometimes with help from Steve Van Der Nat and Andreas Carre), while the lyrics were all written by Riggins. “Son of A Gun” opens with Brykit’s bass, Zielle’s drums and Zito’s lead guitar, as Riggins’ sings “They call me a son of a gun ‘cause I’d drop you where you stand…I’m locked and loaded, I got good aim”.

Riggins’ states “Cry Out’ is a call to action. It’s no secret that as a country we don’t practice what we preach. America is still said to be one of the greatest nations in the world but we ain’t, walkin’ the walk. We still fear our differences, slight as they may be in comparison to all we have in common.” Organist Stephens open the title track as Riggins’ sings “Living in a world with no sympathy, it’s every man for himself…unless you got some kind of wealth…cry out for justice, cry out for peace…cry out mothers, cry out somebody please”; Zito takes a great guitar solo as Sansone plays harp in the background. Zito’s fabulous rhythm guitar opens “Meet Your Maker” a gospel styled anthem with a horn section. Zito’s leads are also outstanding on the rockin’ “Catching Up”; and on “Truth” with the lyric “I want to be your truth”. “Hand in The Hand” is a gospel inspired interlude.

“Heavy” is a tender tune with Zito on slide featuring the voices of Riggins’ godson, niece and nephews. “Wicked Tongue” features Castiglia on guitar trading licks with Zito. “Can You See Me Now” features the lyric “I’m the same girl, only stronger”.  On “Burn It All Down”, Riggins sings “that’s what you make me want to do”. “On It’s Way” is another rockin’ tune featuring some saxophone. “No Sale” is Riggins’ narrative about going down to the crossroads but “I told the devil no”. “The Storm” is the dramatic closer.

A powerful vocalist Riggins sings with raw emotion.  Although topical at times, each and every song is suitable for airplay. Producer Zito has given us a recording that captures the passionate Riggins’ at her best.

Richard Ludmerer