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Groovy
Eyes
High Flyin’ But No Foolin’
Ram-Bam Records
What the hell’s going on in Finland? It
seems like every act I hear from there is amazing, regardless
of genre – from the instrumental surf of Laika & The
Cosmonauts to the angelic harmonies of Varttina; from the
smoldering funk-jazz of J.P.’s Organ Trio to a wacky country
group called Freud Marx Engels & Jung, who recorded a
version of Tammy Wynette’s “D.I.V.O.R.C.E.” (in Finnish, of
course—”A.V.I.O.E.R.O.”).
And now, the jump-blues and swing of
Tampere, Finland’s Groovy Eyes, led by guitarist Jussi “Jo’
Buddy” Raulamo. Playing a ’59 German-made Klira archtop
through a ’53 Finnish Salora tube radio, he stakes out a great
distorted tone and aggressive attack on the opening “High
Fly,” showing a debt to the Charlie Christian/Tiny Grimes
school. It’s no surprise that California’s Junior Watson, whom
Raulamo also obviously listens to, gives this CD his stamp of
approval in the liner notes. After doubling the melody with
Jussi, saxophonist Masa Orpana also serves up a big-toned
tenor solo.
“Let’s Have Some Fun” finds Jo’ Buddy
shouting the lyrics in the proper spirit, on this uptempo
jump-blues a la Big Joe Turner, while “Blue Mood” is a
relaxed, late-night brushes number. On “Gulf Coast Mambo,”
saxophonist Vesa Hyrskykari switches to accordion, and Jussi
quotes Guitar Gable’s “Congo Mambo,” and “Foolish Woman”
grooves ahead like Little Richard’s “Keep A-Knockin’.”
The personnel and instrumentation shifts
for half of the CD’s dozen tracks, and the results are less
successful. Here, Jussi’s Klira is patched through a Finnish
Cream Sound amp and Fender Vibroverb reissue, for a thinner,
biting tone – recalling Gatemouth Brown on “I’ve Seen You
Somewhere.” Jouni Joronen’s Hammond organ dominates, and the
songs – more ’60s and ’70s funk oriented – just aren’t as
interesting. However, Jo’ Buddy closes with a nice ballad, “My
Sweetheart,” featuring his best vocal of the set.
This article originally appeared in VG’s June
’02 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage
Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is
strictly prohibited.
- Dan Forte
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