Charley Crockett: In The Night (2016)

Leon Bridges, Charley Crockett. Photo by Brittni Jesse.

Charley Crockett has captured a vintage sound for his new CD, In the Night (2016). He travelled to Fort Hort Studios, studio home of the late Nick Curran, and co-produced In the Night with Jay Moeller who plays drums on In the Night and played with Gary Clarke Jr. and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

In the Night is also the title of the opening song a funky, upbeat piece which features the trumpet of Charles Mills Jr., who guitarist-singer Charley Crockett was playing with for years, starting out on the streets of New Orleans.

That is followed by the bluesy, fast-paced Baby 1-2-3 with some horns, including the saxophone of Jeff Dazey who plays with Leon Bridges.

I’m Working shows off the drumming skills of Jay Moeller and displays the great timing and intricate relationship of Charles Mills Jr. and Charley Crockett. Charley Crockett always says Charles Mills Jr. defines the sound of the band.

What’s Made Milwaukee Famous is an old, fun tune that features Kullen Fox’s boogie-woogie piano and Nathan Fleming’s pedal steel guitar.

Out of Bad Luck, a song originally done by bluesman Magic Sam, to whom Charley Crockett dedicated the CD. Out of Bad Luck features the trumpet echo of Charles Mills Jr. and a nice guitar solo by Alexis Sanchez.

After the Laughter has an hypnotic, vintage sound. After the Laughter and Downtrodden Man features the organ of Matt Ferrell who plays for the Greyhounds and has written songs for the Tedeschi Trucks Band.