The City Boys Allstars – Blinded By The Night (CBOYS03-2) I’ve been enjoying this release since its arrival – albeit a good while ago! The City Boys Allstars comprise of the cream of New York City’s jazz, soul, blues and funk musicians, led by Mike Merola on guitar. The band reunited on the night of 28th […]
Blues Blast Magazine Review
The City Boys Allstars – Blinded by the Night www.thecityboysallstarts.com 9 Tracks; 48:54 running time A fine group of ten musicians and three singers make up this jazzy, bluesy, and soulful ensemble. The band formed in 1988 and their latest recording released in September 2014 was the group’s first performance in 17 years. […]
Rootstime Review
Review by Eric Schuurmans www.rootstime.be The basis of “The City Boys Allstars” Mike Merola (guitars), Al MacDowell (bass), Robbie Clores (keyboards) and Nick Saya (drums). Mike Merola got a guitar when he was nine years old. His favorite guitarists were Albert King, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Les Paul, Robben Ford … Mike is the glue […]
Improvijazzation Nation Magazine Review
The City Boys Allstars – BLINDED BY THE NIGHT: If good ol’ get-down blues is just what you’ve been lookin’ for, you won’t be able to do without this CD; not only that, but as you listen to “Testimony“, you’ll realize that this was recorded LIVE… & the recording is flawless, so you’ll be “right […]
Blues in Britain Review
New York guitarist Mike Merola set up this horn-heavy, big band back in the ’90s, this live album was recorded in August 2013, in New York, with 11 of the original band members still present… Read More of the Review (PDF, K)
Amazon Customer Review
City Boys Allstars, one of the finest bands in the world. Their sound is a special fusion of Blues, Jazz, Soul, Funk, Rap, Disco, Latin, Rock and anything else that the Boys think sounds great. The recording was made in a live recording form the Cutting Room. It is just a touch of everything […]
Flying Shoes Review
Recorded live at The Cutting Room, New York in August 2013, Blinded By The Night is proof that supergroups are not always guaranteed to fail to meet high expectations. Blind Faith? West, Bruce and Laing? Beck, Bogert and Appice? Not here. Thirteen strong, these masters have playing CVs the length of trombonist Tom ‘Bones’ Malone’s […]
Highlands Magazine
A live album of jazz including some celebrities : here’s how to sharpen our curiosity. Indeed, we find some BLUES BROTHERS of brass : Lou Marini and Tom Malone on saxophone . These two are surrounded by equally awesome musicians like Mike MEROLA , guitar, CLAPTON worshiper ; AL MACDOWELL, bass, keyboards Rob Clores , […]
Review: The Working Musician
The City Boy Allstars follow in the hallowed footsteps of such New York City Bands as Dreams, Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Blues Brothers. They mix blues, soul, jazz, and funk with horns and a lot of sweat. Started by guitarist/leader Mike Merola at the close of 1988, they took a seventeen year break […]
Blog Critics: The City Boys Allstars – ‘Blinded by the Night’
It had been 17 years since The City Boys Allstars got together to play in public when they took to the stage of New York City’s The Cutting Room on August 28, 2013 for a live concert. Blinded by the Night, released last month, is a recording of that concert. Fielding an ensemble of 10 […]