SHAWN PITTMAN - REVIEWSHAWN PITTMAN - REVIEW

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Shawn Pittman

Something's Gotta Give -- CD Review

by John Heidt
November 1999

If rock-solid R&B, soul, and good old rock and roll played with taste and flair are your thing, you've got to check this one out. Pittman's been a fixture in the Dallas area since the early '90's, and it's not hard to see why. I hate to make comparisons, but he reminds me of a young Jimmie Vaughan.

His playing is clean and bright but still sounds nice and lowdown, if that makes any sense. For example, check out the Jimmy Reed-style blues of "JUST A GAME." Or the funky (in the old sense) instrumental, " GET STARTED." In fact, in some respects, while not sounding old and dated, Pittman covers most of the soul and R&B ground you'd find in a book about the '60's. At the end of the CD, he even throws in a country-blues (" THAT FIRST DRINK" ) that rounds out his obvious love of those two genres.

Pittman's vocals are not technically great, but they are soulful and more than adequate. And once you hear his reverent playing and arrangements, you'll be swept away. One thing I really like about this album is the fact Pittman appears to be a pretty young guy. This is the kind of music you keep hearing won't be around forever. But you know what? With proponents like this, it won't be going anywhere.