Isaiah B Brunt owned a recording facility in Australia, Darling Harbor Studios, where he gave traveling musicians like Julio Iglesias and Goo Goo Dolls a rehearsal oasis. Originally from Sydney, he produced Midnight Oil and toured as part of actor Keanu Reeves' band Dog Star. But that's not where his heart lay. So he traveled to New Orleans.Just the Way That It Goes is the result.
He plugged in his 1970s Fender Stratocaster, making sure to remember his wah-wah pedal and his slide. Enlisting top NOLA session guys like drummer Mark Whitaker, bassist Richard Bird and pianist/Hammond B-3 organ man Mike Hood, he blew through nine original compositions, produced with a flair that left the locals wide-eyed, adding mellotron and harmonica where needed. If you didn't know Brunt was from Down Under, you'd think this thing was conceived on Rampart Street in the Crescent City's French Quarter...and you wouldn't be half-wrong.
His is an age-old sound reminiscent of the kind of earthy blues, soul and folk that held sway during the mid-1960s. His voice is a fine mellow instrument and he doesn't ever over-sing. He's just too cool. But his rampaging slide stings. Utilizing tried'n'true blues progressions but adding a 2015 sheen to the whole shebang kept the boys on their toes. His mix of traditional plus progressive mixes like a fine Tanqueray with tonic water. A romantic at heart, tracks like the opening "She's So Fine," the closing "Which Way To Go" and all points in-between-highlighted by "Never Give Up" and "With A Kiss"-showcase a dynamite new roots-reverent newcomer to the American blues scene.
He's a dandy who dresses the part and acts accordingly. If you saw him on the street, you'd stare. I just hope we can see him on a stage sometime soon in the States. Did I mention how cool he is?
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