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"Tommy is the best blues singer and Hammond organ player DC has ever had. AM 53 is full of beautifully honed songs in the tradition of what I call DC R&B. As all cities have their style of music, this is what DC has always been about." -Paul Reed Smith, PRS Guitars
"I'm always in the mood to hear some really true blue-eyed soul, especially from one of the best around. Tommy’s vocal presence makes the whole thing so cohesive, and smooth as silk, it just sails."
-Shaun Murphy, Little Feat
"Once again, the Tommy Lepson Band has delivered! Wrapping an earthy mix of funk, blues, and rock around Tommy’s soulful-as-ever voice and highlighted by Paul Bell’s great guitar work, this collection of heartfelt songs is a joy to listen to. Thanks again fellas for keepin’ it soulful and real."
-Nils Lofgren, E Street Band guitarist
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"Live at Sweet Caroline's" Reviews:
Click to read:
- Washington Post -
- Michael Macey -
- Elmore -
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Dirk Chorneburg, Chesapeake Music Guide:
What do you do when you’ve had a near death experience and you look at life with a new outlook? If you’re Tommy Lepson, you continue writing, playing, and recording with newfound vigor. Tommy’s latest release, AM53, shows the maturity and energy of an artist at a high point in his game. AM53 takes you on a journey through the roots of American music, the evangelistic delivery of the message through AM Radio. We receive the message loud and clear in the first cut and title track, “AM53”. With the usual soulful vocals and driving Hammond B3 organ (a la Brian Auger and Felix Cavalieri), Tommy delivers the preface.
What follows is a song selection which takes you through an ebb and flow of emotions. The horn section, Tom Crawford (saxes) and Chris Hutton (trumpet) add the big band sounds on hard hitting songs “Ace of Spades” and Lepson penned, “Everyday Thing”. The rhythm section, Gary Crockett, on drums; Wade Mathews, on bass; and Cesar Vanegas, on congas; deliver the bottom with mastery and power. The rhythms are a maze of rock, funk, R&B, Cajun, soul, and Latin. Guitarist Paul Bell is brilliant in interpretation and performance throughout the album. Noteworthy is the band’s groove and energy on “ThinkTwice”.
The most inspirational cuts are “Catch Me When I Fall”, “Do The Right Thing”, and “Loving Arms”. These gospel-like ballads are garnished with blazing and moody guitar tones from Paul Bell and added vocals from Mary Ann Redmond. In them, Tommy digs deep inside to sing with purity and soul.
This album has depth and versatility. There is something here for everyone. Although these players are local, the stature of this CD goes beyond the region. We should use this to our advantage. I’d recommend buying it and getting the band to sign it when they play nearby. Thumbs up!
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Mike Joyce, Washington Post:
Think of "AM 53" as pirate radio, an hour-long broadcast aimed at fans of southern R&B, blues and rock. Just dial it up, sit back and soak up the soulful sounds.
The "playlist" certainly puts to shame most of the music on the airwaves these days. Singer and keyboardist Tommy Lepson, who has won more Wammies (Washington Area Music Awards) for his unvarnished vocals than he knows what to do with, has put together a colorful assortment of tunes, both originals and covers.
Among the former is the title track, in which Lepson gruffly musters evangelical fervor, advising salvation-seekers that "the man with all the answers is on AM 53," while the latter includes a terrific roadhouse reworking of Dave Van Ronk's "Sunday Street." In fact, with its big beat groove and Paul Bell's evocative slide guitar work, this version of "Sunday Street" ends up having a lot more in common with Little Feat funk than coffeehouse fare. (Not surprisingly, Little Feat singer Shaun Murphy contributes a liner note endorsement, calling Lepson's brand of blue-eyed soul "one of the best around." No argument here).
The songs on "AM 53" encompass blues favorites, such as Willie Dixon's "Don't Go No Further (You Need Meat)," and soul rave-ups, such as Otis Redding's "Love Man." And in keeping with Lepson's track record, his band places an old-school emphasis on organ, electric/resonator guitars and a strong rhythm section -- plus occasional horns and background vocals (courtesy of Mary Ann Redmond). As a result, "AM 53" continually gives listeners reason to stay tuned.
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Dirk Chorneburg, Chesapeake Music Guide:
What do you do when you’ve had a near death experience and you look at life with a new outlook? If you’re Tommy Lepson, you continue writing, playing, and recording with newfound vigor. Tommy’s latest release, AM53, shows the maturity and energy of an artist at a high point in his game. AM53 takes you on a journey through the roots of American music, the evangelistic delivery of the message through AM Radio. We receive the message loud and clear in the first cut and title track, “AM53”. With the usual soulful vocals and driving Hammond B3 organ (a la Brian Auger and Felix Cavalieri), Tommy delivers the preface.
What follows is a song selection which takes you through an ebb and flow of emotions. The horn section, Tom Crawford (saxes) and Chris Hutton (trumpet) add the big band sounds on hard hitting songs “Ace of Spades” and Lepson penned, “Everyday Thing”. The rhythm section, Gary Crockett, on drums; Wade Mathews, on bass; and Cesar Vanegas, on congas; deliver the bottom with mastery and power. The rhythms are a maze of rock, funk, R&B, Cajun, soul, and Latin. Guitarist Paul Bell is brilliant in interpretation and performance throughout the album. Noteworthy is the band’s groove and energy on “ThinkTwice”.
The most inspirational cuts are “Catch Me When I Fall”, “Do The Right Thing”, and “Loving Arms”. These gospel-like ballads are garnished with blazing and moody guitar tones from Paul Bell and added vocals from Mary Ann Redmond. In them, Tommy digs deep inside to sing with purity and soul.
This album has depth and versatility. There is something here for everyone. Although these players are local, the stature of this CD goes beyond the region. We should use this to our advantage. I’d recommend buying it and getting the band to sign it when they play nearby. Thumbs up!
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Vicente P. Zumel, La Hora Del Blues, Barcelona, Spain:
Gran disco el que nos trae este teclista y cantante que se mueve con soltura y experiencia por los caminos del rhythm & blues y de la música ‘american roots’ mezclado con ese sonido de ‘rock sureño’ tan característico de algunas bandas blancas del sur, aunque nuestro hombre se mueve preferentemente por el área de Washington. Lepson es un fervoroso creyente de la iglesia evangélica y eso se refleja en las letras de sus composiciones, aunque para llegar a esa conclusion hay que saber leer entre lineas, ya que sus creencias no son demasiado explícitas. En el cd hay excelentes versiones de Willie Dixon, Ottis Redding, Dave Van Ronk.... Un disco estupendo con fantásticos ‘grooves’, toques ‘funk’, evocativas ‘slide’, algo de ‘soul’, todo ello con un órgano que prevalece, tanto en primera línea como mero acompañamiento. Como podeis ver un disco de música americana al cien por cien para los que gustan de la música con clase y estilo. MUY BUENO.
Translation:
Here comes an excellent CD recorded by a singer and keyboards player who really knows the different rhythm & blues and american roots music ways, all mixed with the special ‘southern rock’ sound so typical in suthern white rock bands. Tommy Lepson is very well known in Washington area and his deep evangelical church religious beliefs can be discovered on his songs lyrics if you pay attention to them. The CD gives splendid Willie Dixon’s, Ottis Redding’s or Dave Van Rock’s versions. A very interesting CD with swingin’ grooves, funk details, sharping ‘slides’ and a little bit of ‘soul’ all cooked with a prevailing organ, perfect in backing and solos. A complete american music CD perfect for those of you who love this kind of music. GREAT.
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