Albert Castiglia

By Kevin Wildman Blues artist Albert Castiglia has finally released the album that his fans have been clamoring for, Wild And Free (Live). For a lot of Albert Castiglia fans, the only real way to hear Albert is live. While his albums are deep and soulful, not to mention energizing, his live performances take that to another level. Recorded ‘Live’ at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, Florida on January 3 rd and 4 th of this year, Wild And Free (Live) captures the real Albert Castiglia in concert. There are no overdubs here. The performance was captured live over two days and the highlights were put together to create one of the finest live albums you’ve ever heard. Everything is great about this new release, the song selection, the attitude, the guest artists and most of all…. The Energy! The energy and the emotions on this album are at an all-time high! The raw power and emotions that this album exudes is bound to make any Castiglia fan scream in appreciation. Albert is backed up by a team of seasoned musicians on this album that includes Justin Tompkins (bass & vocals), Ephraim Lowell (drums), and Lewis Stephens (Hammond B3 & piano) as well as a couple of guest musicians on a couple of tracks such as Mike Zito (guitar on “Too Much Seconal”) and John Ginty (B3 on “Too Much Seconal” & “Lovin’ Cup”. Mike Zito and Guy Hale handled production on the album. The recording of this album was a bit more relaxed for Albert. Instead of going into the studio and working take by take, it was just one take… no overdubs… “It’s not as tedious. That’s for sure,” says Albert. “The process is not as devious. We just went in there with a plan. We recorded it in two nights and we just went out there and did our show. Yeah, you’re right. Its not it’s not quite as tedious and not quite as detailed, but it is a lot of fun.” Albert also definitely knew the importance of this project, as his fans had been requesting something like this for a long time. After seeing one of his performances, they wanted more… They wanted the live ‘feel.’ “This is something I always wanted to do for all my fans,” continues Albert. “They always liked my studio albums, but they never really felt that the studio captured what I do live. And so they pushed me to do a live one for years. The last two albums I did with Gulf Coast records was close to capturing the live sound, but this certainly was a great album to make. It was fun. It was fun to make it and it didn’t involve a lot of a lot of detail. We just went in there and rocked out. We had

Albert Castiglia Wild and Free (live)

a few friends come in and sit in as well. and Mike. There were so many great It was a lot of fun.” moments, and they just couldn’t include And fun was just the beginning of every song from both nights on the this project. Probably the most captivatalbum. Mike would play the songs back ing mood on this album is the intensity for Albert and the two of them would of the audience. The screams, the come to common ground on the picks cheers, the requests. It was the situation and the result turned out to be one of the that musicians just live for. Castiglia and finest ‘live’ recordings you could ever the band just couldn’t get enough of it. hope for. It truly captures the essence of Fortunately he had the right team behind Albert Castiglia’s live performance. Yes, him and they were able to catch that Albert’s fans were right all along. ‘Live’ excitement and package it right here in is the way to go. this album. “The energy of the crowd When it came to song selection for was getting intense and they were really the show, that became an intense in to it and it couldn’t have gone any situation as well. Besides putting in a better.” explains Albert. “Mike Zito’s few covers, they had about nine albums always been a great producer to me. He’s worth of Albert’s material to go through. always done me solid and I just put it in Albert had a few questions about that his hands and he really captured some of himself, so he asked Mike Zito what his the more special moments of those selections might be and Mike gave him nights.” some sound advice and told his just to do Going through the recordings with continued on next page the show was also a bit intense for Albert October 2020 • Rock and Blues International 31

Albert times when he’ll meet these young kids that can’t believe they haven’t made it big time yet, even though their career is Castiglia barely started… and all he can thing of is “Get Your Ass In The Van.” Get back out there on the road and earn it. It will come eventually… not overnight. Those continued from are certainly true words. A lot of musicians will have to put in a lot of previous page years before they get that ‘overnight success.’ Other great originals include “Hoodoo On Me,” “Heavy,” “I Tried To his regular set. Just get up there and Tell You,” and “Keep On Swinging.” have fun. It would definitely come out These are all great original songs here. in the recording. It would truly be a Other impressive songs on the album more honest interpretation of his show include the cover versions that he and the and not be so contrived. The suggestion band performed, such as Johnny Winter’s went very well and Albert and the band “Too Much Seconal” which Mike Zito just had the finest time playing the songs had to get up and perform on. That song they always loved to perform. He didn’t was a very special song to Mike, as he even have to work on the playing order and Johnny had become very close of the songs. Albert and the band just friends over the years prior to Johnny’s started playing the songs from their untimely death. Albert and Mike just actual set. The first fours songs on the performed the hell out of that song. album are pretty much what you would Johnny would have been proud. Other have normally heard Albert perform at fine covers included the Paul Butterfield this time at one of his shows. song, “Lovin’ Cup.” You don’t hear a lot There’s a lot of great moments on of Paul Butterfield covers these days, so this album. Albert’s got some great it was wonderful hearing Albert pay originals on here, like “Get Your Ass In homage to this great blues guy. And of The Van.” Mike tells us that there are course, there is the album’s closer, the 32 Rock and Blues International • October 2020

photo by Norma Hinojosa

Freddie King song, “Boogie Funk.” All I can say about this song is “Wow, what a great way to end this album.” Now that song speaks to me. It also speaks to Albert and he knew he had to include this on the album. Without a doubt, Freddie King is one of Albert’s mentors when it comes to great songs and he and the band do a great job on it. I would say that this is one helluva album, and if you were only able to get one Albert Castiglia album in your lifetime, this would be the one, but heaven forbid that. You need to go out and get some of his other albums as well. Albert is one fantastic guitarslinger and his other albums are every bit as good as this one. And yes, now all you Albert Castiglia fans have finally gotten the album that you have been wanting all these years, Wild And Free (live). This album definitely captures the true essence and feeling of Albert Castiglia and no doubt it will become one of his most sought after albums. Our hats are off to Gulf Coast Records, Mike Zito, and Guy Hale for encouraging Albert to do this fine album. Wow! What an extraordinarily cool album. I love it.