CD Review
Jump Back’s “Misunderstood”: A Fresh Blend of Blues and Rock
Jump Back has been great supporters of the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, with Wayne Kessler (harp, guitar, and vocals) and John Dammacco (bass and vocals) both having served a term on the board. Along with Jack Piccolomini (guitar and vocals), they also run the very well-attended monthly jam at the member venue, The Chubby Pickle. They recently signed with Deko Entertainment, an independent distribution label, for their latest release, Misunderstood. They began working with Shore Fire Studio and their ace engineer, Joe Demaio, along with drummer Emilio Ramil, on nine of the ten original songs. However, a bad bout with COVID and the fact that he lives in North Jersey led to Emilio’s decision to leave the band. Walter Doberentz then stepped in for the last song and is now the fourth member of the band.
They recently held a CD release party at a packed Chubby Pickle with the Lew Gatewood Band opening, where they showcased all but one tune, “New Day,” which they haven’t worked out live. The audience response was overwhelmingly positive, which is a testament to the strength of the new songs and the quality of their musicianship. While this isn’t classic blues, the band has carved out a unique identity that combines elements of blues and rock to create a winning sound.
They open the CD with Emilio’s drums and John’s powerful bass line, followed by Jack’s stinging guitar with Wayne’s harp setting the stage for Jack’s story of his woman caught doing him wrong, and saying “I’ll Move On.” The song “Evil Might Win” leads off with Jack’s Stonesy-sounding riff and Wayne taking over the vocals with a solid underpinning from the rhythm section, and Wayne’s concise harp solo adding that extra zest to the tune. “Can I Play the Blues” is another tune where Jack lays down a great riff, and it’s a terrific marriage of rock and blues, with an interlude that pays homage to Peter Green. Wayne breaks out the Slide Guitar for “The Sting,” and Emilio Ramil shines on this one with a great bass line anchoring the song while Wayne blows some real blues harp to bring this one home. “Denied” is a nice shuffle that includes another fine harp solo, followed by some tasty guitar from Jack. I’m really impressed with the crafting of the songs, and the production values have the sound literally jumping out of the speakers, crisp and clear.
“Shake ‘Em Baby” features some of Emilio Ramil’s strongest vocals on a straight-ahead rocker, with the band in lockstep supporting him. Jack’s vocals are featured on the one song with Walter on drums, a ballad titled “Without You,” which has the band adding some nice harmony to the mix. Wayne takes over the mic for the title track, labeled “Miss. Understood.” His style and sound are in stark contrast to Jack’s, and fit the vibe of this song well, not to mention a brief harp solo adding some nice texture to this number. The vocals are sung as a chorus on the penultimate track, “New Day,” which to me, sums up the collective effort the band has put into this fresh new batch of songs. “Fight For Survival” closes out the CD on a high note with Wayne on vocals and guitar that Keith Richards would be proud of. It leads into a sexy solo that is the highlight of the longest track of the collection, a cautionary tale about getting involved with the mob.
Take a listen on their YouTube channel!
I should also give a shout-out to Leon Zervos, who was responsible for the mastering, and John’s daughter-in-law, Alex Dammacco, who did the CD cover art. If you look closely, you can see the cover of the band’s first CD hanging over the music venue. This collection is also available on most music streaming services.