DAVE SPECTER AND STEVE
FREUND, "IS WHAT IT IS" Two of Chicago's most underrated guitarists once had a teacher-student relationship, with the younger Specter taking lessons from Freund, who was then Sunnyland Slim's guitarist. They recently entered the studio as equals, the jazzy Specter and the classic-Chicago-blues-loving Freund trading riffs on several originals as well as such guitar player's anthems as Peter Green's "Albatross," George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready." Though both have considerable experience as bandleaders, they selflessly yield to each other for the good of the music. Freund supplies the vocals, while Specter did the production. Thanks to this spirit of cooperation, there's plenty to like among these dozen tunes. - Jeff Johnson, Chicago Sun-Times, Nov. 14, 2004, "Spin Control" |