Release: Tomislav Goluban - Express Connection.

TOMISLAV GOLUBAN - EXPRESS CONNECTION (ALBUM)
CONTEMPORARY BLUES
LABEL: BLUE HEART RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 16, 2021

Traditional blues disciple from Eastern Europe, Thomas Goluban, aka Little Pigeon, returns with his 12th
album, “Express Connection,” continuing his mission to prove that music is truly an international language and as the title suggests is a vehicle to connect all people. The 10 tracks, 9 original and 1 cover, may be considered the sequel to his previous album, “Memphis Light,”

as he once again assembled a crew of like- minded souls to record at Ardent studios in Memphis TN. Although the two recording sessions took place a
year apart, the continuity of sound and substance remains, due to the expert work of Mike Wilson at Ardent and Jeff Bakos at the famed Bakos Amp Works in Atlanta.

Goluban’s theatrical harmonica playing is nimbly placed in the musical center of a strong ensemble sound created by the fine rhythm section of David Green on drums, Bill Ruffino on bass with keyboardist Rick Steff and stellar guitar playing from Mark Johnson and co-producer Jeff Jensen. Saxophone from Kirk Smothers and trumpet from Mark Franklin were added to three of the tracks to create an authentic Memphis Horns sound. The icing on the cake is Southern California singer songwriter Kelly Zirbes, not only taking advantage of her dexterous vocal talents, but also her lyrical skills on the collection of new material and one selected cover.

The set opens with the first of three instrumentals that display the full breath of talent Goluban has on the harmonica. ‘Express Connection,’ the title track, is aptly named as it clocks in at well over 140 bpm, quite a workout for David Green and Tomi. The full band with horns comes into play for the satirical hard luck blues, ‘Used To Be Someone,’ with a Butterfield inspired groove. The two-beat foot stomper, ‘Babe On The Run,’ feels like an Electric Mud update and Mark Johnson delivers some fine high lonesome slide guitar playing for the redux of ‘Pale Blue Eyes,’ a deep cut from the Velvet Underground catalog that Goluban and company frame as a mournful country ballad akin to Willie Nelson covering Lou Reed.