“They kick out the jams and take us higher and higher, swinging and swaying with pulsing horns and pulsating guitars. Richly textured, raucous and rambunctious...we’re dancing from the first track to the last.” --Living Blues
“Roomful of Blues are the best little big band on the scene. Virtuoso musicianship [that is] jubilant, horn-propelled R&B magnificence. Boisterous and rousing with tight, fluid arrangements and an infectiously joyous spirit.”
--Blues Music Magazine
“Jumps, swings, struts, and rocks…supercharged and ready to rumble.”
--No Depression
“…Covers of classic R&B, blues and jump numbers have long been a staple of Roomful—but on this outing, every track is a slice of history wrapped up in a modern arrangement and delivered with energy, taste and élan.
Much of the credit goes to Bastos’ powerful vocals combined with the winking, knowing attitude that has marked a certain class of sophisticated female singers ranging from The Andrews Sisters to Dinah Washington.
Each arrangement is a revelation, each performance a joy as the band takes on chest-nuts and forgotten gems from Sidney Wyche, Dave Bartholomew, Don Robey and more.
It is certainly a unique entry in the Roomful of Blues discography, and given the bountiful results contained on this release, the pairing of the band with the singer hopefully portends an ongoing relationship.”
—Jim Trageser
New Alligator Release “Steppin' Out!”
Roomful Of Blues - Steppin' Out
Details
Written by: Giovanni "Gio" Pilato
Music is an art form that is never simple to describe; it's a celebration of life, it's creativity, it's light and dark, good times and bad ones and, fundamentally, the soundtrack of everyone's life.
Said soundtracks though may not necessarily come from radio airplays or any media in general, but they might often come unexpectedly from the speaker of a car radio, or when we are at a restaurant, or at a beach, where we wouldn't necessary know the song title or the artist performing it, but we would remember the moment we were living with that song in the background, a song that, for some unknown reasons, never got the necessary attention from the music press it deserved, back then.
Rather fortunately, though, since their 1977's debut album, there is an extraordinary collective in the United States that tasked themselves to bring the right justice and exposure to those "forgotten songs" through their insane talent, especially those belonging to genres like Blues, R&B, Boogie, Soul and Swing, for example and that band, is called Roomful Of Blues.
Originally formed in 1967 and going through different changes in their line-up through the years, counting currently the longest serving band member Tenor and Alto Sax Player Rich Lataille (who joined the band in 1970), Guitarist and Bandleader Chris Vachon (who joined in 1990 and took the role of Bandleader in 1998), Christopher Pratt on Trumpet, Mike Coffey on Drums, Craig Thomas on Baritone and Alto Sax, John Turner on Upright and Electric Bass, Jeff Ceasrine on Piano and Organ and, for the first time ever in the collective's history and joining the band in 2025, a female Lead Singer, the hugely talented D. D. Bastos, Roomful Of Blues have released, prior to 2025, something like 20 studio albums and three live recordings, collecting 5 Grammy Awards nominations and 7 Blues Music Awards, throughout their remarkable career to date.
With a new album due to be released on October 11 and called Steppin' Out!, the wonderfully kaleidoscopic musical offer from Roomful Of Blues takes a new step forward, through the fresh recruitment of the aforementioned D.D. Bastos on vocals, a recruitment that enriches even more a well-oiled music machine such as Roomful Of Blues truly is.
What at first impresses the most, while listening to the 14 outstanding tracks included in Steppin' Out!, it is the depth of the emotional connection between the whole band and the songs included in the album, songs that belong to the less known body of work of some well-known artists too, like Etta James (Good Rocking Daddy), Big Mama Thornton (You Don’t Move Me No More) and Z.Z. Hill (You Were Wrong), among many more.
Whilst the American collective offers spotless sonic performances throughout the whole record, especially, in our personal view, on songs like Steppin' Up In Class, Well Oh Well, Why Don’t Cha Stop It and Boogie's The Thing, it's the addition on the band's line-up of D.D. Bastos that add an extra special spice to this masterfully played, sang and arranged record.
Steppin' Out is a record that fundamentally brings positive vibes all around, allowing the listeners not only to enjoy the overall high quality of this exceptional record, but also helps, at the same time, to bring back to the surface forgotten musical gems, like the Soul and Doo-Wop infused Lee Diamond's Please Don't Leave, the killer slow Blues performance of Dave Bartholomew's Tend To Your Business or the spine-tingling version of Buddy and Ella Johnson’s Why Don’t Cha Stop It, all songs where Roomful Of Blues displays, both vocally and sonically, why they are so much loved and respected worldwide by so many fans.
Another musical gem coming from one of the hottest Blues orchestras of the last half a century, Steppin' Out is a wonderful and joyful insight into Blues, Soul and much more brought by a band able to create a solid bridge between past and present of American music with enormous class and gusto.
Allow yourselves to enter the "Roomful Of Blues" world through this splendid record. You won't regret it.
NEW RELEASE NOW
With Steppin’ Out!, Roomful of Blues unleashes 14 horn-charged, dance-floor-filling tracks led by powerhouse vocalist D.D. Bastos, marking a bold new chapter for the six-decade blues institution.r more than six decades, Roomful of Blues have been swinging, stomping, and soul-shaking their way across the globe, and with Steppin’ Out! they’re proving the party is nowhere near over. The Rhode Island institution’s 20th album marks the recording debut of powerhouse vocalist D.D. Bastos, the first female singer in the band’s storied history. Her full-throttle delivery and emotive phrasing bring a fresh spark to the group’s celebrated “little big band” sound, anchored by guitarist and bandleader Chris Vachon and longtime horn maestro Rich Lataille, who’s been shaping the Roomful tone since 1970.
Produced by Vachon, Steppin’ Out! serves up 14 high-voltage tracks that vault from jump blues to swing to early rock ‘n’ roll, all with the kind of precision and fire only Roomful can deliver. Bastos’ passion is palpable on cuts like “You Were Wrong,” a Z.Z. Hill number she first heard from Magic Sam, and the blistering opener “Satisfied” from Billy “The Kid” Emerson. The setlist is a treasure trove of deep cuts by Big Mama Thornton, Big Maybelle, Etta James, Buddy and Ella Johnson, Jimmy McCracklin, Tiny Bradshaw, and Smiley Lewis — songs resurrected with grit, grace, and a horn section that can still lift a roof.
Since their 1967 beginnings as Chicago blues devotees, Roomful of Blues have grown into one of the world’s premier jump and swing outfits, racking up five Grammy nominations, seven Blues Music Awards, and a touring history that spans 22 countries. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with legends from B.B. King to Carlos Santana and drawn praise from DownBeat, USA Today, and The New Yorker for their unshakable groove and exuberant performances.
On Steppin’ Out!, Bastos meets the band’s legacy head-on, delivering every line with conviction while honoring the tradition built by generations of Roomful players. With Vachon’s searing guitar, Lataille’s saxophone mastery, and a rhythm section that swings with unrelenting drive, the album captures the essence of what has kept Roomful at the top of their game for nearly 60 years; joy, energy, and music that refuses to sit still. This is Roomful of Blues in full flight, still raising the bar, still filling dance floors, and still stepping out like no one else can.
Roomful of Blues - Steppin' Out
TOM HENRY
The Blade - Toledo Ohio
STEPPIN’ OUT!
Roomful of Blues. Alligator Records.
Oh, there’s gonna be a lot of buzz when the venerable bluesy rock group, Roomful of Blues, releases its latest album, Steppin’ Out!, on Oct. 10.
From beginning to end, it’s a high-octane, dance-worthy disc of amazing jump blues and boogie-woogie with a new twist, a female lead singer.
And D.D. Bastos is no ordinary lead singer.
She’s a whirlwind with a microphone, an incredibly powerful singer who not only knows the nuances of the blues but also defines them.
Bastos has just enough sass to go with her fearless, daring style. She is a great addition to and likely a source of inspiration for a group that has maintained a high level of energy and spunk for decades, even with a few personnel changes.
Roomful of Blues doesn’t miss a beat on this album, another one in which it does a great service to the music industry by breathing new life into forgotten blues classics of yesteryear, such as 1952’s “You Don’t Move Me No More” that was originally sung by Big Mama Thornton. Others include Big Maybelle’s “I’ve Got a Feeling,” and an early Etta James song, 1955’s “Good Rocking Daddy.”
The group’s 14th and final song on the disc, “Boogie’s The Thing,” is a raucous, rollickin’, and cut-loose instrumental romp of joy.
As with past albums, the musicianship offered by this iconic group is something to behold.
Roomful of Blues was created way back in 1967 and started recording in the 1970s. The group is led by guitarist Chris Vachon, who joined the group in 1990. Its highly regarded horn section includes tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who joined the group in 1970.
Roomful of Blues has received five Grammy nominations and seven Blues Music Awards. With its infectious, uptempo sound, there’s no way it’s slowing down. This disc is fresh and delightful, another real treat.
“Playing this music is an immense amount of fun for us,” Vachon said.
Listening to this, it’s pretty obvious the group is having fun.
on the road collecting the stories of Americana music
Roomful of Blues, STEPPIN’ OUT. This is a band which is basically in their own category. There is something so strong and classy of their horn-driven songs that it’s like no one else can be compared to them. They came out of the East Coast groove of rhythm & blues, and a generation ago, and while most of the group’s slots have moved around personnel-wise, no matter who got called into duty was a true player. They swung and they stung, and never lost an inch of greatness. The big news now is the group has a female grabbing the lead vocal slot, and a true wonder she is. D.D. Bastos is guaranteed to hit the monkey nerve every time. She can keep up with a red-hot lead guitarist with all the strut of a hoochie coochie dancer, and also hit all the right notes to make a grown man cry. And, of course, the band’s punch is heavyweight, with a knockout of saxophone finesse that is rarely equalled and never bettered by current groups.. Roomful of Blues has worked tirelessly and earned every inch of their mos’ ‘scoucis post. Turn it up again and hear a great new singer and the time-tested trajectory of one of America’s finest aggregations. Roomful of Blues, at the edge of history for unbeatable rhythm & blues, helped lead the way all these 50-plus years, knowing exactly where the truth of rhythm & blues lives. And they have done their very best all this time to deliver the music like it needs to be heard. They have run their magic road to the best of their ability, which means recording music for the ages. And are still up in the clouds doing their best to keep the sounds floating. No foolin’ around.
Reviewed by:
Walter Vanheuckelom. Concert Monkey
ROOMFUL OF BLUES - STEPPIN' OUT!
Roomful of Blues is an American band founded in 1967 by Duke Robillard in Rhode Island. The band has existed for almost sixty years and has consequently undergone numerous personnel changes. Yet, they have always remained true to their musical blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues, and rhythm & blues. In those nearly sixty years, Roomful of Blues has won no fewer than five Grammy Awards, seven Blues Music Awards, and the prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll for Best Blues Band. The band has released nineteen albums, of which 2020's "In a Roomful of Blues" is the most recent studio album. Meanwhile, singer Phil Pemberton has been replaced by DD Bastos due to health problems. Drummer Chris Anzalone, saxophonist Alek Razdan, keyboardist Rusty Scott, and trumpeter Carl Gerhard are also no longer in the band. They have been replaced by drummer Mike Coffey, saxophonist Craig Thomas, keyboardist Jeff Ceasrine, and trumpeter Chris Pratt. With this new lineup, Roomful Of Blues will release its twentieth studio album on October 10th through Alligator Records. It's titled "Steppin' Out!" and contains fourteen songs.
The album opens with a thrilling South American drumbeat from drummer Mike Coffey. "Satisfied" is a 1955 cover of Billy "The Kid" Emerson. Singer DD Bastos sings in "Satisfied" about doing everything she can to keep her partner happy. Drummer Mike Coffey and bassist John Turner create the exciting groove in this highly danceable song. The horn section, featuring saxophonists Rich Lataille and Craig Thomas and trumpeter Chris Pratt, is emphatically and powerfully present throughout the song. They breathe the necessary soul and power into "Satisfied." Chris Vachon colors the song with a captivating guitar solo. We get energetic rhythm & soul with "You Were Wrong," a 1964 cover of ZZ Hill. With great conviction and power, singer DD Bastos tells her partner that he was wrong. Here too, powerful and soulful horns, a fantastic groove, and a brilliant Chris Vachon on guitar. I don't know if her partner listened carefully to DD Bastos in "You Were Wrong." What I do know is that in the next song, "Steppin' Up In Class," DD has her suitcase ready at the door and she leaves with class, ending the relationship. It's a cover of Jimmy McCracklin's 1965 hit. Bastos sings the song with great passion. The instrumental is a delight with Chris Vachon's beautiful guitar licks and Rich Lataille's stunning alto saxophone solo.
The 1956 Little Richard cover "Slippin' And Slidin'" is undoubtedly the most famous song on this album. DD Bastos's beautiful voice truly shines here. With a frontwoman with such a voice, any band is in a strong position. In this swinging number, pianist Jeff Ceasrine, with his playful keyboard work, saxophonist Rich Lataille, with a powerful solo, and guitarist Chris Vachon, with a fantastic string solo, provide the instrumental highlights. A very good version of "Roomful of Blues." Whatever happens, please don't leave me, sings DD Bastos in the melodic ballad "Please Don't Leave Me." This soul-infused ballad was written by Billy Miles and first recorded by Lee Diamond in 1960. Bastos's voice is full of passion and emotion, and the excellent horn section completes the instrumental section. After this resting point, you can put on your dancing shoes again for the swinging 'Tell Me Who', a 1956 hit for Big Maybelle. Here too, great solo work by saxophonists Rich Lataille and Craig Thomas and trumpeter Chris Pratt.
The Big Mama Thornton cover "You Don't Move Me No More" features influences from "Hound Dog," which shouldn't be surprising, as both songs were written by Big Mama Thornton. Thanks to drummer Mike Coffey and bassist John Turner, "You Don't Move Me No More" has a beautiful groove. Jeff Ceasrine conjures a beautiful solo from his piano, and Chris Vachon also delivers a fantastic guitar solo. The three horn players each shine with brilliant solos on the spirited swinger "Good Rockin' Daddy," a 1955 Etta James cover. Chris Vachon and Jeff Ceasrine provide the compelling backing vocals. The slow blues "Tend To Your Business" was written by Dave Bartholomew and recorded in 1953 by Little Sonny Jones. The instrumental lead is played by Chris Vachon's soulful and clear guitar solo and Chris Pratt's brilliant brass playing on trumpet. The swinging "Well Oh Well" is a cover of a Tiny Bradshaw song from 1951. The song is almost seventy-five years old, but that doesn't show in Roomful Of Blues' version. Delightful piano work by Jeff Ceasrine and a beautiful saxophone solo by Rich Lataille provide the instrumental delight. Saxophonists Rich Lataille and Craig Thomas share the solo duties on the swinging "Why Don't Cha Stop It," a cover of a Buddy and Ella Johnson song from 1956.
The horns once again dominate the sound of "I've Got A Feeling," a 1954 Big Maybelle cover. With his infectious drumbeat, drummer Mike Coffey sets the pace for "I've Got A Feeling." With a clever intro, a brilliant solo, and honky-tonky piano playing, pianist Jeff Ceasrine shines in the Smiley Lewis cover "Dirty People." The album concludes with a swinging flourish with the very appealing "Boogie's The Thing." There's no better way to end an album. In "Boogie's The Thing," we can enjoy the beautiful voice of DD Bastos for the last time on this album. The excellent musicians also get their moment in the spotlight with their solos. For this twentieth album, Roomful Of Blues chose covers from the 1950s and 1960s. They gave the songs modern arrangements and a Roomful Of Blues feel. "Steppin' Out!" is Roomful Of Blues' first album with a female lead vocalist. The band remains true to its signature little big band sound, featuring plenty of horns (sax, trumpet), swing, jump blues, early R&B, soul, and rock & roll influences. "Steppin' Out!" is a successful and vibrant album that demonstrates that Roomful Of Blues can still sound relevant and energetic after so many years. The combination of a powerful new voice (DD Bastos) with the band's trusted quality creates a fresh yet respectful continuation of their tradition. For fans of jump blues, horn-driven R&B, early rock & roll, and swing, this album is highly recommended. It offers quality, craftsmanship, and enjoyment. (8/10)
