Moon Over Montgomery, the second release by The McKee Brothers, once again features inspired performances by a talented roster of players from Los Angeles and Michigan, including soulful vocalists Bob Schultz (original keyboardist with Bob Seger), Jeff Robinson, Reggie Gonzales, Maxayn Lewis, Laith Al-Saadi (vocal and guitar – 2016 finalist on The Voice), Larry McCray (vocal and guitar), guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardists Bobby West and Jim Alfredson (formerly with Janiva Magness and in Organissimo), horn players Lee Thornburg (formerly of Tower of Power, now touring with Joe Bonamassa) and Doug Webb (Posi-Tone Records recording artist), bassists Bobby Watson (Rufus), Al Threats, and J.V. Collier (Bruce Hornsby) – as well as the brothers themselves: Denis McKee on guitar, keyboards, bass, and vocals, and Ralph McKee on bass, lap steel guitar, and vocals.
The music is high-energy and soulful, in several styles, from gospel (the inspirational title track paying tribute to the 1965 civil rights march), gritty funk, soul, jazz-blues, to funky country. Check out Laith Al-Saadi’s vocal and Larry McCray’s guitar on “Worried About Tomorrow,” the incendiary blues vocal by Jeff Robinson on “You Know How I Lie,” with smokin’ guitar by Al-Saadi, the rhythm section’s irresistible New Orleans grooves on “Flat, Black, & Circular” and “Pigfeet,” the great Lee Thornburg horn arrangement on the gospel ballad “Celebrate Me Home,” and some impressive guitar work throughout by Denis McKee.
