IronMan Mike Curtis
The One Man blues-Jazz Band
For information, interviews, or booking, please call Mike @ 818/765-2857

Review of IronMan's CD "Doin' It All Myself", in American Harmonica Newsmagazine

by Ken Deifik

I'm a rhythm section freak.  I love to discover obscure records that have Booker T and 
the MG's in the background, or the Meters, the Wrecking Crew, or the Funk Brothers.  
Bands that have played together for a long time bring a special magic to the recordings 
they make.  They blend together and play as a single player.

You'd think that a one-man band would have little trouble sounding like one person, but 
the fact is that most sound like a bunch of guys rehearsing.  Ironman Mike Curtis takes 
the Single-sensibility notion full circle: he sounds like a band that has been playing 
together for a long time.  And yet, the main attraction of his new CD, "DOIN' IT ALL 
MYSELF" is his remarkably distinctive virtuouso harp playing. 

A long time Man-of-respect in the world harmonica community, the Ironman appears ready 
to achieve a larger audience.  His record will be of vital interest to anyone who loves 
blues harmonica, but this record should appeal to everyone who loves a record that 
captures the party feeling of the blues.

For anyone who hasn't followed Mike's erudite posts in Harp-l, Mike is known for having 
achieved a mastery of the ability to play any diatonic harmonica in all twelve keys.  He 
keeps a C harp in his holder during shows and, though he plays songs in all keys, he 
never switches out the harp.  Harp players will want to study this record, but copying 
Mike's licks is not for the faint-hearted.  
 
The larger audience, the one that couldn't care less if a guy plays a C harp in a hundred 
keys, will just plain dig the music, as folks do in clubs all around Southern California 
every week.

Along with a remarkable Rollin' and Tumblin' in a swingy 11/4, and some clever self-penned 
blues and jazz tunes, The Man With The 10,000 Song List adds his remarkable blues touch to 
such non-blues as Moulin Rouge, What's Going On?, Take 5/Blue Rondo A La Turk and Billie 
Jean.  Though, under Mike's control, the harp works well on all those pieces, something 
really special happens on Moulin Rouge and Take 5.  

One of my favorite moments in this generous set (12 songs) is Iron Man's own Smokin' 
Harmonica, a smokey, moody number that almost feels like one of those beautiful George 
Benson records that Creed Taylor produced in the 70's.  

The hip opening groove, NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME I'LL BE GONE has got some of the best 
singing on the record, as does the aforementioned Rollin' and Tumblin'.  A veteran 
entertainer, Mike sings with wit and swing.  His novelty blues, ROGAINE, showcases his 
good-time presentation.

Originally intending a full day of recording, Mike was in such good form when he hit the 
studio that the album wound up taking about an hour and half to record.  The tunes have 
the freshness of good first takes.  In some cases, however, I would wish I could have 
heard what he would have done with second and third takes.  There's so much good music on 
this record that I would hope that now that he has documented his live performance with 
such purity and vitality, he'll explore the possibilities that editing tracks might offer.

Mike Curtis first played this record for me on a boom box over lunch at a Philly Cheese 
Steak place in North Hollywood.  The cook and the proprietor of the place, clearly 
enjoying what they heard, asked him to please turn the music up.  As customers came into 
the establishment, they were all grabbed by the infectious swing.  The music clearly 
struck a chord with everyone who heard it.  

This record is a party for everyone.  Harp players: be ready for a bunch of exciting new 
ideas.  One-man bands: I wouldn't want to be you. 

Ken Deifik