Low Fritz (Fritz Sammy) - Bass, Vocals, Positivity & Enthusiasm

“A FunTime Review of Arising”

With 2024's Arising Joe Boris takes his listeners on a sonic excursion though the American musical landscape, across eras that recall his lifelong influences while demonstrating how far he's moved on from his previous associations. The album opens with a trip through the mid-1960s Laurel Canyon; Falling In Deep is a sunny California styled ode to getting back in the saddle romantically and musically that nicely sets the pace for the journey ahead. The scenery changes to late 70's Philadelphia with the blue eyed soul of I Feel Alive, before grabbing the reins and heading to the southwest with the epic saga Cayenne Rain. From there Joe and the aptly named Fun Time take you to the early 60s east coast with the updated rock n roll classic Reelin’ and Rockin’. The tour bus then cruises ahead five years and 600 miles south to Memphis for the Stax inspired Tell Me. The following track finds us riding the rails through the mid-70s searching for answers in the Kansas/Leftoverture shaded I Don't Know. Next we hit the road up to Motor City for the old school soul classic Any Way I Do. The ‘70s San Jose sound is unmistakable where Can’t Stop a Dream and Harder Than This encourages us to listen to the music. After getting in the mood with a quick stomp in prohibition era Harlem with Jive Time Mind we stroll down to Nawlins for Little Miss Hustle's nod to the world’s oldest profession. The album wraps up, as it should right here in Dirty Jersey with Brother Tom, a beautiful lament of sorts that is at once sad and hopeful and pure Joe Boris. The album is masterfully engineered by the brilliant Kosta Kamcev creating a sound that leaps out of your speakers. Joe’s backing band, The Fun Time earn their moniker with relentless drums/percussion by Bob Ramos, timeless and exuberant keyboards by Adrian Untermyer and Low Fritz’s solid tasteful bass lines. The band is bolstered by notable guests including Tigerman’s Adam Carelli on horns, the incomparable Chris Nacy on blues harp and Joe’s former battery mate Alzie Sisco. These seemingly random parts and pieces are beautifully woven together by Joe Boris’ heartfelt lyrics, searing guitar work and overall sincerity. After a couple of listens to Arising what you find is an exciting new voice from an original American singer songwriter determined to put his trials and tribulations behind him and kick away the blues.