Tag: Mike Zito

Life is Hard – Mike Zito

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Life is Hard - Mike Zito

So the other day I wrote a out one of the two songs that have been in my music rotation this month, Albert Cummings‘ latest album Strong. The other album is Mike Zito‘s new album Life is Hard. Like Cummings Zito has been a favorite of mine for many years a now. I started listening to his music back around 2010 in when I heard his album Pearl. I think that his last two albums, 2021 Blues for the Southside Live and Life is Hard have been the best of his career.

About Life is Hard

Life is Hard was recorded in September 0f 2023 at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California. Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith produced the album, Both Bonamassa and Smith worked on the production of Blood Brothers, the critically-acclaimed album Zito recorded with fellow label guitarist Albert Castiglia,. (another favorite) Blood Brothers topped both the Billboard and iTunes blues charts after its release in March, 2023.

Life Is Hard is composed of several Mike Zito originals. In addition Mike makes a variety of blues songs written by more of my favorite artists including: Tinsley Ellis, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit and Fred James.

But that’s not all a diverse assortment of blues/roots music icons music is covered including Little Milton (“Lonely Man”), Stevie Wonder (“Have a Talk with God”) and Reverend Gary Davis (“Death Don’t Have No Mercy”), plus a terrific cover of the Guess Who classic, “These Eyes.”    

Mike has this to say about the album…..

“Life Is Hard is a complete work of art for me,” says Mike Zito about the new disc. “I believe this is the best album I’ve ever made in my life. My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer. Joe, Josh and the incredible musicians were fully aware of the task at hand. They brought a lot of emotion to the music. I am so proud of this album and I know Laura would be proud as well.”     

From Mike Zito’s website.

The Bottom Line

The Bottom line is Life is Hard, like Strong is a fantastic album. In my opinion it is the best album Zito has recorded and it will be quickly climbing the blues charts. Currently it is number 11 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart.

Mike’s guitar work and vocals are both great throughout Life is Hard. On several of the tracks on the album the keyboard work also shines. When I went to Mike’s website I discovered Reese Wynans was the keyboardist! Here’s the complete musician line-up on the album…..

Mike Zito – Guitar and Vocals
Joe Bonamassa – Additional Guitar
Josh Smith – Additional Guitar
Reese Wynans – Keyboards
Calvin Turner – Bass
Lemar Carter – Drums
Paulie Cerra – Saxophone on “Lonely Man”
Jennifer Kumma and Anna Spina – French Horn on “Forever My Love” and “These Eyes”
Jade Macrae – Background Vocals
Dannielle Deandrea – Background Vocals
Steve Ray Ladson – Background Vocals on “Death Don’t Have No Mercy”
French Horn Arrangements by Calvin Turner

When I was gathering info to write this post I discovered Mike’s wife Laura pasted away in August of 2023. She died after a long battle against cancer.Here’s what Mike writes about the song “Forever My Love”

About the Song “Forever My Love”

“In January of last year, I was considering the idea of making an album about the tragedy of my wife Laura having cancer. I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, but she was very encouraging of the process. I knew I could not write an entire album about this experience and my feelings, but I wanted to write at least one meaningful song that encapsulated my emotions.

One morning I was sitting with guitar in hand at the dining room table with a coffee by my side. I played a chord and sang “Forever My Love” at the top of my lungs. Laura came into the room and said “What was that? Is that a song you’re going to write?” I said, “I think so, do you like it?”

She had an excited look on her face as she said “Yes, I like it a lot.” It just came to me so I went with it and the rest came so fast and easy. The best songs usually come out of nowhere and are very easy to write, like I am not really writing the song I am just the interpreter. The song was written, but I played it and sang it over and over throughout the year. Every morning I would sit at the table and sing it loud and she would listen.

She would tell me how much she loved the song, she was really proud. We had hoped she would live long enough to hear the finished version, but that didn’t happen. But, she heard me sing this song 100 times to her at our house last year, and she knew you were going to love it.” — Mike Zito

Here’s the video for “Forever My Love”

I also discovered there is a Go-Fund Me site Laura Zito Cancer Support. if you would like to help Mike and his family.

Mike Zito -Resurrection Makes a Good Run Great!

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The following was posted earlier this week on Renaissance Granddad I thought I’d catch you up a bit before I post about today’s run!


The Run

Oh, what a difference a cloudy sky and a temperature that is a few degrees lower make on a morning run! I have been making it a habit to check the running conditions each night before a run. Last night the rating for this morning was an 8 out of 10 until after 10am. And the rating was correct! The beat thing was there was no bright sun beating down on me!

I ran the first mile in just a shade under 11 minutes. (10:59). The second mile was slower because much of the mile was uphill. My mile time was 11:20 and the average pace dropped to 11:09. I ran the third mile and fourth mile in around 10:56 with a little sprint at the end.As a result,  I was able to finish with an overall pace of 11:00 min/mile and I was a happy runner! Here are those pesky nerdy details

The Nerdy  Details

Total Dist: 4.14 Time 45:33 Pace: 11: 00 min/mile

Splits

Mile 1 10:59 Mile 2: 11:20 Mile 3 10:56 Mile 4 10:58? (I screwed up the Fitbit results by trying to edit my time and lost the exact last 1.14 miles)

Avg HR 138  Max HR 152 Cals Burned: 563 Cals

The Soundtrack: Resurrection

The soundtrack for the run was Resurrection the latest release from Blues Guitarist Mike Zito. I’ve been a fan since I first heard his debut album Pearl back in 2010.

Resurrection - Mike Zito

Zito says this about Resurrection ….

….Resurrection is an album of feelings, emotions, and is very personal. The title track is how I once almost lost my love, but it came back stronger than ever. I have had this song in me for years, but it only makes sense now to share it with the world. After the year we have had on planet Earth, I believe we all need a rebirth. This rebirth has given me an opportunity to be who I want to be musically and artistically.” More

About Resurrection

Resurrection was produced by Grammy-winner David Z. He is best known for his long-standing work with Prince. In addition, Z has contributed to albums by Etta James, Billy Idol, BoDeans, Buddy Guy and John Mayall, among many others.

Zito has help from a lot of old friends on Resurrection. While Zito provides blistering guitar work and lead vocals, those old friends helping out include: Matthew Johnson – drums; Doug Byrkit – bass guitar; Lewis Stephens – piano, organ; Zach Zito – acoustic guitar; Lisa Andersen – backing vocals; Eric Demmer – Saxophone; and Fernando Castillo – Trumpet.​

About The Tracks on Resurrection

The eleven tracks on Resurrection include eight original songs that showcase Zito‘s talent as a composer. The remaining four tracks showcase his talent as an interpreter of other compositions, as he tackles the work of JJ Cale (“I’ll Make Love To You”), Eric Clapton (“Presence of the Lord”) and Willie Dixon (“Evil”). 

“I wrote and recorded the music I felt strongest about and I wanted to share it with the world,” Zito says.” I played my guitar the way I want to play my guitar, not the way anyone says I am supposed to play my guitar. I sang the way I wanted to sing – in my voice with my emotions. I had David Z produce for me again after a few years apart. We have now worked on seven albums together and I believe he understands my music and helped me to shape this album to be strong in the year 2021. This is an album that requires deep listening from beginning to end. More

Final Thoughts

I was really glad that unlike many runs today‘s run was fairly easy.  That’s important because I was able to “come back to the music” several times during the run.
What I heard each time was Mike Zito at the top of his game! His vocals were “vintage” Mike Zito and they reminded me at several points along the way of the vocals I first heard on Pearl.
I know this album is going to be in my music rotation for a while! So Check It Out!
Speaking of Mike Zito being at the top of his game. At this years Blues Music Awards at The Blues Foundation’s 42nd Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN,  Zito won two awards

The first award was in the category of Blues Rock Artist. While the second wasBlues Rock Album of the Year for Mike Zito and Friends – Rock ‘n’ Roll:  A Tribute to Chuck Berry. Check it Out, too!!

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Mike Zito

Here’s a short playlist of the songs on Resurrection. At the 3.25 mile mark of today’s run I “came back to the music” and chuckled when I heard “Running Man”…..

 

Mike Zito Kicks Off An Improvised Workout

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A Cold Morning Leads to an Improvised Workout

So it was 24 degrees outside when I got up this morning. Being the fair weather runner that I am I decided that if I run today it will be later this afternoon. I decided instead to just do a light workout. Maybe a little less strenuous than if it were only workout for the day but a little harder than my normal pre-run workout.

Mike Zito’s Rock ‘n’ Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry kicks off my morning workout

I didn’t use a soundtrack per say but made it up as I went along. I started out with some dance-cardio. The first three songs were from Rock ‘n’ Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry Mike Zito’s new album. Two songs from Victor Wainwright came next “Piana from Savannah” and “Let’s Go, Get Gone”  At that point, I was 10 plus minutes into the workout and heals burnt over 100 calories.

I was also ready to shift gears and shift into some Kundalini using Snatam Kaur’s “Mul Mantra”. This portion of the workout consists of some Kundalini warm up exercises and the core workout exercises. It last a little over 7 minutes.

The final section of the workout focused on legs and hips. All done to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s cover of  “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

The Nerdy Details

Total Time: 35:02.  Calories Burned: 269.  Avg HR 107

HR Zones: Peak 1 min. Cardio: 18 min Fat Burn: 12 min

Now as I sit here writing this, the temperature has risen to a comfortable running level. So I should be out running, but LSU is playing Alabama, and I do want to watch that game. Hmm, looking at the weather for tomorrow I see it’s going to be warmer tomorrow and the Eagles are t playing. I do believe I will be running tomorrow!

Now if I do another 20 minute Cardio workout Later today I could burn as many calories as a run!!

Links for the Further  Exploration of the Blues of Mike Zito

So here’s Mike Zito and Walter Trout performing Johnny B Goode. Which is in many people’s minds associated with what movie?