Prisoner by Danny Bryant

It’s a bit of a brave decision by Danny Bryant to re-record what has become widely regarded as being a classic, the 2013 cut from the truly magical Hurricane album Prisoner of the Blues. Even braver is it to rerecord that song with a

9 piece band, retitle it Prisoner, add an elongated solo amidst the horns and keys and then see how it flies. Does it work?

Well as the later incarnation has a much different feel to it, Prisoner kind of comes over initially as being a cover version of a favourite.  In rather the same way Peter Gabriel’s gigs with The New Blood Orchestra took a little getting used to, Prisoner takes a couple of spins to get used to its makeup.

Yes there is definitely more body with the inclusion of the horns and keys. Yes there is more energy and a greater injection in passion with which the song is sung. Yet what has been  magnified on this version is the electrifying guitar solo with which the original track closes. As good as it is on Hurricane, here it has a rawer, more intrinsically live feel to it that just takes Prisoner above and beyond its true edition.

A brave decision that has been made well and extremely well executed, Danny Bryant’s latest single Prisoner has an energy and zing that leaves scorch marks in its wake

Danny Bryant

Prisoner

Release Date: 14 Oct. 2016

Label: Jazzhaus Records

ASIN: B01MEDBEFT