Jeff Potter & The Rhythm Agents
Rhythm Riot

A good beat goes a long way. If Bill Haley used a metronome, you can be certain Jeff Potter & The Rhythm Agents reset it for their CD release Rhythm Riot (Raucous Records). This is excellent rock-and-roll, and better still, it's original material.

From the start, the music is energized. Tracks like "Don't Stop Now" and "The Party" are fast-paced, bouncing good fun. But the real prize is title track, which has a Duane Eddy feel coupled with amazing drum work. Jeff Potter is a capable percussionist, but he's no one trick pony: His skills on classic vocals, piano, guitars, and harmonica get plenty of action on this explosive album. Potter has recorded with NRBQ's Al Anderson, and shows off his boogie piano skills on tracks like "Teachin' My Baby To Drive" and "Til The Cows Come Home" with a fierce Jerry Lee Lewis-like determination.

Rhythm & Blues is another facet of this gemstone. "How Come" and "Time for Love" are hardcore blues showcases, both underlining the versatility and power of Jeff Potter as a performer.

Of course, Potter doesn't do all the work alone. The Rhythm Agents include Rick King on guitar, Red Rogers on the bass and lap steel, and Rick Brown on the maracas. There's a wonderful orchestration in the material being presented here. The beats are the bridge through a stylistic landscape, and the trip lasts for the entire album.

—Frankie Hagan