"Dwight D. Eisenhower was serving his last year as president, and Gary U.S. Bonds was riding high with his first hit "New Orleans" when the pint-size 12-year-old Macy Blackman made his debut as a professional musician.
"Sure, it was just the synagogue across the street from his house, 'but a gig is a gig,' Blackman says. 'When you leave with more money than you came with, it's a gig.' Spoken like a lifelong working player...Steeped in the celebratory music of New Orleans, he turns each show into a joyous communion, a rollicking party to which everyone is welcome.
"His quintet, the Mighty Fines, offers a singular take on the Crescent City continuum, combining the freewheeling polyphony of traditional jazz with the rolling grooves of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew."
Andrew Gilbert
Mercury News
December 22, 2011
"Music sees him through. Since moving to the Bay Area from New York in 2000, vocalist/pianist/cornet player Macy Blackman has been a dynamic figure on the local scene.
"'I hate to sound corny, but it's all about commitment, knowing who you are, what you do and being committed to it. The good Lord gave me talent, and it behooves me to use it. If I do, everything will be all right. Always has been.'"
Paul Freeman
The Daily News
January 3, 2012
Ce groupe californien, composé de Macy Blackman (vo, pno, cornet) né en 1948 à Wilmington, Delaware, des Newyorkais Jack Dorsey (bat) Bing Nathan (cbss), du Néo Orléanais Ken Snakebite Jacobs (sax baryton, clarinette) et de Nancy Wright (sax ténor, vo) a tout compris de la musique de la cité du Croissant. Un peu de ballades jazzy croonantes et plein de bon R’n’B néo-orléanais. Ils maîtrisent surtout très bien les styles de Huey Piano Smith et ses Clowns et de ce bon vieux Fats Domino, comme le montrent leurs reprises de Don‘t you just know it, Little chickee wah-wah, Hello my lover (de Ernie K-Doe) pour le premier et Ain‘t it good pour le deuxième, un régal pour les amateurs de ce genre de musique. Leurs reprises de Black drawers, Chicken shack boogie, Roadblock, Cold, cold, cold, I‘m blue et Certain girl ne sont pas mal non plus. Qu’il est bon d’entendre, de nouveau, ce genre de musique !
Five Star Revue by Bernard Boyat in Le Cri du Coyote N°103 - the French magazine on American Music
July 2011
Inmenso álbum del cantante, cornetista y pianista Macy Blackman, en el que nos adentra por los fantásticos caminos y vericuetos del blues y del rhythm and blues de New Orleans. Son dieciséis magníficas piezas que no dejarán a nadie indiferente. Tanto Macy como los músicos que intervienen en este disco están simplemente magníficos, jugando y dominando perfectamente sus respectivos instrumentos. Una colosal fiesta llena de colorido, diversión y sorpresas múltiples, sorpresas se suceden una tras otra en cada canción que interpretan. La música fluye por sí misma de una manera espontánea y sustanciosa con un swing, un duende y una magia totalmente indescriptibles. Los músicos que intervienen, aparte del ya mencionado Macy Blackman, son Jack Dorsey batería, Bing Nathan bajo, coros y piano en el tema “Papa’s Cool Blues”, Ken Jacobs saxo barítono y clarinete, Nancy Wright saxo tenor y voces y Kit Robberson bajo en un corte. Un disco bien hecho, bien trabajado y muy bien interpretado. La producción destila buen gusto, sabiendo sacar el máximo partido a las mezclas y al sonido. MUY BUENO.
Splendid album of singer, cornet and piano player Macy Blackman, who drives us to the fantastic long and winding roads of blues and New Orleans rhythm and blues. Sixteen beautiful songs that will not leave anyone indifferent. Both Macy and the musicians involved in this record are simply superb, mastery playing their instruments. A big colorful party with lots of fun and many other surprises, that come in every song they play. The music flows by itself on a spontaneous way with an unbelievable magic swing. Besides Macy Blackman, the rest of the musicians involved are Jack Dorsey on drums, Bing Nathan bass, vocals and piano in the song "Papa's Cool Blues”, Ken Jacobs baritone sax and clarinet, Nancy Wright on tenor sax and vocals and Kit Robberson on bass in one song. A well done album, with an excellent work and a superb playing. Also mention a tasteful production with a perfect sound mix. GREAT.
La Hora del Blues, The Legendary Blues Radio Show in Barcelona
July 2011
"Veteran pianist/working musician, music coach, piano tuner, musicologist and music teacher Macy Blackman has been intimately involved with New Orleans R&B ever since his teenage years playing in bands in Delaware and Philly, due, of course, to the ubiquitous influence of New Orleans R&B on the rock he played.
"This relationship only deepened after moving to New York City in 1966, where he befriended Charles “Hungry” Williams, a New Orleans drummer who’d played not only on every hit of Huey Lewis and the Clowns, but had also backed Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Earl King, “Clarence “Frogman” Henry, and many other Crescent City greats. Through Williams, Macy Blackman had even gotten a chance to play with Dr. John. So it’s only natural that Blackman and his band, the Mighty Fines, would want to do a CD that would be a tribute to this music, and would also honor his now-dead friend and teacher. Blackman and the Mighty Fines do just that, and do it with aplomb and pizzazz."
George "Blues Fin Tuna" Fish
Blues Blast Magazine
March 10, 2011 Issue
"The song list includes jump blues to get you dancin', some gumbo grooves to make you stroll, slow blues to put you in the mood, and the surprising 'Papa's Cool Blues', an instrumental that conjures up a smoky Bourbon Street club."
Ira Kart
The Golden Gate Blues Society Newsletter
Issue 8, January 2011
"Macy Blackman's new album Don't You Just Know It is 16 sides of rockin' jazz/blues excellence. Got a taste for some good blues? Click on a side of 'Chicken Shack'--open 24 hours a day."
Nick Piombino
fait accompli, spellbound speculations-time travel (poetry blog)
1/23/11