All songs © 2015 by D. Dudeck. Vocal arrangements by Eskil Wetterqvist , David Evans and Dudeck. Horn arrangements by Joseph Burton.

Recorded at The Living Room, Atlanta, GA by Rob Gal, assisted by Ed Rawls on April 6, 7, and 8, of 2015. Mixed by Jim Zumpano at Zac Recording, Atlanta, GA Mastered by Jason Reichert


MUDCAT AND THE ATLANTA HORNS
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
30 Miles Up
True originality is not always the most prized quality of the blues these days, but Atlanta, Georgia-based singer and guitarist Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck and trombonist Lil Joe Burton don’t pay that no mind! This is a very different sounding set from these two men – Mudcat played all over the south before settling in Atlanta, where he worked with local performers like country bluesman Frank Edwards and singer/saxman Grady “Fats” Jackson, as well as Taj Mahal and Dicky Betts, whilst Joe Burton worked in Chicago as Junior Wells’ bandleader before joining BB King’s band. These diverse backgrounds have melded nicely, resulting in a set that is hard to define, but which falls most definitely within the blues spectrum. Mind you for the first minute or so I though the wrong album had arrived - but stick with it, and take a listen to a track like The Devil Is Real which combines soul, blues and funk, the country styled Divine The Fight which should please the Americana lovers (and ultimately the blues lovers too) or So Far, which contains elements of 60s styled r ‘n’ b and psychedelia inflected pop and horns and reminds me of The Skatalites - and the instrumental Toodle-Oo has hints of a reggae rhythm among the soul, rock, gospel and blues stylings. The supposed closing track Wake has a fine, very bluesy approach, but let it run on for a few seconds to discover a nicely raving marching jazz band flavoured workout, with Daniel’s always excellent slide guitar work strongly in evidence. The accompanying band throughout the album includes drums, bass, keyboards and a further two horns, giving a rich and varied sound that is rootsy, bluesy, and often very unexpected.
- Alan Pearce, BLUES MATTERS (UK) #89 March 2016

Living Blues
Issue #240
Vol 46, #6

While You Were Away is the 12th album from one of Atlanta’s most energetic musical impresarios, Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck. The album is comprised of ten original songs that remix and ultimately expand the boundaries of blues, rock, jazz and soul, taking the genres to new, fantastic places to tickle the ears, soothe the souls and move the hips of all music lovers.

Vocalist and guitarist Dudeck is joined by longtime friends, Eskil Wetterqvist on percussion, David “Snave” Evans on bass and flute and Lil’ Joe Burton on trombone. Fans of B.B. King will recognized Burton’s name as a former member of King’s horn section. Burton leads Atlanta Horns’ Daryl Dunn on saxophone and Mico Bowles on trumpet. Keyboardist Chad Mason and Atlanta blues staple Eddie Tigner also make appearances.

According to the disc’s press release, Dudeck longed to capture the lost (to digital) sounds of analog on this album, so “the band recorded, mixed and mastered ten new compositions onto two-inch analog tape.” In addition to CD and digital downloads, they also pressed a vinyl LP version of this collection.

The record offers a little something different for adventurous palettes, including the soulful lamentations and stream of consciousness preaching of lost love on the title track to the contemporary slide guitar blues wail of Let It Be Me to the apocalyptic gospel match of End of the Night. Each song is a call and response between Dudeck’s emotional vocal, expert guitar, the backing vocal harmonies of the band and the effervescent horns. The record ends with Wake – companion piece to End of the Night – that yawns awake on simple, quiet guitar riffs but soon crescendos and dances its way to heavenly redemption.

While You Were Away is more of a conceptual, spiritual journey than a simple album of unconnected blues songs. Listeners will not be disappointed should they decide to let the original talents of Mudcat and his friends lead them along this near-divine path.

--Mark Coltrain

• Veteran Bluesman Danny Dudeck, AKA Mudcat, adds soul man to his résumé.
Veteran bluesman and one of Atlanta’s most articulate spokespeople for roots music history, Danny Dudeck, aka Mudcat, adds soul man to his résumé. Trumpet and sax join longtime sideman Lil’ Joe Burton’s trombone for a brassy version of the singer/guitarist’s bluesy vocabulary. The swampy choogle coursing through Mudcat’s previous material remains alive and well in “The Devil is Real,” leaving room for Mudcat’s slashing slide. His exuberant voice is energized on the animated title track as he testifies with the authenticity and dedication that such spirited music inspires. Forever the homeboy, While You Were Away, Mudcat’s 12th album, was recorded to two-inch analog tape, which accounts for the warm vibe, and yields a perfect combination of his stomping live and somewhat reserved studio approach. ★★★★☆
Creative Loafing, Jan 27, 2016

While You Were Away' by Mudcat and the Atlanta Horns
Kevin Triebsch, Atlanta Music Examiner NOV 17 2015
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
New release: While You Were Away by Mudcat and the Atlanta Horns (30 Miles Up)
This bluesy Atlanta collective has conjured up a delicious pot of tunes for their 13th release. Headed up by the always engaging and energized Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck, the band has mastered the celebration sound that can get any crowd into the vibe. The title track is a perfect introduction to Mudcat, shining a spotlight on every musician and every voice.
“Drink Myself Sober” sounds like a young Van Morrison with the world’s best backing band. Dudeck’s guitar and passionate, soulful vocals are a guaranteed to draw in any crowd. Chad Mason’s keys bring a fresh sound to the septet, while David “Snave” Evans’ bass, harmonica and flute interjections are a key ingredient to the Mudcat sound. Eskil Wetterqvist on drums is the glue in the rhythm section, expressing true blues in each tune.
If you’re a fan of slide guitar, you’ll appreciate the smooth sweetness of “Divine the Fight,” while “Toodle-oo” brings an exotic instrumental jam. “Let It Be Me” might drive you down memory lane with a very fun production, reminiscent of the Allman Brothers.
The trio of the Atlanta Horns adds depth and heart to While You Were Away, raising the bar on a very live-sounding recording. The Horns consist of Mico Bowles on trumpet, Daryl Dunn on saxophone and Lil' Joe Burton on trombone. This threesome makes a great Mudcat even greater. The band has recently traveled the world, jamming up audiences of every age group and fans of all musical genres. Whether you catch them at a big blues fest or haunting the stage at local spots such as Blind Willie’s or Northside Tavern, you’ll no doubt become a fan.
The album’s tracks run the gamut from instrumental gems to the full-blown near-rock experiences. You’ll be witness to folk blues, zydeco, Dixieland jazz and everything that exists inside and outside of those categories. The wonderful “End of the Night” could potentially be a huge radio hit, if we had radio stations that would actually play substantive music. “Wake” closes the album with a beautiful spiritual.