Steppin' Out! Roomful of Blues

• 1 Satisfied 03:37
• 2 You Were Wrong 02:51
• 3 Steppin' Up In Class 03:28
• 4 Slippin' And Slidin' 02:53
• 5 Please Don't Leave 03:43
• 6 Tell Me Who 02:35
• 7 You Don't Move Me No More 02:45
• 8 Good Rockin' Daddy 03:18
• 9 Tend To Your Business 03:00
• 10 Well Oh Well 02:45
• 11 Why Don't Cha Stop It 03:16
• 12 I've Got A Feelin' 03:35
• 13 Dirty People 03:28
• 14 Boogie's The Thing 02:52
• Total Runtime 44:06

Info for Steppin' Out!

With Steppin’ Out!, Roomful of Blues unleashes 14 horn-charged, dance-floor-filling tracks led by powerhouse vocalist D.D. Bastos, marking a bold new chapter for the six-decade blues institution.

For more than six decades, Roomful of Blues have been swinging, stomping, and soul-shaking their way across the globe, and with Steppin’ Out! they’re proving the party is nowhere near over. The Rhode Island institution’s 20th album marks the recording debut of powerhouse vocalist D.D. Bastos, the first female singer in the band’s storied history. Her full-throttle delivery and emotive phrasing bring a fresh spark to the group’s celebrated “little big band” sound, anchored by guitarist and bandleader Chris Vachon and longtime horn maestro Rich Lataille, who’s been shaping the Roomful tone since 1970.

Produced by Vachon, Steppin’ Out! serves up 14 high-voltage tracks that vault from jump blues to swing to early rock ‘n’ roll, all with the kind of precision and fire only Roomful can deliver. Bastos’ passion is palpable on cuts like “You Were Wrong,” a Z.Z. Hill number she first heard from Magic Sam, and the blistering opener “Satisfied” from Billy “The Kid” Emerson. The setlist is a treasure trove of deep cuts by Big Mama Thornton, Big Maybelle, Etta James, Buddy and Ella Johnson, Jimmy McCracklin, Tiny Bradshaw, and Smiley Lewis — songs resurrected with grit, grace, and a horn section that can still lift a roof.

Since their 1967 beginnings as Chicago blues devotees, Roomful of Blues have grown into one of the world’s premier jump and swing outfits, racking up five Grammy nominations, seven Blues Music Awards, and a touring history that spans 22 countries. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with legends from B.B. King to Carlos Santana and drawn praise from DownBeat, USA Today, and The New Yorker for their unshakable groove and exuberant performances.

On Steppin’ Out!, Bastos meets the band’s legacy head-on, delivering every line with conviction while honoring the tradition built by generations of Roomful players. With Vachon’s searing guitar, Lataille’s saxophone mastery, and a rhythm section that swings with unrelenting drive, the album captures the essence of what has kept Roomful at the top of their game for nearly 60 years; joy, energy, and music that refuses to sit still. This is Roomful of Blues in full flight, still raising the bar, still filling dance floors, and still stepping out like nobody else can.

Roomful of Blues:
DD Bastos, lead vocals, claves (track 7), maracas (track 12)
Chris Vachon, guitar, background vocals (tracks 8, 14)
Jeff Ceasrine, keyboards, background vocals (tracks 8, 14)
John Turner, double bass
Mike Coffey, drums
Rich Lataille, tenor and alto saxophone
Craig Thomas, tenor and baritone saxophone
Christopher Pratt, trumpet

Produced and Mixed by Chris Vachon for Easy-Vee Productions
Horn Arrangements by Rich Lataille
Recorded and Engineered by Evan Bakke assisted by Trevor Okonuk at The Power Station New England, Waterford, CT
Mastered by Collin Jordan and Bruce Iglauer at The Boiler Room, Chicago, IL

Roomful of Blues:
Even though Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. Singer DD Bastos brings her sweet and soulful vocals and adds another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor. Along with bassist John Turner, trumpeter Chris Pratt, drummer Mike Coffey, keyboardist Jeff Ceasrine, baritone and tenor saxophonist Craig Thomas, and tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, Roomful keeps on rockin’ into 2024!

With a non-stop performance schedule for over 50 years, Roomful of Blues has earned critical, popular and radio success and a legion of fans across the globe.

According to DownBeat magazine, Roomful of Blues “are in a class by themselves.” With their masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it’s no wonder why the great Count Basie called them “the hottest blues band I ever heard.” Since 1967, the group’s deeply rooted blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it 5 Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including 7 Blues Music Awards and the prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll for “Best Blues Band”.

D.D. Bastos
is no stranger to the stage. She began singing in church at the age of 5 years old. Music has always been her passion. D.D. earned second chair in the All-Eastern Honors Ensemble representing Massachusetts which garnered her a scholarship.

After college D.D. began performing with local bands throughout NE which led to the inception of her band DD & The Road Kings. Her work put her closely associated with the fraternity that is; Roomful of Blues, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, The Broadcasters and the dozens of splinter groups who have branched off -- shaping many other New England Blues bands. Certainly, when three of them show up on D.D. and the Road Kings' album Lover Bird, which was well received by critics and fans alike, there is a common thread that can be traced back to the '60s Blues revival. D.D. is also a Choral Director in the public school system with 20+ years as a private music teacher. Her love of singing is what fuels her soulful and powerful performances.

This album contains no booklet.