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     Eddie "Kingfish" Manion is celebrated for his tenor and baritone saxophone work as a member of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and as horn director for Little Steven's Disciples of Soul. He is an additional member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band as well as an original member of Springsteen's other group The Sessions Band. As a long-standing member of The Miami Horns, he appeared on Gary U.S. Bonds' terrific 1981 comeback album Dedication and in the early 90's was a member of the Robert Cray Band.

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   Full disclosure: not only have I witnessed Mr. Manion in concert as a member of the Jukes, the E Street Band and the Disciples, I once briefly joined him and the Miami Horns onstage during a club show in Belmar, New Jersey back in 1989. But perhaps the less said about that, the better.

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   With Coastin' In ,the follow-up to his 2015 Nightlife release, Manion steps to the frontlines to present a highly personal piece of work. The album consists of a selection of well-chosen rock and R&B favourites to which the saxophonist applies his rich tones to.

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    The quickly-likeable album opens with the Charlie Chaplin standard "Smile," leading directly into the classic mid-paced "Spooky."  Here Manion's Disciples of Soul bandmate Marc Ribler unloads razor-sharp guitar licks while Andy Burton adds soulful organ.

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  Originally released by Bread in 1971,"If" has Manion inhabiting the melody with mournful but appropriately elegant shading. 

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    The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" from 1966 features a sweet female vocal chorus, a lush string section and fellow Disciple of Soul Jack Daly's rumbling bass guitar while Manion's bright sax pierces the proceedings. 

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   For the album's upbeat title track, Manion shifts to a fun, funky mode. Welcome support is provided from Clifford Barnes' B-3 organ and Paul Thompson on stand-up bass trading off during the solo. "Coastin' In" is a Manion original composition.

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   "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother," recorded by the Hollies in 1969, has Manion replacing Allan Clarke's vocal melody with aching sax shapes matched by Rob Paparozzi's delicate harmonica. 

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    In an inspired move, Manion and crew blend Steve Winwood's 1988 hit "Roll With It" with the 1966 song "(I'm a) Roadrunner" by Junior Walker & The All Stars. Since Winwood's tune borrowed so liberally from the earlier song, this medley makes perfect sense. The track features a blasting saxophone, forceful drumming from Rich Mercurio and soulful female support vocals during the chorus.

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     The jazz standard "Deep Purple" features a clean, ringing guitar solo from Mark Strickland. 

   Coastin' In wraps up with "Yeh, Yeh" a 1965 #1 U.K. hit for Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames. This brief, up-tempo number has a barking sax throughout and returning female vocals on the chorus.

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    The CD version of Coastin' In includes the bonus track "The Lights are on at Old St. John's." Another Manion original, "St. John's" is a celtic-flavoured seasonal number featuring the saxophonist on lead vocals. A limited edition vinyl release, pressed on translucent blue wax, consists of just the proper 11 song album.

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   And for fans looking for more music from Eddie "Kingfish" Manion, the saxophonist is already looking forward to a Coastin' In follow-up project in the near future.

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Robert Lawson 2022.