Review by Dennis Walker, March 31st 2005

“Turo,” the newest album by Buddy Zapata, is such a creative tour-de-force one has to resist the urge to jump up and click his heels. Completely innovative, completely original and completely liberated from preconceived musical formats, expectations or boundaries, Zapata, along with producer, Archie Thompson, has created a brilliant album.

Zapata’s first tune invites us to take a Boat Ride, its melody pulling us back in time down the Mississippi River to the swamps and bayous of the South. Through this journey, we’re reminded that great music, much like America’s own waterways, has the power and reach to connect us all, North and South, East and West. For his unique artistic vision, Zapata is to be highly commended. For bringing his vision to life through his superb songwriting, singing and guitar playing, Zapata should be considered without a doubt, an American original, in the same vein as John Cage, Aaron Copeland, Bob Dylan and Leonard Bernstein.

If you were to buy one album this year, if you were to take one leap into the creative unknown, if you were to reach out and encourage the inspired genius of one young artist, two words are all you need: Buddy Zapata. He’s the real thing.

Review by Denny Freeman

This collection of songs is very unique, and that makes it hard to describe. Might be considered a blues album, on another planet. It's fun, honest, and full of surprises. Easy to listen to, and it won't be much like anything else in someone's music collection. Bluesy guitar, vocals, some aural weirdness. I like it.....

Review by Michael Toland editor-in-chief, HighBias.com

Buddy Zapata is a roots musician, but he's no stuffed shirt. He has respect for and draws inspiration from the past, particularly any era with fingerpicking blues and folk singers, but he keeps an eye on the future. Odd filters, cheap synth sounds, flugelhorn solos and distorted washes of electric guitar pass through his National Resonator guitarscapes and junkshop blues tunes. Gimmicks and effects, however, never get in the way of songs like the heartfelt tribute "Henri's Blues," the sardonic satire "Keepin' Up With the Jones's," the traditionalist instro blues of "Father Son" or the gorgeous cover of Peter Case's "Two Angels." Zapata occasionally lapses into a J.J. Cale-style laidbackness that comes a bit too close to tedium, but Turo is mostly sharp, soulful retrofuturist blues.  [buy it]