Also published in Blues Matters!

Steve Hooker – Stagger Lee is Back – NV Records

It has been some time since the rockabilly blues & soulman Steve Hooker has released a CD that is entirely composed of recently recorded material and it has been well worth the wait. With eight tracks, six of which are originals, this CD offers a nicely varied bill of fare which opens with the title track, a fine slide guitar instrumental. Track two, is another Hooker original, ‘Black Train White City’, and has a wonderfully raw feeling to it. ‘Girl That Radiates That Charm’ is Steve’s cover of the song originally sung by one of Steve’s heroes. Track four is a lovely slower tempo number, ‘Devil or Angel’, whilst ‘Red Blue Jeans and a Pony Tail’ sees Steve paying tribute to another of his heroes, Gene Vincent, the man with whom this song is usually associated .

Track six has an almost swampy feel to it with great gospel overtones. ‘Bloodline’ is the second of two tracks on the CD featuring Bridget Metcalf on backing vocals or as Steve describes it , as “chanteuse” and the swampy groove continues with the penultimate track, a rip roaring instrumental called ‘Swamp Trick’ complete with croaking frogs.  The CD concludes with ‘Candyman’, a track which in some respects completes the circle with its reference to Stagger Lee – “Could he play the Blues like Stagger Lee/Piano man from Barbary?”.

So here we have a CD which has a simplicity and rawness which in many respects make it very refreshing when put up against some of the highly polished and produced collections around. Here is an honesty and earthiness that must owe something to Steve’s thirty or more years on the scene during which time he played with the likes of Wilko Johnson and many other fine musicians many of whom have gone on to find fame if not fortune. With its rockabilly and blues influences the CD stands out and as an excellent example of the fine musical tradition that resides along the Essex banks of the Thames Delta. 

Ashwyn Smyth – 13^th February 2007 

Jamie Williams Band – Blues in Heaven

With an excellent track on the new Essex Delta Blues – Vol ll – A-Z CD serving as an appetite whetter, this 8 track offering from the Jamie Williams Band is very welcome. Opening with the only cover, ‘Midnight Train’ is a lovely mid-tempo funky number which appeared on the first Essex Delta Blues CD and received some very favourable comment. The band is a four piece featuring the prolific singer/songwriter Jamie on vocals and the very talented and skilful Ian Woolway on guitar and it is they who have written all the other tracks on this CD. Sean Collyer is rock solid on drums along side the band’s newest member, the excellent bass player, Josh Graham. ‘Honey Chile’ is the aforementioned Vol ll contribution and  ‘Life is Hard’ is a very much more traditional blues reflecting the band’s move towards more blues based songs. With some gorgeous National guitar from Ian the track has very much lighter feel than many of the band’s offerings, I really like this one. ‘Don’t Hold Back’ has a much rockier feel and has some lovely bass embellishments as well as seeing Ian showing his versatility, particularly as the track ends. ‘Fix Your Soul’ again has a lovely bluesy feel to it whilst ‘Rolling Back’ is a right rocker, opening with some wild and stinging guitar and sets a pace that defies you to stay still, a complete contrast to the penultimate track, the gorgeous ‘Lonesome Howl From the Heart’, a cracking acoustic offering with some gorgeous guitar from Ian and a real Delta feel to it (and I don’t mean the Thames delta!).

The final track is the title track and is a much rockier affair with a lyric with which all blues lovers will identify; ‘If they don’t play blues in heaven, then I’m going to hell!’ Amen to that Jamie.

So, the first collection from the Jamie Williams Band was certainly worth waiting for and leaves me eagerly wanting more. This CD can only serve to, deservedly, further enhance their growing reputation and status.

5^th February 2007

Kenny Wayne Shepherd – 10 Days Out – Blues From the Backroads

I am fortunate that I do not often have to buy blues CD’s however, having read of Kenny Wayne Sheperd’s most recent release, my curiosity was roused and I had to have it. Unusually for me I actually bought it in my local record shop rather than on the net, so pressing was my desire to hear this CD. And I was not disappointed. The concept was for Kenny to travel through many US States, along with the legendary Double Trouble and Noah Hunt, to meet up with, jam and pay homage to those few remaining authentic blues greats, six of whom have, since the 10 day pilgrimage in June 2004, sadly passed on demonstrating all too clearly the value and appropriate timing of Kenny’s venture.

This really is a fabulous collection with some simply superb tracks, so much so that it is well nigh impossible to pick out standouts. Each of the 15 tracks sees Kenny playing with one or more legends and the result is pure heaven as far as I am concerned. There is a wonderful live feel to the recordings which is probably no real surprise given that not many of them were recorded in studios. ‘Knoxville Rag’, a fine example of Piedmont picking, with Etta James was recorded in her kitchen, ‘Tears Come Rollin’ Down’ in Henry Townsend’s front room and a number of the tracks were recorded at a live concert in Salina, Kansas held in an old church.

There, Kenny performs with surviving members of Muddy Waters' and Howlin' Wolf's bands. The concert included Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Henry Gray and Hubert Sumlin along with guests Wild Child Butler, Lazy Lester, Jimmy D. Lane, Double Trouble and Noah Hunt.

I adore the great version of ‘The Thrill is Gone’ which sees Kenny and BB trading licks and has a wonderful vibe to it. In New Orleans, Kenny played with Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown and the result is a great version of ‘Born in Louisiana’ featuring Clarence’s wonderful fiddling. There is the driving acoustic ‘Chapel Hill Boogie’ with John Dee Holman and the CD closes with four fabulous live tracks featuring, amongst others, Hubert Sumlin with Howlin’ Wolf Band and Pinetop Perkins with Muddy Water’s Band.

With 15 tracks, a running time of one hour seventeen minutes plus a great DVD, this is one hell of a package and worth every penny. This is, in my opinion, something of a landmark and a must for every blues lover’s collection.

5^th February 2007

Black Snake Moan – Film Soundtrack – Various Artists – New West Records

Good news for Blues lovers! February 2007 sees the release in cinemas of Black Snake Moon, ‘a darkly modern tale of love, betrayal, sex and salvation set in the Deep South’ starring Samuel L Jackson, Christina Ricci & Justin Timberlake. The film was filmed in and around Memphis and uses as its setting the contemporary North Mississippi hill country music scene and features numbers from the likes of the North Mississippi All Stars, Jessie Mae Hemphill, the Black Keys & R L Burnside, acknowledged by Scott Bomar, the film’s music supervisor, as the musical inspiration for the film.

Jackson plays Lazarus, ‘a reformed bluesman who attempts to reform the sex-addicted Rae’ a role described as ‘possibly Ricci’s juiciest’, and for the film he took guitar lessons and “honed his singing chops” to perform a number of songs which see him teamed with the likes of Alvin Youngblood Hart, Kenny Brown, Big Jack Johnson and Jason Freeman on classics such as ‘Stack-O-Lee’ and, of course, ‘Black Snake Moon’. And it has to be said that if acting ever loses its attraction, Jackson could cut it on the Blues circuit. The title track is a wonderful slow lament that builds relentlessly with some gloriously dirty guitar.

Also contributing are the Bobby Rush, Precious Bryant, John Doe, Outrageous Cherry, Scott Bomar and Son House, some variety!

I really enjoyed listening to this CD over and over and if it is a good reflection of the film I will be queuing to watch it when it opens. There are some really excellent tracks, both old & new although particular favourites are ‘When the Lights Go Out’ by the black Keys and John Doe’s ‘The Losing Kind’. Add to that the great ‘Old Black Mattie’ from RL & the Allstars spare ‘Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down’ and I reckon you have a really fine sampler even without the film! Very highly recommended.

Charlie Wood – Lucky – Inside Sounds

Wow! And again wow! Of all the CDs which I received in December 2006, one stood out and was the one which spent the most time in my player. This one! For 16 years Charlie Wood has been the house keyboard player at King’s Palace on Beale Street as well as touring Spain, Italy & England. This, his fifth solo CD, is an absolute gem, particularly if, like me, you love the Hammond, because Charlie is a Hammond B3 wizard preferring to play the real thing rather than “the latest keyboard contraption that almost sounds real”!

Here is a collection of 13 wonderfully varied tracks recorded, mixed and produced by Charlie who also plays just about every instrument himself as well as providing virtually all the vocals (what a gorgeous voice he has!). Fellow Inside Sounds artist Billy Gibson provides some tasty harp on some tracks as well as the vocal on ‘Beale Street Blues’ whilst saxes on some tracks are courtesy of Kirk Smothers and Lucy Hathcote provides BVs.

All bar four tracks are originals and even the covers are excellent, especially the gorgeous, seductive and silky smooth ‘The River’s Invitation’, a wonderful version of Percy Mayfield’s song.

There are loads of different styles on this CD and so just about everyone will find something that suits, try the cool ‘Sneaky’ or the bouncy ‘If It Makes Me A Dollar’, or the lovely take on Mose Allison’s ‘One of These Days’.

It is easy to understand why Charlie has been named “Beale Street Entertainer of the Year” (2003) and also honoured by the Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts, the organisation that hands out the Grammys.

This is a really excellent CD from someone of whom I had never heard but who I know would go down so well if he toured the UK & Europe.  And the title is wrong. It is no stroke of luck that such this is such a cracking CD. It is down to one Charlie Wood and his great talent.

Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band – Live – Rounder

I forget how many times I have been fortunate enough to catch Danny live over the years but it has never been less than a highlight in the gig going calendar. Excellent as his various studio CDs have been, it is in live performance that he excels. The release of this live CD is long overdue therefore and I am sure that this will be an album which will be clamoured for by his many admirers and new converts who attend his gigs. Recorded live at one of Danny’s favourite venues, The Flowerpot in Derby in September last year, the CD captures at least some of the excitement and power that is ever present at this talented young man’s gigs.

The fact that all bar three tracks of this CD are Danny’s own compositions also pays tribute to how he has matured both as a singer & guitarist but also as a writer. But it is as a guitarist that Danny is best known and most widely hailed and this CD certainly demonstrates why. From the opening bars of track one – ‘Heartbreaker’ to the throbbing finale – ‘Good Time Woman’, Danny wrings out musical magic from his guitar, whether it is straight-ahead rocking or the beautiful singing guitar which typifies his playing and is perhaps best displayed in his glorious cover of Dylan’s ‘Girl From The North Country’. I know that his playing is not to everyones’ taste and thank God for that for life would be very samey if everyone played & liked the same stuff!

Like him or not, Danny’s playing is very honest and gets into your soul, so many of us can identify with the lyrics of ‘This Is The Blues’ whilst the dirty guitar which underpins it is so right for the song and we cannot fail to be affected by the emotion and depth of feeling of ‘Always With Me’ which Danny dedicates to his wife, the lovely Kirby.

Certainly any Danny Bryant fan will want this CD in their collection as will many others who want something to remind themselves of a talented artist caught live on a night when the stars were shining brightly and his guitar was smoking!

Erja Lyytinen – Dreamland Blues – Ruf Records

Dubbed by Finnish Blues News as the Bonnie Raitt of Finland, Erja Lyytinen first came to a wider audience as part of a trio of young blues artists (the other two were Aynsley Lister & Ian Parker) who toured extensively in 2006 as Blues Caravan and produced what for me was one of the best CDs of 2006, ‘Pigrimage – Misssissippi to Memphis’ also released by Ruf Records. This CD saw the three talented young musicians visiting studios in Clarksdale & Memphis to record “back where the Blues started”. As a follow up, Erja now releases her first international solo CD entitled ‘Dreamland Blues’, the title track being one which first saw the light of day on ‘Pilgrimage’.

The link with that CD is continued with Erja’ solo effort being produced by Ian parker who also shares writing credits on some of the tracks all of which, bar one, are originals. The tracks were also recorded back in Mississippi which has enabled Erja to enlist the talents of, amongst others, Kinney & David Kimbrough.

The CD kicks off, unusually, with a cracking slide guitar instrumental, ‘Skinny Girl’ which is followed by a lovely mid-tempo number ‘Why A Woman Plays The Blues’ which is our first opportunity to hear Erja’s fine voice as well as some lovely guitar.

The one cover on the CD is a very good take on the oft covered Elmore James ‘It Hurts Me Too’ and the only other song not  at least a co-operative effort involving Erja is Ian Parker’s excellent ‘Mississippi Callin’’.

Miss Lyytinen is clearly an accomplished guitar player, with both pick and slide, and it really is impossible when hearing her singing not to think of Bonnie Raitt. She also has great ability to deliver a song whether it be the straight ahead blues of ‘Good Lovin’ Man’ or the moody title track which again features some lovely slide or the fine instrumental ‘Voyager’s Rest’ which sees Erja displaying an all too brief real appreciation of subtle National guitar picking.    

Congratulations to all involved in what is an excellent CD from this talented young lady of whom I believe we will hear a great deal more.