Bman's Blues Report

I have just received a copy of a new release, Love Duets across Civilizations:A Deeper Tone Of Longing , by Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain . This is an interesting recording combining Persian and American Gospel/Blues/Jazz styling and coming up with something quite different. Vahdat, native to Iran and McClain have joined forces on melodies written by Vahdat. The recording opens with A Deeper Tone Of Longing , a ballad that actually puts me in mind of a James Bond soundtrack. On When You Came the music is hauntingly beautiful and McClains voice seems to be perfect for such a task. Vahat who also sings provides a stark eastern contrast to McClains robust voice. There is a particularly clean jazz style guitar solo adding more contrast to an already warm track. Nobody begins with Vahdat singing in her native language to be followed by McClain in English and making it sound like a traditional ballad. Two Jewels to me in English sounds quite reminiscent of Stevie Wonder from the ...