Jim Roberts & The Resonants - A Month of Sundays - New Relese Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Month of Sundays, from Jim Roberts & The Resonants, and it's a cool blues, rock country fusion. Opening with blues rocker, Skeeters, Jim Roberts on lead vocal and slide guitar sets a strong pace. With a funky bass line by Rick Hollander, a hot sax solo by Pat Zicari and with Bobby Spencer on sax and Michael Leasure on drums, this is a solid opener. With a contemporary take on delta style blues on What Her Evil Do, Roberts vocals are deep and rich, slide acoustic guitar  is tight and mandolin tasty and Joey Gomez adds a nice harmonica top giving it just the right touch. Title track, A Month of Sundays is a cool, jazzy track with a great bass line by Hollander. Hi fret slide work by Roberts over Hollanders bass line and the crisp drum work of Mike Harvey is strong. This track has that special weave making it my radio choice on the release. Long Haired Mississippi Hippie has a great groove with that North Mississippi Hill County sound. A lumbering beat, great lyric pattern, plucky bass and wailing slide makes this one of the coolest rockers I've heard in a while. Yes sir! Power blues rocker, Pay The Price has a great bottom and with it's rock like slide work, brings to mind Led Zep. Vocal harmonies by give this track a cool feel but it's the rock beat working that slide that gets ya. Love it! Another track, based on delta styling but with a contemporary flavor is Moonshine Maiden. A simple guitar riff, overlaid with soaring slide over a simple kick drum is all it takes with Robert's vocals. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a bluegrass flavored track, Steppin' Out with Roberts on slide and Hollander on  Banjolele. This is a cool track and a cool closer for a really cool release. 

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Spona artist: Tomislav Goluban - Memphis Light - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Light, from Tomislav Goluban, and it's a cool eastern European slice or blues. Opening with rocker, Hayloft Blues, harmonica man, Tomislav Goluban introduces his 11th studio release with the backing of Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys, and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jensen plays a hot intro on soulful blues number, Fun Starts Here, featuring Vince Johnson who really pounds out the lead vocals. Jensen smokes the track with a great guitar solo, contrasted with cool piano work by Steff. Country Bag , a strong Chicago blues style track gives Goluban a great opening to show his blues chops and guest, Mark Johnson lays down some real nice slide guitar giving the track great texture. Another flavor introduced is a surf blues, Party Time Blues, with it's rocking rhythm, melodic harmonica, a slick slide solo by Johnson and cool backing vocals by Reba Russell and Daunielle Hill. Wrapping the release is a radio track, Can I Be What I Want, with Goluban singing lead with Russell and Hill, a stiff drum beat by Green and harmonica overtones. 

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NOLA Blue records artist: Frank Bey - All My Dues Are Paid - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All My Dues Are Paid, by Frank Bey and it's a solid mix of R&B, soul, funk and blues. Opening with Eddie Palmieri's Idle Hands with it's excellent NO funk. Bey really works this one Jim Pugh on organ, Eric Spaulding on sax solo, Jack Sanford on bari sax, Nancy Wright on tenor sax, John Helbleib on trumpet, Alex Petersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Martin Winstad on percussion, Kid Andersen on guitar and Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals. Excellent opener! Rick Estrin's, Calling All Fools is a great shuffle with some really cool work by Nancy Wright and showcasing Bey's silky smooth vocals. Very nice. One of my favorites on the release is another Rick Estrin track, I Bet I Never Cross Your Mind, with it's slow, bluesy approach, and terrific guitar work by Kid Andersen. Nancy Wright's sax is thick and juicy and Pugh's organ solo is prime. Percy Mayfield's Ha Ha in the Daytime has a solid bounce. Bey's deep vocals are rich and with Jemmott's firm bass work and Spaulding's sax work, this is another really cool track. Up tempo pop track, One Thing Every Day is an ideal radio song with a great melody, solid lead vocals and full backing vocals by Loralee Cristensen, Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Vicki Randle. Wrapping the release is John Lennon's Imagine with a gospel like remix. Bey knows how to bring it and Lorenzo Farrell's organ work, along with Pugh on piano and organ, a soulful sax solo by Wright, soulful guitar work by Andersen and with Jemmott on bass, D'Mar Martin on drums, Jack Sanford on sax, Halbleib on trumpet, Ric Feliciano on trombone, a well chosen closer. 

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Hipsterdumpster Records artist: Matty T Wall - Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transpacific Blues Vol. 1, from Matty T Wall and it's quite entertaining. Opening with John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom, Matty T Wall picks up Hookers classic and moves it forward. With toasty guitar riffs, solid vocals, the firm brush work of Ric Whittle on drums and Stephen Walker on bass, and the addition of great slide work of Dave Hole, this is a real cool opener. Hi Heel Sneakers gets a cool, funky treatment, with terrific lead by Wall and Eric Gales. Very nice. On Albert Collins' Quicksand, Kid Ramos steps up with Walls on lead guitar and with a rolling pace, quick shuffle keeps you bopping in your seat. Excellent! T Bone Walker's Stormy Monday take a different turn altogether with a great slow pace but with a different (than the original) melody. This adds tension and with hard grabbed, stinging, guitar riffs Wall keeps you plastered to your seat and listening close. Very cool. Kirk Fletcher sits in on Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign and again, Wall uses the melody loosely with cues to the original track, especially Walkers spot on bass lines. This freedom to let it all hang out gives the track a definite freshness. Wrapping the release is Robert Johnson's Crossroads, turned rock classic by The Cream and now reworked with a military like drum beat and a Hill Country feel. I like this release. Not only does it have a all-star cast of guitar slingers, it's got a different story to tell. Very cool. 

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Black Cat Bones - Tattered & Torn - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tattered & Torn, by Black Cat Bones and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Manslaughter, with it's driving bass line by Jeff Daniels, Black Cat Bones show their blues rock roots. With Charlie Pitts on vocal, Jerry Sommers on drums and Richard Rivera and Gary David on guitars these guys drum up the feeling of the early days of blues rock music and Humble Pie. Dead Broke Blues maintains a rock swagger and solid lead vocals, but what really stands out to me are the impressive guitar accent lines by Rivera and David. Rather than long flowing lines of solos, these guys insert strategically placed accents that set the track off nicely. Slow blues, The Race, has a real solid melody and lead vocal by Pitts and introduces some nice sax soloing by Clay Brown, Carla Brownlee (bari sax) and Amochip Dabney (in this order). Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is rocker, Pay You Back With Interest, with it's tight drumming, double kick drum and cool back beat. The lead guitar lines on this track are definite throw backs with a cool pedal treatment. One of the tracks that has a sort of iridescence is Laying In Wait with a cool, laid back bottom and key overlay. Pitts' vocals carry the track nicely and understated guitar lead is perfect. Wrapping the release is I Don't Care, is an easy rocker with an almost Rolling Stones/country feel. Call and response between Pitts and Daniels on vocals is strong and laid back guitar lead feels great on this track. A solid closer. 

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Sugar Blue - Colors - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Colors by Sugar Blue and the title reflects it's musical diversity. Opening with the familiar rhythms of Bo Diddley on And The Devil Too, Sugar Blue covers lead vocal but more importantly, plays some pretty frantically cool harmonica. Backed by Rico McFarland on guitar, Brady Williams, Llaria Lantieri on bass and Damiano Della Torre on keys a cool opener. We Will Be Alright is a smooth sensitive ballad with a strong melody. Backed by Della Torre on keys and the angelic vocals of Afrika Riz... very nice. A funky remix of The Beatles, Day Tripper, has a great beat, presents some of Sugar's best vocals on the release and gives Sugar a cool track to jam on harmonica over. Solid. Acoustic blues shuffle, Good Old Days, gets your foot stomping along with McFarland on guitar and Washboard Chaz on Washboard. Dragging out some excellent blues guitar riffs, McFarland really hits it as Sugar crafts a suggestive tale, Dirty Old Man, and lays out some real nice blues harp riffs. A sure crowd pleaser. Wrapping the release is radio track, Keep On with a smooth, memorable melody and ultra smooth vocal and harmonica over the keyboard work of Della Torre. Solid closer.

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Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band - I'll Drink To That - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'll Drink To That, by Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band and I really like it. Opening with Texas/R&B flavored, Almost Level with the Ground, Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band sounds like a solid blend of SRV and Robert Cray. Great guitar tone and that super soulful feel by lead vocalist and guitar lead, Hamlin is blended with a wealth of organ by Ty Bailie and the horn backing of Jonathan Bradley on trumpet, Eric Letta on sax, Kevin Hicks on trombone and Laura Hamlin on bari sax making a great fabric, anchored by Mark Smith on bass and Chris Atchley on drums. Hamlin not only has the fat, rich tone but the man can scream on guitar with fluid, meaningful soloing. Excellent opener. Boogie shuffle, Down and Out has a strong, driving beat and complimenting Hamlin's solid lead vocal is super piano work of Bailie and his own liquid guitar riffs and punchy horns. Radio style blues ballad, Someone, has a really strong melody and giving Bailie a nice opening for an organ solo, he steps up nicely and sets a great lead in for the dynamic phrasing of Hamlin on guitar. Clocking on at over 6 minutes, very nice. Louisiana Holiday has a great New Orleans drum beat and the horn section gets a nice chance to reinforce that. Hamlin's vocals work the track nicely and his guitar work is nothing short of terrific. With quick trumpet solo by Bradley and sax solo by Letta, this track is tight. With a hot SRV style guitar lope under the track, Don't Lie is off to a great start. Hamlin's vocals are consistently strong and his guitar work continues in powerful bursts. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a Bourbon and a Pistol with a cool Latin beat. With hot tom tom work by Atchlet, tight horn attack by Bradley, Letta, Hamlin and Hicks and the bright keys of Bailie, this track sets up nicely for Hamlin's vocal styling and relentless blues guitar attack. Excellent closer for a very strong release. 

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Gypsy Soul Records artist: Bywater Call - Self titled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Bywater Call and it's very nice. Opening with thick, Derek Trucks like slide tone from Dave Barnes, Arizona is a soulful, funky pop rocker. Meghan Parnell has a smooth, soulful lead voice and backed by Samantha Martin, Stacie Tabb, Sherie Marshall and Chantal Williams, this is almost angelic.  A nice sax solo by Jullian Nalli, tight trumpet by Stephen Dyte, a firm hand on bass by Mike Meusel, nicely worked keys by Alan Zemaitis and rhythmic drumming by Bruce McCarthy, this is a super opener. A super rock guitar riff by Barnes sets Talking Backwards on a straight ahead groove and again Parnell has a firm hand on the lead. Punchy horns, a hot sax solo by Nalli and just the right tough of organ and piano by Zemaitis make this a solid rocker. R&B ballad, Nightmare is really a great track with a super melody and lead vocals by Parnell. Backing vocals by Carleigh Aikins and Chantal Williams over a light instrumental backing, a clean slide solo by Barnes and a firm bass line is a perfect balance for radio play.  One of my favorite tracks on the release is sweaty, Walk On By, with some extremely soulful vocals by Parnell. A bluesy edge and stiff, guitar lead gives Parnell the push she needs to go the extra mile on this one with a excellent vocal/instrumental tension. Wrapping the release is light, acoustic oriented, Swing Low and Parnell showing the bright pop vocals that will propel her career, over the keys of Zemaitis, firm bass of Meusel, tight drums of McCarthy and smooth backing vocals of Aikens and Williams. This is a smooth closer for a tasty release. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Kern Pratt - Greenville, MS ... what about you? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Greenville, MS … What about you?, from Kern Pratt and it's a straight up blues rocker. Opening with Loving That Feeling, Kern Pratt is digging into that southern funky blues pot with a great New Orleans rhythm. leading the way on vocal and guitar, this track is moving with Chris Gill on slide, Bobby Walker on rhythm guitar and drums and Bob Dowell on bass and keys. Cool opener.  Slow blues track, Baby's Got Another Lover is a real nice track with Pratt singing lead and responding with smart guitar riffs of his own. With the addition of Shannon Goree on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. In the vain of Jimmie Oden, Something's Gone Wrong has a really nice bottom courtesy of Dowdell and Pratt again gets a nice chance to stretch on guitar and Kris Jenson lays out a real nice sax solo. Bluesy ballad, Rita not only has nice instrumentation but a perfect radio melody. Sharing lead vocal spot with Denice Owen and backed by Marc Franklin on trumpet and James Evans on sax, this is a smooth track. Wrapping the release is funky, Chicken Heads, with Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and David Green on drums. This track has just the right raggedy edge funk and cool guitar interface between Pratt and Jenson that makes it one of my release favorites. 

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Chantel McGregor - Bury'd Alive - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bury'd Alive from Chantel McGregor and it's a heavy power house blues rocker. Opening with lumbering, Take The Power, Chantel McGregor opens the show with a wall of sound starting with her power chords and solid vocals and backed by Colin Sutton on bass and Thom Gardner on drums. Opening the guitar barrage, McGregor wield her guitar like Thor's axe. Very heavy. Another track with a malicious attack is Caught Out with it's metalesque guitar riffs contrasted by McGregor's rock ready vocals. Sutton really works the bass with power surges and Gardner's drumming technique is tight and powerful. Very Strong. Eternal Dream is an elaborate production, using dynamic tension between the sweetness of McGregor's voice and light acoustic guitar to a heavy, fully loaded, searing, electric guitar with just the right distortion and blues rock riffs over a thumping bass line and drums. Very nice. I particularly like Lose Control for a radio track with it's tight melody and solid guitar riff. Inconsolable is my definite pick on the release for showpiece. Clocking in at over 12 minutes, McGregor sings and plays acoustic guitar over a super bass line by Sutton before starting to work a great blues riff. McGregor has the crowd in her pocket as she pulls out all the stops tearing this crowd a new one. This track is really impressive. Straight forward blues rocker, April is another great showcase for McGregor's guitar flair with a pretty nice long streaming guitar solo over and great bass line by Sutton and a great rhythm by Gardner. Wrapping the release is Freefalling,  a super guitar boogie rocker with contemporary metal like driving guitar riffs. I hear solid rock bands with strong female vocal leaders from time to time and occasionally a solid rhythm section paired with it, but it's a rare commodity to hear both paired with a guitar player who can open the throttle at any time and let loose the wrath of God. Very cool. 

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SSR Free Roll Records artist: Jack Mack & The Heart Attack - Live from Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 by Jack Mack & the Heart Attack and it's a great party. Opening with More Soul, a cool funky, organ infused track with punchy horns, Jack Mack is live! Hi stepping Breakin' Down The Wall, has solid lead vocals by TC Moses and Tim Scott who also plays bass, Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bill Bergman on tenor sax, John Paruolo on B3, Lester Lovitt on trumpet and Alvino Bennett on drums. Strong melody and vocal harmonies over a great bass line and a super rhythm guitar make this a great party track. Staples Singers' hit, I'll Take You There has a great groove and sets up nicely for the Heart Attack with it's fluid funky bass line, tight horn riffs and soulful vocals. Very cool. Another treat is one of my favorites, a cover of James Brown's Sex Machine. Let's face it, nobody's James Brown, but these guys do lay down a super groove for over 5 minutes, they do have super horns (check Bergman's sax solo) and Bennett's drum work is perfect. Bringing one of their top hits, the Heart Attack brings ultra funky, horn track, Livin' It Up which is a great lead into a super cover of Al Green's, Take Me To The River and then a TWELVE MINUTE, Sly and the Family Stone Medley including Sing A Simple Song, Stand, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), I Want to Take You Higher pumping out more energy and at a faster tempo as they roll . It's not every band that can pull this off but Jack Mack can! Excellent! Wrapping the release is I Walk Alone, a solid radio track with soulful vocals. This is a super release with a lot of energy. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: 11 Guys Quartet - Small Blues and Grooves

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Small Blues and Grooves from 11 Guys Quartet and it's very enjoyable. Opening with Freddie King styled, Road Trippin', Paul Lenart on guitar leads the way, sharing the front line with VizzTone President, Richard Rosenblatt on harmonica and backed by Chuck Purro on drums and Bill "Coach" Mather on bass. Solid opener.  Next up is high energy blues track, Jackrabbit, with hot riffs by Rosenblatt on harmonica. Lenart really pelts the guitar with his aggressive riffs, the group really giving it a good workout. Sleepless is a really nice slower blues with Rosenblatt blowing the harmony on harmonica. key accents by Lenart and firm bass work by Mather gives this track a solid footing on Purro's beat. I really like Speakeasy Serenade with stumble beat drumming by Purro and lower fret guitar melody by Lenart under the soulful harmonica wailing of Rosenblatt. Hey Daddyo is a real cool Bo Diddley infused jam with heavy tom tom work by Purro over a hard walking bass line by Mather. Lenart really works the guitar ala BD and Rosenblatt rides the wave. Very nice. Rhumba Boogie is another favorite with stylistic guitar lead, tight bass lines, a great rhythm and strong harmonica lead. Wrapping the release is Swamp Ride, an easy, greasy rocker. Melody by Rosenblatt on harmonica, and meaty drums are the name of this track and cool surf style guitar tones by Lenart close the loop. A really fast playing instrumental release. Very cool. 

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Shuttle Music artist: Jay Gordon's Blues Venom - Slide Rules - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Slide Rules, from Jay Gordon's Blues Venom and it is really hot. Opening with Dripping Blues, a smoky, 12 bar number, Gordon is right there on the end of the limb with his flame thrower on full. This guy plays guitar like we all love to drive, foot on the gas...wide open. His vocals are really in the style of Steve Marriott (a great thing) and his slide touch is firm and full. Backed by Sharon Butcher on bass and Tom Parham on drums this is a solid opener. Another super slide number, Pain, is a solid showcase for Gordon and his slide guitar. Think Rod Price (Foghat) or Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) for tone and sound. This guy definitely has it. Kicking it into gear, Lost In Time is a great rocker with more super slide work by Gordon. I don't want to make this seem like a one man band because the rhythm section is really solid but Gordon really does light it up. Very cool. Flipping over to an electric boogie, Lucky 13 is another super hot track. Gordon has a great voice for this kind of electric blues rock and with his power trio going and his slide firing, this band is on fire. Another great blues rocker is VooDoo Boogie with it's rocking boogie beat. Butcher's driving bass line really drives this tank and Gordon's searing slide work just mows them down. Robert Johnson's Travelin Riverside Blues gives a look at Gordon on acoustic guitar and his finger work is quite strong, intermixed with acoustic slide. This is great! A more traditional slow blues, Pure Grain Alcohol, shows Gordon on another detour from full on slide work and features Gordon playing traditional electric lead in response to his own vocals. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Shorty Medlock's Train Train and Gordon does a great job of keeping that southern power blues feel of Blackfoot's release. Gordon has put together a great set here and if you love that fat screaming slide guitar sound, (and who doesn't)… check this out! 

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Ron Addison - Testify - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Testify, from Ron Addison and it's a super debut effort. Opening with title track, Testify, a rumbling blues rocker, vocalist Ron Addison shows real attitude, backed by Billy Crawford on lead guitar, Martin Addison on bass, Mike Stephenson on drums and with Charlotte Austin, Renee Mort and Lori Addison on backing vocals. Sax player, Mary Munsey plays a sultry intro on No Damn Good, a slow blues ballad. Ron shows that he's ready for the big times on lead vocal and DC Wolfe lays down some sweaty lead guitar work, making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Keep Loving Me is a solid rocker with a real Chuck Berry swagger. Wolfe's guitar riffs and the piano work of Don Eanes give Addison the power he needs. Nice job. Another bluesy ballad, Long Ago Another Time features Addison in a vocal duet with Samantha Grayson. This track has the most memorable melody on the release and again, some real nice melodic guitar lead by Crawford. Wrapping the release is a clever shuffle, Oyster Man, a more modern approach to an early blues concept. With Addison on lead vocal and Wolfe on lead guitar, this is a solid closer for Addison's first outing.

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Rae Gordon Band - Wrong Kind of Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wrong Kind Of Love, by Rae Gordon Band and it's solid. Opening with hi stepper, Comin' Back For More, Rae Gordon is in high gear immediately with her sassy vocals and high powered horn section of Allen Kalik on trumpet, Scott Franklin on sax and the power rhythm section of Pat McDougall on keys, Kivett Bednar on guitar, Ed Pierce on drums and Joseph Conrad on bass. Bednar peels away with a ripping trill and laid out guitar solo before a funky conclusion. Great opener. Soulful ballad, How You Gonna is a certain radio track and super showcase for Gordon's vocals. Nicely harmonized vocals with Bednar and McDougall, with warm organ work by McDougall and trumpet highlights by Kalik make for a tidy package. My favorite track on the release is Sea Of Blue, a slower blues track with an inviting organ leader. Bednar and McDougall maintaining a calm sea under the tempest of Gordon's vocals creates nice tension for the storm that is to come. Bednar plays a real nice guitar solo on this one that gives the track the perfect amount of stress to be released by the return of Gordon's vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is R&B track, Get Right With The World, and one last chance for Gordon to kick it into high gear. This is a high energy band with Gordon on the throttle nd she uses it liberally. With a thumping bass, stiff snare rhythm and horns blazing, Gordon takes it home. Solid closer. 

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Popa Chubby - It's A Mighty Hard Road - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's A Mighty Hard Road, from Popa Chubby and I hear a real maturing off styles with Chubby that I haven't heard before. Opening with, The Flavor Is In The Fat, a meaty shuffle with certain radio and crowd appeal. Backed by Dave Keyes on piano and organ, Steve Holley on drums, Brett Bass on bass and with a memorable melody and a singable chorus, Chubby is off to a great start. Two stepper title track, It's a Mighty Hard Road, is a blend of rock and blues and could also be a strong radio track. With it's simple melodic format and solid melody and a gritty guitar solo, this song hits home. R&B track, The Best Is Yet To Come is one of my favorites on the release with warm vocals and harmonies. Reinforcing the melody with a clean guitar solo gives this track even more radio traction. I'm The Beast From The East is a great blues rocker with plenty of swagger and featuring Don Castagno on drums. Anther of my favorites on the release is Gordito with it's light Latin flavored instrumental melody, carried by as delicate a solo guitar hand as you've heard from Chubby. Very nice. Straight up rocker, More Time Making Love, again has the radio formula. A solid melody, firm vocals and a great beat make this a certain crowd pleaser. Boogie rocker, Why You Wanna Bite My Bones has a strong walking bass line and Chubby leads the way on vocals, echoed by stiff guitar lead. On Leon Russell's I'd Rather Be Blind Chubby winds the band up, Leon style, and gets the lays down a solid rocker with a blues overtone. I really like Chubby's vocal work on this track where he just lets it all hang out. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a slightly grittier take on Prince's Kiss. The basic arrangement is true to the original but with a funky bass line, a straight up harmonica line, no falsetto vocals and less twitchiness, the track is a solid rocker to close a solid release. 

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Jeff Chaz - No Paint - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Paint, from Jeff Chaz and it's raw and exciting. Opening with Turn Back The Hands of Time, a smooth, R&B style track with some of Chaz's best vocals on the release. Backed by Augie Joachim on bass and Rick Jones on drums, this track is a radio ready track with definite airplay potential. Slow blues, The Stars Are Out, is one of my favorites on the release with Chaz pulling out the stops on his guitar riffs. Fluid runs, volume swells give this track a nice boost. Another slow blues track, Lowdown, Dirty Blues is another strong track with solid blues phrasing. Chaz's gritty voice was made for tracks like this and his willingness to really work the fretboard adds adventure to his presentation. Very cool. Blues rocker, Life Is Like Coffee has a great driving bottom and Chaz makes the best of his opening to rip some nice solos. Another nice slower blues with a cool walking bass line is She's The Sweetest Thing with stinging guitar riffs by Chaz. His use of the lower fretboard and pinched harmonics on this track makes you sweat. Wrapping the release is instrumental, Deet Deet, Deet, a quick shuffle/boogie and Chaz is free to jam away. I really like his freedom to just play what he feels and let it all hang out. Nice job. 

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