Musicians: J.W.Jones (guitar, vocals); Southside
Steve Marriner (harmonica, vocals);
Nathan Morris (upright bass); Matt
Sobb (drums) with guests Kim
Wilson (vocal & harmonica);
Roxanne Potvin (backup vocals);
Tortoise Blue (Hammond B-3); Gene
Taylor (piano).
Review: Here’s a band that’s gonna burn a flaming groove across the blues world. Ottawa, Canada guitarist J.W. Jones offers his second CD on the NorthernBlues label and it’s a winner. Jones had a chance to jump onstage with The Fabulous Thunderbirds and they took a liking to the youngster. As a result, some of the Thunderbirds were happy to join Jones in this session. Kim Wilson sits in on harp and vocals on three tracks. Boogie woogie piano man, Gene Taylor joins the band on all 14 tracks. I have to openly admit that I’m a very big fan of Taylor’s hot style.
It’s a treat to hear an upright acoustic bass in a blues band today and Nathan Morris does it all. This band rocks, jumps, shuffles, wails and grooves its way into your space whether you like or not.
Listen to Tortoise Blue wail his B-3 on Bogart’s Bounce. It’s a stunner! Gene Taylor shines on Flatline. J.W. Jones is a hell of a fine guitarist and even strays into cool jazz on Goldtop Groove with nice backing from bass, drums and piano. Drummer, Matt Sobb is as steady as they get. He’d be an asset to any band on the scene. Don’t Sugar Coat It turns into a harp battle between Kim Wilson and Southside Steve behind the Jones vocal.
A highlight in my opinion is the band’s version of Heard The News that reminded me of some of the 1950s shouters and honkers like Wynonie Harris. Roxanne Potvin wrote You Forgot To Come Back and belts it out with a Janis Joplin feeling. Very nice!
I recommend this session to all blues fans and it hits the shelves June 18. Go get it!
Tracks: Flatline; Jump Tonight; Ain’t Soon
Enough; Sweet Sugar Mama; Time
To Move On; Bogart’s Bounce;
Without You; Don’t Tease Me;
Understanding a Woman; Don’t
Sugar Coat It; Heard The News; You
Forgot To Come Back; Blind Date
Woman; Goldtop Groove.
JazzReview.com
