Nothing like the blues played by a veteran who’s paid his dues. That’s what you get on this album by guitarist/vocalist Tito Jackson, who plays and sings with dirt under his nails with a tam of Michael Harris/dr, Michael T. Jackson/key, Darnel Neal-Terrel Griffin/b, a sizzling horn section, and six stringed guests that include Joe Bonamassa, George Benson and O’Jay’d vocalist Eddie Levert, along with cameos by Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder. WHEW!
Wonder and Rush blow the harmonica like a Grade 4 hurricane on the thick and funky Chicago blueser “Love One Another” , with Levert teaming with Jackson at the mic for a ride over Neals thick bass line on “All in the Family Blues”. Benson takes the lead solo on a good times feel of “Rock Me Baby” that makes you think of his days with McDuff, while Joe Bonammasa wails over the rubber necked vibe of “Under Your Spell”. Jackson himself gives an “oh yeah” feel to Parfait’s tenor sax solo on “Big Leg Woman” and the team shuffles with grit on “That Kind of Love”. Rare to find the blues so deep these days.
Blue plate special blues are delivered by John Mayer-voiced Clay Melton, who plays guitar with a team of Zach Grindle/dr, Raymond Minton-Dan Smith/b, Billy Justineau/org-p and Danny Jones/perc on this ep of studio and concert recordings. His guitar gets Hendrixy on a foxy intro to “Say That You Love Me” that builds up to a scream, while Grindle hits hard on an experienced feel of “Excuses”. Grindle launches the attack as Melton jabs and punches on “Texas Cyclone” while the team does a slow blues burn for the title tune. Both electric and acoustic strings are heard as Melton snarls out ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, making for a tempting invite to see in a smoky juke joint.