While best known for his 1960s and early 70s work, John Mayall was still in excellent form during hi later years, exemplified well by this collection of concerts in Texas from 1999-98. His working band at the time, Buddy Whittington/g, John Paulus/b and Joe Yuele/dr and in a rollicking mood with Mayall, who sang, played guitar, harmonica and keyboards and wrote most of the bluesbreaking tunes.
There Is a New Orleans feel to Mayall’s read of Wynton Marsalis’ “Congo Square” with some earthy keyboards” and his harp wails on Willie Dixon’s “The Voodoo Music” as well as the team effort of “Always A Brand New Road”. Mayall’s own “My Country Girl” has a Chicago feel with vocals and harmonica, while the guitars rock on the shuffling “White Line Fever”. The closing classic “Room To Move” is a fun one, with the energy emitted from the quartet palpable even a quarter of a century later.