The great thing about the blues, is that it sounds good whether in a big production like Joe Bonamassa, or here, on casual yet passionate humble productions. It’s all heart, and it beats on these two recent releases.
Mick Schaffer has a leathered voice that is streetwise in its delivery as he plays guitar with Jimi Bott-Johnny Moore/dr, Timmer Blakely/dr, Ken Scandlyn-JT Thomas/eg and Tom Esch/fi. Esch’s fiddle adds some tasty treats on the slow stroll of “Rainbow” and the funky shuffle of “Astara”, while you get some slick Chet Atkins licks on the two stepping “Husband Blues”. Schaeffer sounds he’s been drinking from the dust bowl as he slurs the blues on the dark “Over In The Corner” and gives the confessions of a lapsed Catholic on the calypso’d “Virgin Mary”. Long shadows on a moonless night.
Willie Jackson has a molasses thick baritone of a voice, and he uses it adroitly with a band that includes Dancial Jackson/dr, Trosky Lane/b, J Stuart/g, Solomon Baker/key, Ace Anderson/harm and a handful of guests. He takes you on a trip to Chicago on the rollicking “Coon Hound Nose” and teams up with Mary Davis and the wailing Anderson on the chucky jump of “Give Me My Rib Back”. There are some synthy chords and a dash of reggae a la vintage Stevie Wonder on “I’m Your Landlord” and Jimmy Brown’s alto simmers with Jackson on the shuffling “The Whole Book Is Wet”. Ominous bass and keys creates a noir atmosphere on “Beautiful Diseas” and the team gives a two step boogie in which Jackson digs in deeply on during “Come Here Jr.” Late night at the Moose Lodge.