At 87 years young, John Mayall still bleeds fresh blue blood. This recent release shows that he’s still alive and well, with his voice, pen and ideas still fresh. He’s playing keys, and harmonica with his working team of Greg Rzab/b and Jay Davenport, adding rhythm guitarist Carolyn Wonderland, a horn section of Ron Dziubla/sax, Mark Pender/tp, Richard A Rosenberg/tb and a slew of one-off guests to add extra fun and flavor.
Melvin Taylor brings the Chicago blues to town on the shuffling “Hungry and Ready” and “Driving Wheel, wailing to Mayall’s harp, as does Marcus King on the boogalooing “Can’t Take No More”. Baritone guitarist Buddy Miller stomps with Mayall’s voice and B3 on”I’m As Good As One” and ukulele man Jake Shimabukuro boogies on “One Special Lady”. Most lyrical and jazz is when violinist Carolyn Wonderland comes in for a moody title track and sleek original “Deep Blue Sea”. Mayall’s voice is well leathered and still vibrant, and his harp still blows a strong breeze as on “A Quitter Never Wins”. Mayall still looks good in working class blues.