Chris James and Patrick Rynn are a pair of bluesguys who favor the Chicago blues style, and have turned it into their own personal idiom, having worked together in these blues for about 18 years.
Their latest CD, "Stop and Think About It," on the Earwig label, and one of several fine ones I received from them a while back, is a joyous romp through some excellent covers and originals. The Chicago blues couldn't ask for better representation.
They seem to favor Elmore James, covering four of his fine slide blues here, including the unusual "Hawaiian Boogie." But there are also very nice covers of Jay McShann's "Confessin' the Blues" (something you don't hear very often) and "Mona," the Bo Diddley rocker.
They also roll their own blues, and they're smoking on five original tunes here, including the snappy opener, "You're Gone." They manage to capture the same vintage sounds they treat so respectfully when they do their covers. Their "Mister Coffee" is a slow grinding take on all the lively double-entendre blues.
Simply put, these guys are very good at their chosen sounds, and worth a listen if you've never heard them.
Posted
Sep 19 2008, 01:00 AM
by
Jim White