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The first solo release from James Solberg demonstrates the consistent glue
that held Luther Allison's magic spell together for so many years. The tight,
dynamic combination of James' band and Luther's talents spoke to our hearts so
well, as they both co-wrote many of the best songs and were very cohesive as a
unit. Combining some great originals with some standards, James makes a
powerful, personal statement that left this listener jazzed up from all of the
snarling guitar work and killer vocals from what has to be one of the best
bluesmen working on the scene today! If you hear some Luther sneaking in to
the emotional frenzy, it's only natural. James does way more than sound like
Luther, and after the many years they composed and toured together they
obviously affected each other deeply, a good thing for all of us!
Solberg has a long history in the blues, as he was in the Nighthawks, Muddy
Waters Legendary Blues Band, Elvin Bishop, etc., and you can hear the history
in both his playing and singing along with an obvious awareness of everything
else that has come along since, so his approach is well-rounded. Basically,
it just don't get any better than this!
The band consists of James on lead guitar and vocals, Big Ed Bacon on bass,
"Skin Tite Tom" Swearingen- drums, H-Bomb Vegas on organ and piano. Several
others help like Mike Vlahakis on piano, Ken Faltinson- organ, Mike Schlenker-
guitar, Charlie Bingham- guitar, Bruce McCabe- piano, Chuck Solberg- piano,
and yes, The Memphis Horns, Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love.
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