Biscuit Miller – Wishbone
Bluebass Music
12 tracks
Biscuit Miller always wears an infectious smile and he plays a funky Chicago styled blues. A 30 year veteran of touring, this singer, bass player and band leader gets people on their feet and dancing. His love of music is quite evident in his work. He is a 2012 Blues Music Award Winner, served as Lonnie Brooks bass player for a decade, and has a vast resume of other accomplishments. This is his third CD and he and his band The Mix have been a hot commodity since Miller won that 2012 BMA. Joining Miller on the CD are Myron “Dr. Love” Robinson on drums, Bobby Wilson on guitar and Alex “Southside” Smith also on guitar. All songs here were written by Miller.
The title track gets things going on the album. It’s a funky and soulful tune where he asks his woman to be his wishbone and love him nice and slow, all night long. There is a nice, uncredited sax solo on this cut and the band is tight. “She Likes to Boogie” is next, a cool shuffle with piano and organ added (no credits here, too, but another fine job). Piano and guitar solos are featured and well done! “Down At The Mississippi” is a cool jumping cut where they’re going down to the Mississippi to drink and sing the blues. Un-credited harp is out front and well done here. Ronnie Baker Brooks appears on the slow blues entitled “Mr. DJ.” Miller growls out the lyrics, the organ gives a testamental feeling behind Miller and the guitar punctuates the vocals nicely before offering up a soulful and thoughtful solo as piano tinkles softly behind Brooks.
“Lay It On Down” opens with the guitar and the band comes in to lay down an spicy grove. The organ and guitar make this one sweet and Miller sings convincingly. The jumping and jiving “Shake It Like Jello” is next. Honky tonk piano and a horn section make this one move 100 miles an hour and a lot of fun. The fuzzed up guitar solo is cool, too. “Bottle of Whiskey, Bottle of Wine” is another uptempo and swinging cut. Miller is smooth and the organ pays behind him as the guitar punctuates his lyrics. The organ gets the big solo and Brooks returns for his second cut and does a stinging guitar solo. “Use To Love Me” is slowed down from the prior cuts and it’s a greasy slow and delicious blues with a big guitar intro. A nice piano solo is again featured and a later guitar solo is also good. Miller sings convincingly, testifying that his baby use to love him.
“One More Mile” is a a mid-tempo piece with some barrel house piano and sax to open things up. The band does some response to Miller’s calls and then the sax comes in for a sweet solo. More call and response builds up and then a key change as Miller and the band continue chanting and takes things home. “Monday Morning Blues” features a slow to mid tempo beat and Miller sings to us about the foibles about going back to work after the weekend. Traffic, spilled hot coffee and work loom large. A nice organ solo is featured as the guitar lays out a nice backdrop. Acoustic guitar and vocals are the makeup for “Let’s Go Fishing” as Miller gives us a well done slow blues and a down home performance. The guitar picking is nicely done, too. One of the band members harmonizes on the choruses; a nice song that could grace any nice down home, musical porch. The album finishes up with “Going Home,” featuring Uncle Jesse Hutson. Another down home cut, we have some tambourine and harp added to the guitar. Miller and Hutson testify together for us and some old time guitar picking is also featured.
There is nothing to complain about here – Miller’s music in imbued with his smile; one can sense in his music that this is a man who really enjoys what he does. There is some good picking and playing here. Guitars, organ, piano, horns and harp are all used at times in the mix and the band does a great job supporting Miller. I liked this one a lot and I have a feeling most all blues fans will, too!
