Bluesman Mike & The Blues Review Band – Blues Is My Business

Self-release

www.reverbnation.com/bluesmanmikethebluesreviewband

15 songs – 68 minutes

Blues Is My Business is Arizona-based singer, songwriter and bassist, Bluesman Mike’s fifth album. Featuring 15 songs with a nice mix of originals and covers, the album kicks off with the jazzy, swinging “Pack Up My Bags” before kicking into the grinding “Nothin’ Like You Used To Do.” It’s immediately apparent that the Blues Review Band is a tight little outfit, producing a jazz-influenced blues style that suits Bluesman Mike’s blues-soul voice perfectly.

The funky “24/7” features a great guitar solo from Chris Sabbarese, while Willie Dixon’s “You Shook Me” opens with some haunting harmonica by John Dubec. Bluesman Mike’s own “Voodoo Man” mines a traditional blues lyrical theme as the protagonist boasts of his control over nature and people.  “I Feel The Blues Comin’ On” features a lovely strummed guitar introduction and some neat piano from Paul Darrow, while Magic Slim’s “Goin’ To Mississippi” sees the band get a little dirtier. “Hot” is an accurate title given Chris Sabbarese’s guitar solos in the tune, which also features some smart arrangements.

Ann Peebles’ classic “I Can’t Stand The Rain” features the stunning voice of Jijjy Von and a glorious, almost gospel, a cappella finish. Johnny Guitar Watson’s “Real Mother For Ya” is given a suitably funky reading. Soloman Burke’s “Cry To Me” (here titled “Don’t You Feel Like Crying”) sees the arrangement stripped back with just TJ Henry on guitar, Kuban on bass and Bluesman Mike on vocals and is one of the highlights of the album for its raw simplicity.  Darrow’s piano lights up “I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water”, although his introduction to Freddie King’s “Going Down”, which closes the album, is a thing of wonder. The irresistible groove of “I’m On Your Side” suggests it’d be monumental in a live setting.

The core band is Bluesman Mike on vocals, Chris Sabbarese on lead guitar, Darrow on keyboards, Tim Robinson on drums, and Bryan Kuban on bass. In addition, Shawn Behanna adds saxophone to two tracks and Henry and Von add guitar and vocals respectively to another two.  Tim Robinson and Brian Pfahey both take the drum stool for two tracks each.

The album was recorded at Bryan Kuban’s studio (Kube Music) and Kuban has captured a series of fine performances.

There is much to enjoy in Blues Is My Business. Warmly recommended.