Colin James – Chasing the Sun
Stony Plain Records SPCD1499
11 songs – 52 minutes
At age 60, British Columbia-based guitarist Colin James has produced albums that have garnered multi-platinum sales along with 30 Maple Blues, eight Juno Awards and BMA nominations, too. But he’s going to have to set the bar higher than he’s ever done before to follow this star-laden offering.
Described as a “house party’s worth of friends and mentors,” the lineup includes appearances from harp colossus Charlie Musselwhite, singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, drummer/multi-instrumentalist Charley Drayton, who’s recorded with everyone from Keith Richards and Neil Young to Miles Davis and Courtney Love, and bassist Darryl Jones, who’s been recording and touring with the Rolling Stones since 1993.
Add other world-class talents to the mix and the resulting sound is a deep-in-the-groove product that take Colin’s sound and usual mix of driving and rock-steady material to a level that will have you yearning for more.
Recorded in Nashville by fellow Canadian Colin Linden and Michael Stankiewicz at Pinhead Studios with additional recording at Stonehouse Studios in Vancouver and Clarksdale Sound Stage in Mississippi, the roster includes Linden on guitar, Reese Wynans, Michael Hicks and Janice Powers on keys, Jim Hoke on sax, Ruby Amanfu singing harmonies and Ann and Regina McCrary on backing vocals.
Lucinda’s self-penned “Protection,” which first appeared in 2014, opens the set in style. She and Colin share vocals as they stress the need for defense against the enemies of love and more, and James and Linden amplify the message mid-tune with driving six-string runs and Drayton and Jones powering the beat. It flows into the haunting “I’m Still Alive,” the need for a breath of fresh air after a long, hard and perilous journey.
“Devilment,” which describes, a hypnotic lady, was written by Linden and Toronto bluesman Paul Reddick and has appeared separately in 2009 on both of their albums. But it takes on a different, funky and stop-time feel in James’ hands with a major assist from Musselwhite on the reeds. The mood mellows from the downbeat of the ballad, “Crystal Ball.” Colin yearns for the ability to look into the orb to see his loved ones, soothe them in their troubles and how their stories end.
The mellow blues, “How It Feels to Be Loved,” continues the message, this time in praise of a lady who’s able to heal any troubles life throws James’ way. It’s an acknowledgement of something that’s both natural and easily overlooked. The message continues in “Star Studded Sky” before the introspective ballad, “Too Far Gone,” is delivered by someone who knows now that he’s been looking in the wrong places for a solution to fix a bad romance.
A cover of Paul Butterfield’s “In My Own Dream” echoes the message of the previous tune before the driving blues-rocker, “This Song Kills Hate,” announces love is here to stay and there’s no time to lose to find happiness in a world hanging on by a thread. Charlie joins the action again for a new take on John Hammond’s “Come to Find Out” before the original, “Open Your Mind,” delivers a positive message to bring this one to a close.
A flawless and well-conceived effort, Chasing the Sun definitely deserves your ear. Simply stated, it’s great!
