Robbin Kapsalis – The Blues Is In The House
Blues House -2025
10 tracks; 32 minutes
Robbin Kapsalis was born in Chicago and raised in Atlanta, but first came to prominence fronting Vintage #18, a Washington, DC band that released two well received albums. Now going out under her own name she is based in Europe, having recently married UK harmonica ace Giles Robson. This set was recorded in Nantes, France, with Robbin on vocals, Giles producing and playing harp and an all-French band: François Nicolleau and Nicolas Deshayes on guitar, studio owner Arnaud Gobin on bass and Cyril Durand on drums; Malted Milk founder Arnaud Fradin recorded, mixed and mastered the disc and adds dobro to one track and the late Joe Louis Walker guests on guitar on one track. The material is mainly drawn from the greats of the blues, one song reprized from Vintage #18’s repertoire and two songs come from Terry Abrahamson and Derrick Procell. The album is released on the label of John and Lisa Primer, John being a frequent collaborator with Giles when he tours in Europe.
The album is book-ended by the two Abrahamson/Procell songs, both clearly about the music we all love. The title track opens proceedings and it’s a good one to show off Robbin’s deep alto voice, the two guitars playing off each other and Giles adding harp accents, one of those classic Chicago blues that makes it hard to stay still; Joe Louis Walker’s plucked solo may be one of the last things he recorded before his untimely passing. In contrast “Gotta Hear The Blues” closes the album in gentle style with the dobro and Giles’ buzzing harp. “Love Hangover” is the tune reprized from Vintage #18 and features Giles’ high register harp work over a chugging rhythm, another good one for the dancers.
Elsewhere Robbin and band pay tribute to some of the greats of the blues. Little Walter’s “Up The Line” rattles along and finds Giles channeling the great harp player while the pace drops for a lovely version of “Lead Me On”, best known from Bobby Bland’s 1960 original; this version has some excellent, subtle guitar work. The stop-start rhythms and accompanying harp support a relaxed vocal on Memphis Slim’s “The Comeback” and Robbin takes us all the way back to the 1930’s for The Memphis Sheiks’ “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”, a perfect vehicle for Giles to excel on the harp. “I Wanna Know” is a less well known number by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins but two absolute classics round out the selection: “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” is given a pacy treatment by the band; Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” is delivered in a really bright, driving performance by everyone.
Robbin’s vocals deliver these songs with conviction and the band offers excellent support. At just over half an hour this is a rather short CD but there are no weak tracks at all, making this a good disc of classic blues.
