The Liam Ward Band – Shine
Green Bullet Records
10 songs – 47 minutes
A former National Harmonica League player of the year based out of Gloucestershire, England, Liam Ward is one of the busiest musicians in the United Kingdom, fronting his own band, while teaching masterclasses, writing content for Harmonica World, Blues Matters and Blues in Britain and working as a session player and with four other artists, too.
Firmly believing that blues is the best medicine, he lays down an inspirational message on his latest CD, all of the proceeds of which are going to the Stroke Association, the British charity that supports survivors and their families, in memory of his father.
Since making his debut with the album, Uprising, in 2018, Liam has proven himself to be a polished, unconventional performer who has a soulful, modern sound that’s truly his own. His foundation comes from the harp legends of the past, but he incorporates a little West Coast swing and R&B to push the standard boundaries.
A dedicated family man who grew up influenced by his dad’s extensive record collection and the sounds dominating both sides of the Atlantic, Ward began writing some of the lyrics that appear here after his father’s passing in 2009. He handles crystal-clear lead vocals throughout this all-original set, which features the voices of his sisters, Helen Hart and Bryony-Rose Ward, in a backing role.
Recorded at Crescent Studios in Swinton, England, he’s backed by Malcolm Thorne on guitar, Zach Barnett on bass, piano and organ and Joe Harris on percussion, all of whom provide solid backing while giving Liam plenty of room to shine.
“I Got Lucky” kicks off the action with a red-hot harp intro before settling almost immediately into a sprightly shuffle as Liam describes escaping blame for an unspoken misstep and crediting the heavens up above for his escape. Thorne lays down a brief, tasty break before the tune evolves into stop-time mode to conclusion. The contemporary blues, “Stone in My Shoe,” swings steadily as it uses the metaphor to describe someone who’s causing the singer grief before giving way to Ward’s extended harp runs mid-song.
The guitar opens “What’s Your Alibi?,” which finds Liam wandering out at night and discovering a lady’s committed a misdeed he believes has to be set right. It’s a stripped-down number to open before another smoking harp break, this time with some high-end magic. It gives way to “500 Dollar Bail,” a rock-steady shuffle that recounts being locked up in Louisiana without money to set himself free. Ward stresses the urgency of the situation through a brief, but plaintive solo atop a repeated guitar hook.
The title tune “Shine” opens with a Bo Diddley beat, celebrates family and pays tribute to Ward’s dearly departed before yielding to “What I Need,” a bright little dance number with Harris’ drums high in the mix and fueled by Barnett keys before giving Thorne another chance to shine. The longest song it the set at nine-plus minutes, the dirge-like ballad “Everything’s Gonna Be Fine” has an upbeat title but a somber, but positive unspoken message about togetherness and loss.
“Pack Your Sense of Humour” brightens the mood instantly to follow. It’s set to a boogie beat as it serves up a bit of advice. Two more tunes — “Do What You Do,” a light-and-airy, syncopated pleaser – and “Give It All Up for You” – Ward alone on the low end of the reeds and vocals – bring the disc to a close.
Not your usual two-four, one-four-five blues, Shine will leave you with a grin. Buy this one and put a smile on your face and someone else’s, too!
