Stevie J. Blues – Back 2 Blues

(Mississippi Delta Recording/PK Music)

www.steviejbluesmusic.com

L’ottimo album (il terzo) del musicista del Mississippi

From Jackson, Mississippi, Stevie J. Blues is an upper-class musician who worked with iconic stars of the Rhythm and Blues like Bobby Rush, with whom he featured in “The Blues” movie of Martin Scorsese, Denise LaSalle, Shirley Brown, and the late Mel Waiters. Not a new kid in town, already seen on European stages with Bobby Rush, Steve is the son of a pastor with his roots in gospel music and it couldn’t be otherwise. But he is also an incendiary guitar player and an accomplished singer combining Chicago traditions and Southern soul, and awareness of the tough times the Afro-American community has been going through. While Lil Mo’ Love – potentially a hit – belongs to this latter category, the fourth effort That Party Song definitely brings reminiscences of Steve’s past with many Southern Soul singers. Lights out is a slow number, introduced by a string arrangement, faithful to Southern Soul mood with a good guitar solo and mournful singing. And what about the infectious rhythm of the next song Good Good bolstered by another stinging guitar solo? The album skyrockets in the last three songs with a brilliant classic “stranger in the city” where Steve’s church roots emerge in a vivid gospel with Dwayne Watkins and DR. M.J. Johnson. Back 2 Blues is Stevie third album in nine years without forgetting a handful of singles. The fact that almost twenty musicians appear beside Steve does not help maintaining consistency throughout the whole album but we could not remain dissatisfied by a musician who far beyond the average Blues musician of these times. Steve J. Blues is a real crack, bound to glory, he only needs someone helping him being more known around, getting more visibility, because he surely deserves it. And Back 2 Blues is a five-star album.

Luca Lupoli

Tagged blues, Stevie J. Blues