A far stretch away from the bells and over-production more commonly on display at this time of year. Joe The Bluesman leans towards the likes of The Pogues with this single, yet maintaining the opening acoustic purity throughout the entire lifespan of the beautifully thoughtful and appreciative Christmas With You.
Blues
“Touring the US and getting to meet and work with some of the real blues musicians is a real buzz. I learn so much working with them. More than you could learn than listening to a 1000 albums. It’s hands on stuff, you really can’t learn any other way.”
The audio in full has the effect of creating a cinematic experience for listeners, guiding you down these smokey back streets as hints of a story-line and imagery rain down softly around you.
Take You Home is a powerful and rather stunning new single, one that quickly progresses from good to great as the various sections and the real truth and grit of the story come into play.
h lays everything out on the table with this album, and underlines some superb musicianship and creativity along the way. Really well done, a fascinating journey to embark upon.
Last Stop On The Main Line takes a familiar topic, and presents it not from the surface, but from the utter depths of the human experience. The process of self-destruction, followed by that of overcoming, re-building and crafting a fresh start, all comes to light in uniquely provocative ways.
Fusing the better parts of all that’s uplifting and energizing about music in general, Energy is everything the title promises and then some, progressing from a simple swagger of a moment to something multi-layered and fully immersive.
Morning Inspiration is everything the jazz and blues fan needs in order to rise up and face the day with a smile – it’s also increasingly impressive from a musical perspective, adding further fuel to the fire and helping cement this as a go-to project.
Cruel Mistress is a great piece of work and pays homage to its musical forebears in all the right ways. It’s recorded in a timeless and sympathetic way, and lives and dies by the trials and tribulations of our companion for the journey – Scarlett Siren.
Jill has a sweet, bluesy voice, delivering the attention-seeking lyric with an authentic, slightly clipped enunciation that recalls the 1920s, all flappers and Lindy Hops! It displays wit, confidence and imagination in spades – and I hope lots of people get to hear this catchy little number, Because Jill Sargeant’s done a great job with it.
“Piano Blues is a moody bluesy instrumental record with an old school sound. I’d say experiment with it in different environments and dial in what best works for you. I am open to suggestions! I’d love to hear back from listeners about what they think.”
Chris Nole manages to captivate throughout this project, in the same instance as paying a more-than worthy tribute to the blues and its 100+ year history.