|
|
|
|
CD Review by John Valenteyn (Maple Blues, Feb. 2001) (Maple Blues is the official publication of the Toronto Blues Society.) Shakin Smith Wizard Of The Harmonica, Indie A fixture of the Buffalo/Niagara Falls blues scene for many years now, harp man Shakin Smith has sent along his first CD. The band is almost always a quartet of harp, guitar, bass and drums but with no recording dates given and various players credited at the instruments, I would guess that the album has been assembled over a period of time. One prominent guest and supporter is Robert Lockwood Jr., who appears on two songs: the instrumental "Chess Piece" and "Sweet Little Girl". There is no misleading or false advertising in the title, this man can play his harps. And write songs - the fourteen songs here are all originals but traditional in style, with lyrics that are never trite and with more than adequate vocals. The rest of the band members know this music very well also, they support Smith fabulously-a lesson for other accompanists. If you love 50's style Chicago blues harp, this one's for you and remember that Buffalo is not that far away! Check his website for purchases and gigs. |