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| Just as a new pair of shoes might at first irritate the feet in certain places until they are �worn in�, I wasn�t immediately comfortable with the overall sound of this CD. It only took but a second listen, though, to acclimate myself to his particular vocal tone (lying somewhere in between Muddy Waters and John Hiatt) and zone in on the exquisite instrumentation of these compositions. In fact, I was humming and singing along with a number of tracks on subsequent replays. There is a good mix of fully-orchestrated tracks and acoustic roots numbers (played on resophonic guitar), so be prepared to listen to and enjoy both styles. The arrangement of the traditional �Pea Vine Blues� and Mason�s own �Time Will Come� are prototypical examples of finger-style guitar at its best. There is a bluegrass feel (but without banjo or fiddle) on the opening �Going Out the Country�, and Mason gets downright funky on �Honest Like That�, about a long-distance romance. I loved the lines, �I might not have the intelligence to say just how I feel; but you know I love you, darling; working hard at keeping it real.� He�s equally candid and down-to-earth on �Biscuits & Blue Sky�. �Rescue�, the most sophisticated number, features a fusion of kick-ass blues harmonica (played by Gerry Hundt) that would give blues-harpers David Rotundo and Steve Bailey a run for their money, jazzy keyboarding by Jim Waddell and velvet-smooth electric guitar by John-Alex. Chris Stongle, provides a solid kick on drums, and Bill Rich�s bass lines blend perfectly into the mix, adding an extra boost towards the end of the track. �Wildflower� reminded me a bit too strongly of The Black Crowes� �She Talks to Angels� (although I do like that song), but the rock beat here is sweetly subdued with an organ filler and saxophone solo that will make you want to weep. Anyone into legendary blues musicians like Robert Johnson and Mississippi John Hurt or contemporary ones such as Orville Johnson, Michael Pickett, Ken Whiteley, Michael Jerome Browne and Harrison �Sweet Taste� Kennedy should particularly appreciate the final four tracks, a couple whose titles are almost as long as the songs themselves. John-Alex Mason has created the music of a proud, plain-speaking Colorado boy. Take him or leave him, he sums up the music industry best on �Music for Money�, singing �No matter what�s going on in Hollywood, New York or Nashville, Tennessee, Music Makers and music lovers will always get together to set one another free.� Amen to that. Mr. Mason and his band are heading towards Washington (via Oregon) towards the end of April, notably at Highway 99 in Seattle. For the exact dates and locations, visit his websites at www.johnalexmason.com or www.nakedjaybirdmusic.com. |
| TIME WILL COME - JOHN-ALEX MASON |
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