Over the many years - and it's getting close to forty-four - that I've been a fan of this glorious music they call the blues, I've unfortunately had the displeasure of
hearing many a so called blues singer destroy a song while unsuccessfully attempting to sound like the original artist of the cover he was singing - especially if it was a cover of a HOWLIN' WOLF song.  Thankfully, this is not the case here.  According to MOTOR CITY JOSH, fourteen years of smoking and singing every night has actually given him a WOLF like voice.  Now from a  healthy point of view, I don't know how good that really is, but it's just what the doctor ordered for the making of this disc.  JOSH absolutely nailed it.

    On "FORTY FOUR", MOTOR CITY JOSH on amazing vocals, guitar, slide guitar & tambourine, is joined by: JOHNNY RHOADES on guitar & backup vocals; CHRIS DOUGLAS on standup & electric bass; JUSTIN HEADLEY on drums; SHAWN MC DONALD on piano & organ; STACIA FORD & ERIC SAVAGE on backup vocals; JASON RICCI on harmonica and the honoree himself, CHESTER BURNETT on backup vocals.

    With all thirteen tracks being blues classics, it's going to be real hard to just pick a handful to mention, so I'll go with a "SPOONFUL".  On this one, JOSH cleverly inserts audio clips of the WOLF himself singing backup and the results are masterful.  Hearing them both singing together assures this was a perfect project for JOSH.  Just as on the original, the rhythm - provided by CHRIS & JUSTIN - is killer. 

    With JOSH sounding as good as WOLF on the vocals and JASON blowing the harp like some of the masters that played it with WOLF, they're amazing together on "BACK DOOR MAN".

    "SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD" may musically be the best track on "FORTY FOUR".  It's a slow, soft ballad in which the music is actually more profound than the vocals and everyone is so sharp and precise.  It's one of the few tracks that allow SHAWN to shine on piano, and that's a good thing.  This is great stuff!

   All I can say about "LITTLE RED ROOSTER" is that this one is all JOSH.  C'mon, we're talkin' "LITTLE RED ROOSTER", here... and that means lots of raspy vocals with equal amounts of scratchy slide guitar.  Josh covers them both very nicely.  

  Maybe it's because I can relate, but "BUILT FOR COMFORT" was always my favorite HOWLIN' WOLF song.  This version is an all out free for all between the lead guitar, the harmonica and the drums - with no apparent loser.  This one's hot.       

    If you plan to boogie all night long then turn up the volume and put on "WANG DANG DOODLE".  It's no secret this tracks a smoker - regardless of who does it - but JOSH and the guys take it up a notch (yes, it's is possible).  Great lead and rhythm guitar and wicked drum work highlight this highlight.
  
    "FORTY FOUR" closes with "GOIN' DOWN SLOW".  As we all know, this one's a slow blues burner.  It's highlighted by great slide guitar by JOSH, smokin' lead guitar riffs by JOHNNY and solid and steady organ by SHAWN. 

    Other classics on the disc are: the title track, "FORTY FOUR", "EVIL IS GOING ON", "300 LBS OF JOY" (another one I can relate to), "I AIN'T SUPERSTITIOUS", "SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN", and "MEET ME AT THE BOTTOM".

If you're a fan of HOWLIN' WOLF - and who isn't - you're going to want this disc.  You can pick it up, along with his other nine releases, at www.motorcityjosh.com.  By the way, make sure you check out his schedule as well.  Josh has assured me that on his 2009 tour, along with the best of his originals, he'll be performing this CD - in it's entirety.   So when ya see him, be sure to tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.

Benefit will be held March 1st at The Atlanta School of Performing Arts. This is a 500 seat venue on Northside Drive. Doors open at 4:00 PM show at 5:00. Donation is $30.00. Performances by The Soul Shakers, Wood Brothers, Felix and the Cats with Jon Liebman, King Johnson and headline by Lurrie Bell, voted best blues player in 2008 by Living Blues Magazine. He is also nominated for three Blues Foundation awards this year.

The fund is a 501c3 corp, so all donations are tax deductable. There will also be a silent auction with items donated from Delta Groove Records, Levon Helm, and others. The benefit will be covered by Blues Review, Blues Wax, AJC and Creative Loafing.

For more information contact Glenn Smith 404-372-9805 or Visit: http://www.seancostellofund.org/benefit-concerts.html

The resemblances are absolutely uncanny. Although there would be a small degree of uncertainty involved, looking at JACK LEAR'S picture - while listening to his music, would surely have me thinking that I might be listening to BOB DYLAN.....on steroids! It's kinda like BOB DYLAN singing the blues while playing like CHUCK BERRY. In spite of never having been a really big fan of BOB'S folksy style, I always did appreciate his musicianship and songwriting. JACK LEAR possesses all those talents with an abundant supply of exuberance.

On his debut CD - "LOVE AND CHARM" - JAKE LEAR, on vocals and guitar, is joined by CARLOS ARIAS on bass, BRAD GORDON on drums, and PETE RUDDLE on harmonica. The disc contains thirteen tracks, of which nine are originals, with a cover of ROBERT JOHNSON, ELMORE JAMES, RICHARD RABBIT BROWN and, of course, BOB DYLAN.

The opening track, an original called "KISS ME", already has me thinking I may be listening to the discs best track. It's a smoker that could even get Beethoven to roll over. With the rhythm section absolutely wild behind him, JAKE is even wilder on lead guitar. It doesn't get any hotter than this one.

"CRY, CRY, CRY" is just what PETE'S making the harmonica do on this one. I guess he wanted to get in the licks he missed on the opening burner. His doing so, along with more great rhythm, highlight this one.

"DUST MY BROOM" is a classy rendition of a classic song. CARLOS and BRAD, on bass and drums, are on top of their game here, and some of JAKE'S best guitar work is heard on this one as well.

"SURE ENOUGH I DO" mean it when I say this less than three minute track is way too short. I could have taken a few more minutes of JAKE'S soulful vocals and the hot guitar licks he put out on this ELMORE JAMES cover.

"LEAVE THIS TOWN" is another smoker. JAKE, CARLOS and BRAD are unbelievably tight together. This is one rhythm section that JAKE needs to keep together. This listener would hate to hear that these guys would ever want to 'leave this town'.

Other great tunes on "LOVE AND CHARM" include: "LOVE AND CHARM", "TROUBLE IN MY MIND, TROUBLE IN MY SOUL", "EARLY IN THE MORNING", "NORTH MISSISSIPPI BOUND", "LORD PROTECT MY CHILD", "RUTH'S BOOGIE" and "JAMES ALLEY BLUES".

Now that you're done reading this, take yourself over to www.jakelear.com and grab a copy of "LOVE AND CHARM". Jake's got a heck of an offer going on that includes shipping. I'm sure you'll tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com