Today, looking back, the Blues for most was merely their entrée into the world of tour buses, as most of those whiz kids have moved onto the Rock stage. The few who have remained dedicated to the Blues, play, sing, and write music with the honest grit and substance encouraged by their deep love of the Blues.

Josh Smith is one of those who has survived the early crush of the press and has emerged today as a matured musician steeped in the Blues. I first wrote about Josh Smith when the then-16-year-old from the Ft. Lauderdale area released his first record. Touring bands like Jimmy Thackery, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, and others took note of the kid's enormous chops. Early on I heard his lightning fretwork and blaring volume mature into the spirited dynamics necessary to become more then just a hot roddin' teen.

In 2002, I heard from his father that Josh was married, was living in the Los Angeles area, was touring with a Soul and R&B band, and on his off nights was playin' the Blues with people like Kirk Fletcher, Lynwood Slim, and others from the West Coast scene. Now, in 2006, I find an envelope with Josh's current disc and hear how his guitar and voice have elegantly aged.

Smith's twelve original songs touch every area of the Blues. From the opening tune, the Chicago Blues shufflin' "Fine Young Thing," I was excited to hear everything Josh was singin' about. The classy combo of Smith's guitar, Lynwood Slim's harmonica, and Fred Kaplan's piano makes this a song that just might wear out the repeat button. But, if you only listen to this appetizer you're gonna miss the rest of Smith's gourmet meal of music.

Want another course of the Blues? Give a listen to Smith's Magic Sam-inspired "Sober Up Baby." With its pounding drum line at the foundation, Josh bends strings with some of the most inspired traditional Blues west of the Windy City. On "Where's My Baby" Smith updates his devotion to SRV with an earthy Texas guitar and organ rumble. Played at cruising, not rocket speed, the song showcases how Smith's love of SRV has become a deep inspiration. And Smith and Kaplan combine on "Goin' Out Tonight," another thoroughly satisfying traditional Blues piece.

But, there is so much more than just the Blues guitar. Remember I said that Smith had spent time in a Los Angeles in a Soul band? Those years are evident in his big time Soul approach to tunes like "Only You," "You And Me," and "Already Found." While Josh displays the perfect guitar for Soul music, the addition of James Gadson's seasoned drums and Lou Price's Soul tenor sax center these tunes in the Stax studios.

Smith grew up in the trio setting on his 1990s records, so "I'm Gonna Be Ready" and "Ain't Enough" are songs that recall those early days of flyin' solo on the bandstand. His slow Blues "The Way You Do" grinds out five minutes big city, B.B. King heartbreak. On "Newtie" Josh calls in his best friend, Los Angeles' premier guitar slinger, Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kirk Fletcher to comp rhythm chords. The final tune, "Dead Wrong," is a funky Albert Collins-styled tune featuring Smith, like Albert, firing off single-string salvo after salvo through the heart of the listener.

I can't help but think of the maturity we hear in the adult Blues of people like Albert Cummings or Deborah Coleman who came to the Blues as seasoned adults. Now, almost ten years later, Josh Smith is in the place one can only reach through living life. He also demonstrates a fullness to the singing, a complexity to the emotional string work, and an adult wisdom in the songwriting. His Blues roots run too deep for Josh to ever ignore. This may be one of the best records you'll find this year.

Art Tipaldi is a senior contributing editor at BluesWax