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The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra Featuring
Willy Jordan—What Are You Waiting for?—

Blue Dot BDR CD111
(www.anthonypaule.com)

Guitarist Anthony Paule out of San Francisco
California has been making excellent albums
for many years now, bridging blues and classic

soul with his Soul Orchestra since 2007 and
working with several top-notch vocalists. He

does it again here: listen to the first three tracks
for starters: the set opens with the fine blues

shuffle of ‘You Ain’t Old ‘Til You Cold’, with Willy singing about getting the
most out of life (and Anthony adds a wonderful west-side Chicago-styled
instrumental break). The theme of aging is also the topic of the 60s- styled

soul of the title track, before the mellower soul of ‘One Way’ adds a different
feel, with Willy’s vocal reaching an even higher level – and the band, with

horns and backing vocals too, is rather wonderful throughout.

Next up is the slow blues of ‘You’re Somebody Else’s Baby Too’, with Willy
– who has worked with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite,

Elvin Bishop and John Nėmeth, among many others - digging deep into the
song. ‘Back Up Plan’ is a fine slice of funky soul, ‘Where Is Justice’ speaks for

itself – and forcibly (and justifiably) so – before ‘Bruised’ finds Willy wailing
wonderfully on a piece of what used to be called ‘bluesoul’ (and a Muddy

Waters flavoured solo from Anthony on this one).

‘Love Out Loud’ is another soul lifter, ‘That’s Not How The Story Goes’ sounds
like classic Stax-era Albert King (listen to those horns!), ‘No Tofu’ is a funky

workout, and things come to a close with a version of the soul ballad ‘After
A While’. It is a lovely way to end a lovely album.

Norman Darwen

Heavydrunk & Watermelon Slim—

Bluesland Theme Park—Heavydrunk Music

(www.heavydrunk.com)

This is a rather eclectic set. Watermelon Slim,

singer/ songwriter/ slide guitar ace/ blues harp
player now lives in Clarksdale, Mississippi,
which is where singer/ songwriter and

bandleader Rob Robinson a.k.a. HeavyDrunk
met him, learned that Slim’s song ‘Little

Boghorn’ had not been recorded, and so booked