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REVIEWS

Kelly’s Lot – Where and When—Independent

One of the very few positives – maybe the only one?—of the
pandemic has been that it has allowed us to experience musicians

performing in ways that we might not otherwise. That is the case
here, with the excellent California singer Kelly Zirbes following
up her predominantly folk and roots-rock album “Another Sky”
by presenting her music in a stripped down fashion, accompanied
by two acoustic guitars and upright bass, in a very listenable
tribute to the blues of yesteryear.

There are five borrowed songs here: one from Lovie Austin,
‘Jealous Hearted Blues’ which Ma Rainey recorded, Ma Rainey’s

own ‘Black Eye Blues’, one from Robert Johnson (the rather unexpected ‘Stones In My Passway’),
and two lesser-known items from Howling Wolf. The latter—‘Somebody In My Home’ and
‘Nature’—are wonderful, but then so are all these songs, with excellent vocals and arrangements.

There are also six of Kelly’s own original compositions, alternating with those covers, and co-
authored with her long-time accompanist Perry Robertson. The opener, ‘Stronger’ is a fine, languid
blues, whilst ‘Heaven’ has the startling but understandable line “I don’t wanna go to Heaven, I’m
not ready to leave”. The dobro gives it a slight Americana feel, whilst ‘Lost’ has a suitably desolate
feel. The title track is more up tempo and upbeat, ‘That Fool’ has a more urban blues sound, and

‘Ship’, which closes out the album, is a jazzy, nicely assertive blues.

As you might have guessed. I like this album a lot. Do try and check it out.

Norman Darwen

(www.KellysLot.com)

Misty Blues—None More Blue—Independent

I do like Misty Blues. This is their tenth album and it’s
certainly a good ’un. In front-woman Gina Coleman they
have a fine cigar-box guitar player, but even more so, an
excellent, rich voiced singer able to tackle anything from
the jazz-scat of the opening ‘My One And Only’ to a strong,

straight (well, nearly) blues like ‘Bodega Blues’—which also
shows off the high quality of her lyrics. Then there’s
‘Change My Luck’, with its low-down classic Chicago blues
groove…

Of course, this is a band and that is important—there aren't

any ego-trippers here. Let’s mention Seth Fleischmann with his tightly controlled guitar
playing, bass player Bill Patriquin also doubling on trumpet, drummer Rob Tatten also
playing trombone, keyboards man Beny Kohn and sax player Aaron Dean. There are also a