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As I said at the beginning, this is a fine contemporary blues set. Do investigate!

Norman Darwen

(www.kellyslot.com)

Lil’ A and the Allnighters—A Blues Project—New Shot
NSR-16082023

“Authentic undiluted southern California blues” it says on the
front cover. Singer and harmonica player Alex Woodson grew
up seeing and listening to the likes of William Clarke, James
Harman, The Red Devils and The Mighty Flyers in the 90s,
and being inspired by them to take up the blues harp. Fast
forward to 2008 and he formed his own band, recording his
debut album, “Special Project” live in the studio two years
later. It was mainly intended to send out to promoters, but a
few copies were sold at gigs.

Renato Bottani somehow heard it and felt it should be released to a wider public. As luck would
have it, he’d just started a record label in Italy - New Shot - with Marco Melzi and he negotiated
this (slightly renamed) reissue. Lovers of the sound so accurately described on the sleeve will
be grateful.

The album is squarely in the tradition of those just mentioned. The leader’s voice is fine for this
type of material; at times there is the characteristic slightly jazzy, jumping California sound, or
covers of Little Walter’s ‘Off The Wall’, and Jimmy Rogers’ s tougher ‘Left Me With A Broken
Heart’, both wonderful examples of the classic 50s Chicago approach. Do note too the guitar
playing throughout.

Then there is a meaty William Clarke style on this version of his ‘Saturday Night Blues’, jump
blues with ‘Ain’t Gonna Do It’ (lovely guitar again), and a rocking ‘Hands Off’. Guitarist Anthony
(AC) Contreras wraps up something of a nearly lost masterpiece with his wild uptempo
instrumental showcase, ‘A.C. Boogie’.

Norman Darwen

(www.newshotrecords.com)

The Pszenny Project—Smokey Bourbon—Independent

Whew! After the first three numbers I’m still trying to catch
my breath! This is the follow-up album to last year’s self-titled

album from muscular blues-rockers The Pszenny Project out
of Lexington, South Carolina, under the leadership of singer
and guitarist Mark Pszenny. That opening trio finds the
energy level cranked up way past ten, all slashing guitars and
growled vocals. It’s loud - and then some…

No frills bar-room blues-rock is certainly the order of the day
here— for the most part. But don’t mistake that for musical
simplicity. The opening ‘I Digress - You’re The Best’ shows
that Mark and crew can throw in some unexpected twists.

The title track takes things down a few notches, an intriguing, slightly jazzy blues, before
‘Hoochie Mama’ - a remastered version, like several other tracks here - rolls in strongly, high