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Ingram gets to shine on the Willie Dixon classic, ‘You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover’ before
Joe Bonamassa no less hits the spot on ‘All Our Past Times’.

‘Till They Take It Away’ is a greater bluesy rocker, I really liked this one. The slow blues classic
‘Come On In This House’ features the distinctive harp work of Rick Estrin. Things get upbeat
and funky on ‘You Were Wrong’ with Jimmy Carpenter in fine form on sax and the funk vibes
continue on Buddy Guy’s, ‘The Dollar Done Fell’. There is a nice light acoustic vibe with slide
guitar on ‘No Tears Left To Cry’ before the album closes with another Junior Well’s classic,
‘What Mama Told Me’ with Rick Estrin once again on harp duties.

Albert Castiglia has a good defined strong vocal and his guitar work is exemplary throughout.
The album is well produced with good instrumentation and great use of dynamics so credit to
Mike Zito for the production. By assembling a fine array of top notch guest artists Albert has
come up with a great album that I’m sure all blues fans will enjoy.

Ged Wilson

Jubu Smith—Jubu—Little Village Label
Jubu Smith is a top guitarist particularly in the world of Jazz,

Blues and Soul. He has a great pedigree having worked with
the likes of Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and George
Benson just to name but three. Now based in Atlanta USA he
has just released his self titled album, “Jubu”.

The album opens with some funky bluesy guitar licks on
‘Hamster Wheel’. ‘Jubu’s Poem’ is far more laid back and
melodic. ‘Carroll Drive’ has a more jump blues vibe, sort of a
Blues Brothers, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody…’ style with
hints of Stevie Ray Vaughan in there too. There is a more
gentle soul feel to ‘Kwik-Way Nostalgia’ whilst ‘Organizations Sake’ has a good old solid funk
beat.

‘E G Is Here’ as the names suggests features Eric Gales, then there’s some more jazzy blues vibes
on ‘Extreme Pleasure’. ‘At Long Last’ is stripped back and gentle whilst ‘McLeansville Blues’ is
a good old style blues shuffle. The album closes with the slow and understated ‘Totally Convict-
ed’.

Jubu Smith is undoubtedly a very talented and accomplished guitarist who plays with a seem-
ingly almost effortless style and is well suited to the Jazz Blues genre. However, as all these
tracks are instrumentals there is a tendency to meander. Some just don’t really go anywhere
and go on far too long with excessive noodling which can become exhaustive on the ears!

Jubu is up there with the likes of Ronny Jordan, Robben Ford and Larry Carlton but unlike that
trio he just doesn’t quite pull off tunes with their conviction and purpose but there is no
denying his talent so please check him out.

Ged Wilson