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Kevin Burt—Stone Crazy—Gulf Coast Records

Kevin Burt is a Blues man from Iowa USA. He has been touring
for the past twenty five years and this album is his first for Gulf
Coast Records.

The album opens with ‘I Ain’t Got No Problem With It’ a nice
blues with some good harp work. ‘Rain Keeps Coming Down’ has
a bit of that ‘Rollin’ & Tumblin’ feel about it with a touch of slide
guitar. The title track ‘Stone Crazy’ is a laid back tune that is far
more soulful almost bordering on Al Green territory.

‘I’m Busting Out’ has a nice funky intro and brings in some

Hammond organ and is somewhat reminiscent of Larry McCray. ‘Same Old Thing’ has a real BB
King feel about it both in terms of vocal delivery and guitar licks. It was good to hear some great
sax interplay with the guitar on ‘You Get What You See’ which brought to mind the early days of
Blodwyn Pig (remember them!). The only cover song on the album is the early Bill Withers tune
‘Better Off Dead’ which unsurprisingly sounded like Bill Withers! The album closes with ‘Got To
Make a Change’ a more rootsy offering with some ethereal slide guitar.

The ten self-penned songs on this album are more or less standard fare in terms of blues format so
nothing too new or original here. There is some good guitar and harmonica work from Kevin and
the album is well produced by Mike Zito. Where Kevin does leave his mark however is with his
voice. He has a lovely soulful sound that really lifts the songs and brings them to life. I await his
next album with interest.

Ged Wilson

Ale Ponti—Dead Railway Line Chronicles—Trulletto Records

Ale Ponti is an old fashioned style acoustic blues
guitarist/vocalist from Milan in Italy.

The album kicks off with ‘Locomotive Papa (Mama Was A
Railroad Line)’ which not surprisingly mimics a steam train with
some excellent guitar picking. ‘Lord Send An Angel In My Life’
brings in some really nice slide guitar. ‘Sunny Day Rag’ as the
name suggests is a ragtime tune something along the lines of
Robert Johnson’s ‘Hot Tamales’. The title track ‘Dead Railway
Line Chronicles (Nigeria Farewell)’ brings in a true sounding
train then introduces some electric guitar power with foot

stomp which was reminiscent of Alvin Youngblood Hart.

‘Remembering Big Bill’ is a short finger picking instrumental whilst his tale of worries of
immigration are underpinned with a banjo on ‘Immigrant Blues’. He really starts to dig in with his
guitar playing on ‘Forgiveness Blues’ which has something of the style of John Hammond about it.

This album is made up of thirteen original songs although they do not stray too far from the old
style acoustic blues format both in terms of structure and lyrical content. Whilst Ale’s voice is not
particularly sweet or distinctive, it is still suited to the music. Where Ale’s strength really lies is in