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Ivor S.K. — Sweet ‘N’ Low—Independent (Single)

This is a nice, somewhat lazy-sounding blues, just acoustic and
electric guitar and handclaps and tambourine behind Ivor’s sly
if somewhat raspy vocal. Born in Sydney, Australia Ivor is now
based in New Orleans, and this track is a fine follow-up to his

CD EP, ‘Montserrat’, from 2017, and augurs well for his upcom-
ing album “Mississippi Bound”.

Ivor Simpson Kennedy takes his time here, as befits someone
with links to the Big Easy. The result is a nicely stripped-back

track that makes for a fine blues single – even if only digitally.

Norman Darwen

(www.ivorsk.com)

Patty Tuite—Hard Case of the Blues—Thread City Produc-
tions

Patty is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from New England
whose last album, 2021’s “Consider This” got plenty of acclaim,

including in these very pages. This set will receive the same
kind of positive review.

Patty has a good, assured voice for her material, which certain-

ly for the first half of this album’s eleven tracks fall firmly into
the blues category. Patty even has the great Bobby Rush play-
ing blues harp on the opener, ‘Nothin’ But Trouble’. The short acoustic instrumental ‘My Silent
Love’ marks a change of style, emphasised by the following track, the wistful Americana of ‘It
Ain’t Over ’Til’ It’s Over’.

‘Goin’ Out To Town Tonight’ is a loose, jazzy blues, with good-timin’ lyrics and rasping trombone
by Ozzie Melendez, whilst ‘I Want A Lover’ is a supper-club blues with a languid vocal and
laid-back approach. ‘Double Down’ is an up tempo number somewhere between rock and roll
and northern soul (!), and with some nice ringing guitar by Paul Nelson. The title track has a

prominent acoustic guitar taking the lead and a controlled backing which works extremely well
and makes for a memorable end to a fine release.

Norman Darwen

(www.pattytuite.com)