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The slow burning ‘Shades of Blue’, has Brad Guin providing a smoothly affecting saxophone that
almost duets with Debbie’s moving dulcet vocals. The plea for global co-operation that is ‘Blues
Without Borders’, has Debbie sharing vocal duties with Lea Gilmore (who also co-wrote the song). A

haunting, enticing use of tabla and congas, courtesy of Joelle Barker, sets the scene as a sinuous
soul groove is played out against a tale of greed and corruption. As you would imagine ‘Blue Rain’,
is a slow burning lament for a lost love, led by a softly tortured guitar and piano.

Most impressive!

Brian Harman.

Mick Pini—Backtrack—Audio54 (Bandcamp)

Mick Pini is a guitar player's guitarist. He has been in the music
business for more than half a century and touring for close to 50

years as well. He is a disciple of the late Peter Green and has a
substantial regard for the fluidity, vibrato and inventiveness of
Green’s playing.

Despite being up there with the big boys, Mick has never gone
down the guitar-god/ superstar pathway, eschewing the desire to

indulge himself with mammoth solo extravaganzas, which too
often tend to be exemplars of technique over substance. Pini has
always played with restraint and that is displayed to great effect here.

Here we have ten tracks that show Pini’s extensive guitar skills, demonstrating complete mastery of

the fingerboard, the effects and the dynamics of the music. Not only that, the vocals are perfectly
judged, Pini modulating his delivery with skill and, yes, 50 years plus of experience. The music
ranges from jump blues, through big bands and jazz with a nod at funk and to the roots of the blues.

Some tracks come with terrific horn arrangements, others with some outstanding keys work—both

piano and organ. Much of the music is wonderfully enhanced by the production skills of Craig
Marshall (aka. Audio54) who has a way with a hook and hears the music in a manner that allows
him to bring out the best in the arrangements, the lyrics and the musicians. As befits, the bass is
well to the fore in many arrangements.

In short, this is a great album that deserves to be widely heard and will inevitably lead to Mr Mick

Pini ascending the mountain once more. The past made present!

Ian K McKenzie