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multi-linguists in music and language. They divide their time between Europe and America; they
also can be seen performing regularly at Buddy Guy’s Legends when visiting Chicago.

The album was recorded at Joyride Studios Chicago. Joining the duo in the studio are; Kenny
“Beedy Eyes” Smith; drums, Felton Crews; bass. Billy Branch provides vocals and harmonica on
‘Keep On Lovin’ You’. Jean-Marc Labbé, provides baritone saxophone. The eleven numbers here,
consist of ten original compositions and a cover of Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Nobody’s Fault But
Mine’. Here, a delightfully haunting bass drum dictates an almost Rumba feel while a comforting,
subdued (resonator?) guitar lurks in the background, all the while Lil’ Red’s softly beguiling vocal
makes the admission, joining her is a perkily upbeat guitar from The Rooster.

‘Keep On Lovin’ You’, is a splendidly lazy duet from LR and Billy Branch, backed by an equally
lazy harmonica and Jazz rich acoustic guitar. ‘Love The Hell Right Out Of Ya’, is a delightfully foot
tapping mixture of twenties swinging acoustic guitar and vaudevillian talking/singing. The low
key atmospheric Surf Rock instrumental ‘Shakin’ Em Up’ features a slowly honking baritone
saxophone with the Rooster hauntingly using the whammy bar while LR sensuously vocally
interjects. ‘American Made’, is a gospel infused swinging, combination of R&B, hip hop, blues,
and gospel in a hopeful cry for justice against the institutionalised racism that still reigns. While
the mellow honking baritone saxophone leads the foot tapping gospel infused tale of Rosa Parks
stand on ‘Back Of The Bus’.

Splendid!

Brian Harman.

Douglas Avery —Take My Rider—Green Wave Music SCD-007

Los Angeles born Douglas has, in his life eagerly indulged in all his
passions from studying the trumpet from the age of eight to being
inspired by Ian Anderson to pick up the flute as a teenager. He
honed his singing skills and joined his friend’s high school band
as lead singer; this resulted in them performing at local functions.
A chance encounter with guitarist Jim Squire enabled Avery to
perform and record with the guitarist.

His other passions, surfing, photography and travel led to a
professional career in surf photography, this widened to include
fashion, sport and music. It was the harmonica and players such as; Magic Dick, Paul Butterfield
and Alan Wilson, that enthused Douglas to concentrate solely on the harmonica and the West
Coast Blues scene. His friendship with The Doors’ Robbie Krieger further escalated his ambition
to become a fully fledged professional harmonica player and nowadays plays with Robbie at
special charity events. In 2019, Douglas began to put together this, his debut album.

The 14 numbers here are mixture of eleven original tracks and three covers and they possess a
distinct West Coast feel whether they are old or new, they were all recorded and produced by
Ralph Carter at Ralph’s Garage studios Ventura. In the studio with Douglas; Lead vocals,
harmonica and flute are; Carl Sonny Leyland; piano, Franck Goldwasser; guitar, Ralph Carter;

bass, bongos and organ, Johnny Morgan; drums, and the horn section consists of Aaron Liddard;
saxophone, Jerome Harper; trombone and Simon Finch; trumpet.

Billy Boy Arnold’s ‘Bad Luck Blues’, is the opener and it smoothly slides in with enticingly soft
vocals over the tightly knit guitar, organ and bongos, while the gently wailing harmonica solos
in. Another splendid cover is Little Walter’s ‘Just Keep Lovin’ Her’, the toe-tapping entwinement