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growls and entices you in. A change of pace is delivered with the gently swaying rumba of ‘Never
Forget’, low rolling drums, piano and a purring guitar allows Jim and Jeri full rein to verbally joust
with each other to great effect. ‘Never Too Big For The Blues,' is firmly ensconced on the back porch
with acoustic guitar and relaxing vocals from Jim and Jeri to the fore. Chris LeRoi Hansen provides
a gently sweet harmonica and Tommy Marsh delivers a tingling slide. The slowburning ‘My Love Is

True’, features a pain filled, wailing saxophone and a starkly mournful piano accompaniment. Over
the top Jim and Jeri most definitely affirm their affection for each other.

Greatly endorsed!

Brian Harman

Blind Lemon Pledge Goin’ Home Opeh

San Francisco based musician James Byfield has been involved in
music since the age of fourteen, when he first picked up a guitar.
In 2008 James created the persona Blind Lemon Pledge and with
this character he found that he could fully explore his wide and
varied musical influences. Among which are early blues and the
country blues of the thirties, especially, artists such as Son House,
Bukka White and Blind Lemon Jefferson. These artists were not his

only focus in his formative years. He also maintained a healthy
interest in the ever evolving rock world, in fact he played rock music
in many of the coffee houses of the Bay area in his youth. After
graduation from The San Francisco State University, he chose a career in graphic design but continued
to perform in his spare time. He also became conversant in MIDI programming and computer created

recording. Over time James’ musical influences continued to expand and included the established
genres of the great American Songbook and Jazz.
Since creating his alter ego he has released seven albums and now, here he is with his eighth. Joining
Blind Lemon Pledge (BLP), who provides vocals and guitar on the twelve numbers here, is Peter
Grenell, on bass and vocals. This very pleasant acoustic set is a collection of some of BLP’s favourite
numbers.
The splendid Muddy Waters’ ‘I Feel Like Going Home,' is first out of the speakers. The strident,

mournfully crisp, melancholic guitar playing resonates wonderfully, as over the top, BLP’s confident,
strong vocals fully command your attention. A slowburning and crisply picked emotion filled version
of Walter Davis’, ‘Come Back Baby’, is delivered in an equally sombre mood, but this is joyfully lifted
by a light and delicate vocal backed with alluringly ringing slide work on his version of J.J. Cale’s
‘Crazy Mama’. Another, good time foot-tapper with infectious slide and jaunty picking, is Tommy

Johnson’s ‘Big Road Blues’, while the stark images created on Robert Johnson’s ‘Love In Vain’, are
of palpable pain and desolation. A very fine and movingly evocative revivalist-handclapping and
acappella version of the traditional ‘Little Black Train’, has a possessive spirit all of its own, which
certainly makes you sit up and take notice.

Greatly endorsed!

Brian Harman.