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Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind—Behind the Veil—Gulf Coast
Records ASIN :B0CCV4KYRV

Sometimes referred to as The Jimi Hendrix of the blues harmon-
ica Jason Ricci (with his band The Bad Kind) has a new album
out which kicks off with the slightly weird Tom Waits-style
‘Casco Bay’ in which Jason still manages to insert an atmospher-
ic harp solo. The following ‘5-10-15’ is firmly back in blues
territory, it’s an old Ruth Brown song with the vocals handled
by his wife Kaitlin Dibble and with Jason adding great distorted
harp fills over Joe Krown’s piano. The instrumental ‘Baked
Potato’ features Jason and Brent Johnson (guitar) and the spooky ‘Cirque du Soleil’ is written
by bass player Jack Joshua, while Kaitlin’s ‘Wrong Kind of Easy’ is combined with Little
Walter’s ‘Nobody but You’ and Bobby Rush’s ‘Ain’t She Fine’ is hard-hitting blues with unison
guitar and harp pushed along by John Perkins’ thundering drums.

We then get a blues classic - ‘St. James Infirmary’ given The Bad Kind treatment - lovely double
bass, lyrical guitar playing and Jason’s exemplary harp playing that even veers off into Pachel-
bel’s Canon at one point! ‘Why Don’t We Sleep on It’ is a humorous song with Jason and Kaitlin
swapping insults and Dax Riggs’ ballad ‘Terrors of Nightlife’ is one of the album’s real high-
lights with Jason’s heartfelt vocals, plus Kaitlin’s harmonies, tasteful guitar and fabulous harp.
Joanna Connor drops by to add her electric slide guitar to Kaitlin’s ‘No Way’ (which sounds like
‘Spoonful’), while Jeff Turmes’ ‘Shipwreck’ is a halting blues sung by Jack Joshua with more
great harp from Jason and we finish with ‘Hip Hug-Her’ a powerful funky instrumental featur-
ing harp, guitar and Joe Krown’s Hammond organ. I think that this is without doubt the best
album I’ve heard from Jason, his playing is first rate throughout without relying too much on
effects and the band are also fabulous, going from subtle to outrageous in a heartbeat. Jason
isn’t the world’s best singer but the Tom Waits-style songs suit him well and it’s nice to have

Kaitlin Dibble and Jack Joshua to sing some songs for a bit of variety, as well as having Kaitlin’s
harmonies. The whole album has a very dark, menacing vibe which links the very varied songs
into a pleasing combination.

Graham Harrison

Leonard ‘Lowdown’ Brown—Blues is Calling Me—Music
Maker ASIN :B0CBQDT9P7

Leonard ‘Lowdown’ Brown is from Arkansas and although he’s
appeared at festivals and opened for acts like Bobby Bland,
Johnny Taylor and ZZ Hill this is his debut record release – at the
age of 70! Opener ‘Juke Joint’ is down and dirty “Let’s go down
to the juke joint, I want to hear some lowdown blues…” with

Leonard’s soulful voice out front and his simple but effective
chicken-pickin’ guitar. ‘Find a Bridge’ and ‘French Quarter
Woman’ are similar mid-tempo blues shuffles, while ‘Can’t Buy
Time’ is a moody blues with interplay between Leonard’s guitar
and the guitar of ‘Microwave’ Dave Galaher.

‘Blues Makes Me Feel Good’ is a powerful slow blues with great organ from Dan Hochner and
‘Lowdown’s Blues’ is an instrumental featuring brass. ‘Let Me Live My Life’ is funky and the
brass is back for ‘Take a Friend’ and also the title track which is also funky with the rhythm