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Joining Leon; vocals, lead guitar and harmonica are; Ben Levin; piano, Aron Levin

(Ben’s father); second guitar, Walter Cash Jr.; bass and Ricky Nye and Miss Shorty
Star on drums. The ten numbers here include a fine mixture of original composi-
tions, five from Lil’ Jimmy and The Levin’s and five covers which are; Jimmy Reed’s

‘Down In Virginia’, ‘I’m The Man Down There’ and ‘A String To Your Heart’, there is
also Jimmy Liggins’ ‘In The Wee Wee Hours’ and Slim Harpo’s ‘Mailbox Blues’.

The opener is ‘Down In Virginia’, a splendid mellow shuffler with enticing wheezing

harmonica and rolling piano, Lil’s even mellower vocals perfectly match his relax-
ing guitar work. On ‘They Call Me Lil’ Jimmy’, he for our benefit recounts in some
style, the tale of that fortuitous night, of course, in Jimmy’s own inimitable lazy

style.

The original ‘Wish You Wouldn’t’, has Ben playing a delightfully restrained piano,
underpinning Lil’s gently engrossing and shuffling guitar. ‘Back To Baton Rouge’, is

quite simply, a wonderful slow blues played in homage to that great place of laid
back, softly played mellow blues.

The gently rocking piano of ‘In The Wee Wee Hours’ has Lil’ responding, with some

very tasteful guitar picking. The foot-tapping ‘I’m The Man Down There’ features
some lively piano and splendidly wheezing harmonica. You can also hear more

enticing piano and evocative wheeze filled harmonica on the not so well known,
slow-tramping blues of ‘A String To Your Heart’.

Slim Harpos’ ‘Mailbox Blues’, is played in a wonderfully relaxed goodtime mood

where everybody shines without having to try. With the youth of Ben and the time
served skill of Leon perhaps, Sunrise meets Sunset but, in a good way!

Recommended!

Brian Harman.

Feenstra & Simpson – Blue Plaque – (Digital Single)
Black Pearl – Take Your Time – Redline Records
(Digital Single)
(www.petefeesnstramusic.com)

(www.blackpearlmusic22.com)

The common denominator for these two releases is the

lyric contribution of Pete Feenstra, who will be known to
many readers for his tireless promotion work for the

blues over the last four decades or so. ‘Blue Plaque’ has
something of a 60s feel, but driven by a gritty blues rock guitar played by John
Simpson. The theme is of course the Blue Plaque scheme for buildings/ sites