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B’ee – What’s It Gonna B’ee – Mad Ears MEPCD022
(www.bee-musician.com)

This a very varied set from this German singer B’ee, backed by
a strong electric band and tackling all–original material. She has
a powerful voice, but can also come across as fragile if required.
On this set, she ranges stylistically from the gritty, Hill-country
inflected blues of ‘Blues With A Vengeance’ and the blues-ballad

sound of ‘Crying Shame’ to an almost Joni Mitchell-esque, folky
approach on a couple of songs.

She also goes on to evoke the spirit of Amy Winehouse with the
beaty (or is that b’eety?) 60s pop-soul sound of ‘Midnight Rain’. ‘Man On The Move’ more than
hints at blues-rock and even a ballad like the closing ‘Can’t Let You Go’ has a blistering
blues-rock instrumental break by Mick Simpson, who does impress wherever he plays.

Several other numbers occupy the territory between blues and Americana (try ’Brave New
World’), whilst ‘What’s It Gonna Be’ is a fine piece with strong elements of classic southern
rock, a flavour that also pops up on the pop-rock of ‘Guitar Band’ too. So, a modern-sounding
set, but one with deep roots in the blues and Americana. Very interesting and enjoyable.

Norman Darwen

Cassius King and the Downtown Rulers—Last Call For The
Blues—Independent
(www.thedowntownrulers.com)

Cassius is a keyboards player, singer, bandleader and audio

engineer – for the last quarter century the latter has been his
main role, but now he has this debut set. It is a five tracks CD EP,
and well worth a listen.

He leads a four-piece band, with Chalo Ortiz notable on guitar,

and a fine rhythm section, through some gritty blues, with more
than a little blues-rock influence on ‘Better Man Blues’, whilst
the title track is a slow-ish blues that makes an effective closer and also shows just what a fine
singer Cassius is. By this time though, you’ve probably already formed that opinion.

The opening track, ‘Do It All Again’ has a bright, catchy 60s blues feel, whilst Chalo summons

the spirit of Albert King in his playing. ‘Feel Good Music’ lives up to its title, and the only
non-original, Little Johnny Taylor’s ‘If You Love Me (Like You Say)’ gets a very authentic
treatment.

A fine, enjoyable and unpretentious set all round. I look forward to hearing more from Cassius

and his band.

Norman Darwen