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This is his first live set with drummer Down Home King III, just the two guys making

raw down-home blues, back in Tampere, Finland in 2023 for this one. Expect to hear

strong echoes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howling Wolf,
Jimmy Reed, and other down-home performers, particularly those who recorded in

the early to mid- 50s – it’s pretty wild and spontaneous, and definitely an exciting,
no-frills, stripped-down approach. There’s even a bit of Jimmie Rodgers styled blue

yodelling in ‘Speedin’ Up Mama’, and occasionally a slight hint of rockabilly
elsewhere, as the drumming can mimic the sound of an upright bass.

All in all, this is an exciting recording. If you’re looking for note-perfect smooth blues,
look elsewhere – but if you want to jump around like crazy, then do try this! As Jussi

would say – ”Roll!”

Norman Darwen

(www.ram-bam.com)

Mercedes Nicole—Too High a Price to Pay—

Independent

Mercedes’ follow-up to her very well-received 2022

set “Constellation” finds the Seattle-based singer,
equally at home singing blues and jazz, tackling

some modern blues classics, some of her own

songs, and a little bluesy jazz. She is backed by a
fine band, particularly Jake Sele on keyboards and
the versatile guitarist Rod Cooke, playing

everything from tough Albert King licks on ‘I’ll Play

The Blues For You’ to straight-out jazz licks – and
with regard to Bob Pearce’s article on John Hiatt in June’s BiTS, take a listen to

Mercedes’ cover of ‘Feels Like Rain’.

Mercedes has a relaxed, sultry style – no histrionics – and her simmering style really

works well on all this material. Certainly worth checking out, and it would be good
to see her over here. But rather than me describing this set myself, I asked her to

supply me with a track by track commentary – and she duly obliged, as below.

Norman Darwen

(www.mercedesnicolemusic.com)