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The overall feel of this album is quite intimate and personal, as if they are playing
for you in your own living room. This album manages to conjure a mix of a 1960’s
vibe with some modern day polish and is indeed a fine tribute to the legend

Mississippi John Hurt.

Ged Wilson

Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band—Full Circle—

Delmark Records

Jimmy Burns originally from Mississippi is now better
known as an elder statesman of the Chicago blues

scene. This album is a fresh take on some old songs that

Jimmy has always liked hence the title, “Full Circle”.

The album opens with the Charles Wright funky soul

classic, ‘Express Yourself’. ‘World Of Trouble’ the old Big

Joe Turner tune has that smokey jazz club vibe to it. ‘I Really Love You’ has a funky
edge with some nice sax from Geof Bradfield. ‘Ain’t That Funk For You’ is a nice jazz

instrumental featuring some lovely alto sax from Greg Jung. There is an uptempo
swing to ‘Too Much Lovin’ with some nice baritone sax from Steve Eisen.

‘Give Her To Me’ has a nice old 60’s style soul feel to it. ‘It Used To Be’ is more of a

funky soul offering whilst things slow down with the jazz blues instrumental, ‘Since
I Fell For You’. There is a great rendition of Lil’ Son Jackson’s blues classic, ‘Rock Me

Mama’ before the album closes with the soulful ‘Where Does That Leave Me?’.

This album is a good mix of jazz, soul and funk type blues which really suits Jimmy’s
voice which has always had a soulful leaning to it and is still very rich and strong.

The band play well throughout and I particularly like the lovely lush sounds of Chris
Foreman’s Hammond organ which really knits everything together.

I was fortunate enough to get up and jam on stage with Jimmy in Chicago back in
2005 so it’s great to see he is still going strong at 82 years old!

Ged Wilson