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Well worth a listen!

Brian Harman
Jennifer Porter — Yes, I Do — Cougar Moon Records

Jennifer Porter is an American award winning musician. Her
latest album “Yes, I Do” sees her front, line and centre with
her vocals and piano working alongside a fine band of musi-
cians.

The album opens with a nice light jazzy blues in the shape of
‘Before We Call It A Day’ with good advice for living your life
within these lyrics! There is some nice electric piano in the
more chilled out title track, ‘Yes, I Do’. ‘Over You’ is another
mellow offering that acts as a springboard to launch Jenni-
fer’s beautiful voice. ‘All I Needed Was You’ is a more up tempo twelve bar blues with hints of
barrelhouse piano.

‘Don’t Worry No More’ is a minor blues somewhat in the style of ‘ The Thrill Is Gone’ and this
style helps give more potency to the lyrics. The splendid Leroy Carr blues classic ‘How Long’
gives off a lovely vibe punctuated with horn and guitar solos to good effect. ‘Lucky Dust
(Shining Through)’ has a Dixieland jazz feel to it before the album closes with just vocals, piano

and a thumping tuba on the Bessie Smith classic, ‘Good Ol’ Wagon’.

Jennifer Porter is a good songwriter and pianist but when it comes to singing, her voice is
something really special. She has such a light gentle voice that has such a sweetness to it. I find
it both seductive and hypnotic to listen to. This album is not hard nosed blues but something
much more gentle with Jazz, Americana and Pop overtones. I would recommend a listen just for
that beautiful voice!

Ged Wilson

Nick Gravenites — Rogue Blues — M. C. Records

Nick Gravenites is a veteran of the Chicago blues scene. Hav-
ing been born in the Windy City he went on to form the band
Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield in 1967. As a songwriter
Nick has penned many great blues tunes including ‘Born In
Chicago’ the opening track for the Paul Butterfield Blues
Band debut album. These days at the grand old age of 85 Nick
can no longer play guitar due to arthritis in his hands but he
can still sing and features as the lead vocalist on his new
album “Rogue Blues”.

The album opens with the Howlin’ Wolf song, ‘Poor Boy’ featuring Charlie Musselwhite on

harmonica. Apparently Chess Records asked Nick to write two additional verses for this song
on Howlin’ Wolf’s London Sessions album in 1970 and those verses appear on this recording
too. Next up is ‘Blues Singers’ a cool chilled out blues featuring some nice guitar work from
Jimmy Vivino. ‘Left Hand Soul’ is a soulful slow blues underpinned with some fine piano from