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the final track “I Was Blind” a melodic laid back ballad with more fabulous slide from Schell (this would make
a great song for Bonnie Raitt). This is good album with immaculate playing throughout (as you would expect
from these guys) and great variety, with a nice mix of covers and originals, on first listen I was a bit unimpressed
with the vocals but the whole thing has now grown on me.

Graham Harrison

“Sir” Oliver Mally & Hubert Hofherr – “Overdue” (TimeZone
TZ1845)

Oliver Mally is an experienced Austrian blues singer/ guitarist/
bandleader and songwriter and Hubert Hofherr is a German blues harp
player who honed his craft in Chicago with many of the Windy City’s blues
performers. They have been working together in a duo format for around
seven years, though as you might have guessed from the CD title, this is
their first album together. Overdue it certainly is. “Sir” Oliver has a fine
voice whether he is getting tough on a number like ‘Cracks In The Mirror’
or tracing a delicate warm blues such as ‘Butterfly Girl’, and he is also
adept at a ragtime-ish picking style, as can be heard here on ‘I.D.C.A.A.’.
Hubert’s playing complements him very well, with Hubert able to wail the blues, providing fine fills and breaks
(listen to ‘Got Some Nasty Habits’ for a particularly good example) or he can move away from crossed harp
into something a little different, as on the gentle ‘Sweet & Fine’. Please don’t make us wait another seven years
for a follow-up, guys!

(www.sir-oliver.com www.hubert-hofherr.com)

Graham Harrison

Will Jacobs & Marcos Coll – “Takin’ Our Time” (Gaztelupeko Hotsak)

Will Jacobs is a very accomplished singer and guitarist from Chicago who
is now based in Berlin. He’s also young – still in his twenties – and white.
The opener on this set shows he can also play top-notch blu-funk – with
the emphasis on the funk! – and together with the very experienced,

Spanish-born but now also Berlin resident harmonica ace Marcus Coll, he
has created a strong set of blues. Once past that opener, the music ranges
from the Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson sound of the tough
‘Stranded’ and the romping 50s Chicago styled ‘Goin’ To Berlin’ via the
more modern-sounding ‘One Too Many Times’ to the Joe Louis Walker-ish

approach of ‘Hey Baby’. There are a couple of very fine instrumentals too: ‘Blues Cazorla Boogie’ is a showcase
for Marcos, with echoes of the likes of Billy Boy Arnold and occasionally Sugar Blue, and ‘C.J.s Bounce’ a fine
vehicle for Will who sounds totally accomplished and at ease. I don’t know where these guys have been hiding
– well, for us in the UK anyway – but let’s get them over here soon, please!

Norman Darwen

(www.willjacobsdirtydeal.com; www.marcoscoll.com)