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REVIEWS

Pat McDougall—In the Key of Sorry—Independent
(www.patmcdougall.com)

With guest musician Jimi Bott on co-production duties, this is
going to be a good one. Jimi has played with the likes of The
Mighty Flyers, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and The Mannish
Boys, and he brings much of the same kind of energy to this set,
though there is never any doubt that Portland, Oregon-based

keyboards player, singer and songwriter Pat McDougall is the
main man here. He has extensive experience, having been musical
director for the Rae Gordon Band, and leading his own blues and
R’n’B outfit Tall Static, three of whose members also appear on this album.

These thirteen tracks are all originals, and they are cool, humorous, pointed and/ or memorable
– sometimes all at the same time. They can have a huge sound like the title track (with Kid
Andersen guesting on guitar) or, more often, be more measured, like ‘Don’t Ask A Boy (To Do A
Man’s Job)’, with an almost JJ Cale approach, and with Curtis Salgado’s guitarist Alan Hager
guesting. ‘Hot Soup And Ice Cream’ has a lazy, jazzy feel, and Kara Grainger adding bluesy guitar
licks, whilst ‘How You Gonna’ references the distinctive soul sound of The Impressions. That’s
just four tracks, but they set the pattern for this fine album.

All in all, this is a mature modern blues set, occasionally straying outside a strict blues definition,
but never too far. Pat’s warm voice holds everything together and the regular musicians and
guests provide just the kind of considered backings many of these songs require.

Norman Darwen

Delta Wires—If Somebody Told Me…—Independent
(www.deltawires.com)

Stalwarts of the San Francisco and Bay Area blues scenes, Delta
Wires is a powerhouse blues outfit founded by singer and harp
ace Eric Pinata. This is their eighth album, and they have worked
with many big names in the blues world, toured across the world,
and been finalists in the International Blues Challenge.

The band’s signature big band plus harp blues sound is well-
represented on the storming opener, ‘Can’t Win For Losin’’ –
confident vocals, wailing harp, strong guitar lines by Richard
Healy and big sassy brass from trombone, trumpet and sax. ‘If Somebody Told Me’ offers
another side to the band, a moody, Magic Sam flavoured number with the brass restrained on a
fine slow-ish blues –a very classy performance. Richard gets the chance to stretch out again on
the jumping ‘I Tried’, where Eric’s playing has strong echoes of Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2.

In contrast, ‘Bring Me Up’ brings Big Joe Turner to mind, and ‘Voodoo Cadillac’ brings together
funk a la James Brown, the blues, and a Latin-sounding approach! ‘Sloppy Drunk’ draws on