Page 54 - BiTS_06_JUNE_2024

Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival — Live From The
Northern Plains—R&R Collective

This ten track live album was recorded at The Belle Mehus
Auditorium in Bismark, North Dakota. The numbers span her
last release and some covers. The band are Jennifer; guitar and
vocals, Richard Torrance, guitar, Jim Anderson, drums, Barb
Jiskra, keyboards and Nolyn Falcon, bass.

The album opens with ‘Gypsy Soul’, the title of her last album,
delivered as an inviting rolling twelve bar blues, which not only
settles the audience but allows the band easily to slip into the
groove. Jennifer easily wraps her raw, enthusiastic vocals
around Bonnie Raitt’s ‘Love Me Like A Man’, and the band
deliver some fine solos.

The Allman Brothers’ number ‘Midnight Rider’ is well received and played, with confidence,
gusto and not too much reverence, allowing the band to relax and shine.

On John Fogerty’s laidback ‘Long As I Can See The Light’, Jennifer enjoys herself, as she belts out
the lyrics with the band relaxed behind her. There is also some pleasant guitar work delivered.
‘I Hope We Make A Change’, is infused with a grooving seventies gospel feel and delivers some
splendidly enthusiastic period guitar work.

The Allman Brothers ‘Whipping Post’, certainly whips up the crowd’s expectations and is
succinctly delivered.

Jennifer’s own original slowburning blues ‘Going Round In Circles’, is delivered with aplomb
and skill and certainly does not outstay its rapturous reception.

‘House Of The Rising Sun’, is delivered without any embellishment or fireworks. As the number
gently soars with a tasty slide, so does Jennifer - without straining her voice. Very nice!

Coming back down to earth, ‘Low Down Dirty Shame’, is a rolling, grooving toe-tapper. The
album ends with the satisfying and warming feel-good ‘You Can Take It All’.

Recommended!

Brian Harman.

Big Harp George—Cooking With Gas—Blues Mountain
Records BMR CD07

San Francisco harmonica man Big Harp George (George
Bisharat) features twelve new numbers on his new album,
George plays harmonica and provides lead vocals, and he is
joined in Greaseland Studios in San Jose, CA, by Chris Burns (the
producer) providing keyboards. Also present are Kid Andersen,
guitar, Joe Kyle Jr. and Jerry Jemmott, bass, Derrick ‘D’Mar’
Martin, and June Core, drums. The horns are provided by Mike
Rinta, trombone, Doug Rowan, Aaron Lington, and Michael
Peloquin, saxophones. Background vocals are provided by
James Dwayne and Walter Morgan as the Sons Of The Soul
Revivers.

‘Cooking With Gas’ is a grooving, horn driven funk/rhumba concerning love, life and cooking.
‘Cellphone Hater’ is a sweeping brushwork and horn-led swinger on the modern day delights,