Page 52 - BiTS_04_APRIL_2025

Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch— Blues Cut like
Glass—Blue Lotus Bl-24

Singer and guitarist Matt is originally from Saint
Louis, Missouri and at age 16 was mentored by
Grenada, Mississippi born singer and harmonica

player Big George Brock, quickly becoming his lead
guitarist. Matt turns in a fine tribute to his
inspiration with the Muddy Waters-flavoured

reminiscence, ‘He’s A Bluesman’.

Brock’s lessons permeate this release. It’s all no-
nonsense blues. Supported by a bunch of very

experienced musicians, he can turn in a fine Jimmy Reed inflected vocal on ‘Big
Legged Woman’, with its riffing horns, fine, dirty sax breaks and rocking piano, come
over all vintage Albert King-ish with ‘I’m So Tired’, or tackle a slightly more

sophisticated number such as the title track. Elsewhere there are echoes of BB King,
Freddie King and Otis Rush, and he also closes out this nicely impressive set with
the longest track here, the lovely, deceptively lazy instrumental ‘Jammin’ At Paul’s’,

trading guitar licks with young Sean “Mack” McDonald from Augusta, Georgia.

It made me realise that it is becoming increasingly rare these days to hear a set like

this. No rock influence, just strong electric guitar blues - more power then to Matt
“The Rattlesnake” Lesch!

Norman Darwen

(www.mattrattlesnakelesch.com)

Andrew Duncanson—California Trap—Run It

Back RIB25001

Andrew Duncanson has sung for The Kilborn Alley
Blues Band , The Dig3, and his own acoustic group,

plus two tours with The Nick Moss Band and gigs
with Kid Andersen & The Greaseland All Stars. He
is obviously some vocalist (and then some…), and
as this, his first solo album, proves conclusively, he

is also versatile, though everything here certainly
does fit into a broad “soulful blues singer” bag.

The opener falls into a sixties R’n’B definition, with

just the slightest hint of Sam Cooke, who also comes to mind in the album’s closing
number, the lilting ‘Better Off Now’. Surprisingly, Woody Guthrie’s folk anthem ‘This

Land Is Your Land’ becomes a fine slab of classic soul, with horns and backing
vocalists over a wonderful rhythm section – quite an astonishing performance!