Double Dynamite

Billed as “a virtual blues festival in a single band” this two-CD package presents the L.A.-based Mannish Boys, joined by a who’s who of West Coast blues musicians, digging into a mix of classic blues, soul and compatible originals with unbridled passion, and the results are outstanding. The core group—Kirk Fletcher, Frank Goldwasser, guitars; Randy Chortkoff, harmonica; Willie J. Campbell, bass and Jimi Bott, drums—backs up vocalists Finis Tasby and Sugaray Rayford. Disc one opens with a powerful version of Son House’s dramatic “Death Letter” with stunning slide guitar by Goldwasser and vocals by Rayford. Little Walter’s “Mean Old World” features Tasby’s vocals with Rod Piazza on harp and Elvin Bishop on slide guitar. Also guesting on selected tracks are harpist James Harman (a lazily rendered “Hittin’ the Groove”); guitarist Kid Ramos (a killer, horn-backed T-Bone Walker item with Fred Kaplan’s piano and Tasby’s vocals spicing it up); pianist Rob Rio getting his licks in on Otis Spann’s “The Hard Way”; guitarist Junior Watson hotting things up on “I Woke Up Screaming”; and Muddy Waters’ son, Mud Morganfield, lending his authority to Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Elevate Me, Mama.” The boys also strut their stuff on an elegantly rendered “Drowning on Dry Land” with Rayford, Fletcher and Chortkoff getting in their licks. Highly recommended!