2023 – Pilot Light
Records
By Phillip Smith; Sep. 6, 2023
Known as the “Last Prophet of the Funky Texas Blues”, Willie J Laws Jr., certainly lives up to his title in regards to his latest album Too Much Blues. His blend of blues is enriched with a blast of funkdafied grooves, and I like it a lot. The record, produced by Paul Nelson, features Laws on guitar and vocals, with Dave Johnson on bass, Brooks Milgate on keys/piano/organ/synth, and Justin Blackburn on drums/percussion.
Laws’ vocals ring out with smooth finesse as he breaks out his briefcase of soulful blues on “Better off Blue”. “Stuck in Traffic” is a clever piece about the frustration many of us face each day. I love the jazzy instrumental play between Laws on guitar and Milgate on keys. Laws’ musical approach on this song reminds me of George Benson, “Getcha’ Knee Off My Neck” invokes a classic George Clinton vibe to it. With Erik Lawrence on sax, and Mark Berney on trumpet, Laws leads his ensemble to a large-scale P-Funk track. His puts his own unique spin on his cover of Willie Dixon’s “I Want to be Loved” and it sounds great. “Sorry Charlie” is a bodacious bowlful of real-deal blues featuring Jerry Portnoy on harp along with Paul Nelson on slide guitar. The album closes with Laws’ velvety voice breaking out a stunning cover of The Isley Brothers 1973 hit song “Who’s That Lady?”.
Too Much Blues has everything it needs to be nominated for Best Soul Blues album. It really is a terrific recording.
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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.williejlawsband.com/
