Showing posts with label Jerry Portnoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerry Portnoy. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

#633: Willie J Laws Jr. - Too Much Blues (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)



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/