The Bluesmasters featuring Mickey Thomas
Artist: The Bluesmasters
Url: www.mayspace.com/thebluesmasters 
Label: Indie – Direct Music Distribution
Length: 11 tracks / 44:34
 
There are a few basic types of blues albums: very bad, good, and great. Blues, you see, is a genre that depends less on songwriting and production, and more on emotional density and musical fervor. One or two well-placed guitar licks from B.B. King trumps the technical virtuosity of a Jeff Beck, a guttural scream wins out over the subtle vocal phrasing of a James Taylor, and the ironic street humor of a two-timed lover speaks a language more immediate and telling than the poetic lyrics of a Kevin Max – this is the world of blues. 
 
When blues misses the mark, it's an embarrassment, but when it's done really well it's a searing blade plunging deep into the soul. Somewhere in-between is the 'good' (if generic) blues album: the musicianship and singing are competent, the songs are true to blues-form, and  the production is fine. That's where 
The Bluesmasters featuring Mickey Thomas fits in. This is a good blues album – not particularly moving or memorable, but certainly a satisfying three-quarters of an hour of blues.
 
Legendary drummer Ansley Dunbar (Zappa, Bowie, Beck and others) does his expected excellent skin work, although without much inspiration, Tim Tucker plays some fine blues licks on guitar, although without a sharply-defined style, Doug Lynn blows some meaty harp, and Ric Ulsky rounds out the band with some well-played Hammonf B3. Fronting the band is Mickey Thomas on vocals, his Elvin Bishop-like voice serving each song well – especially the cover of Bishop's “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” 
 
Listening to Thomas and his band feels like sitting in on a good set at a local blues club. It was a fun night but you really can't quite remember the details, or exactly why the music worked. Some blues is meant just for the moment, and that's pretty much what we have here. The most memorable moments happen when guest vocalist/guitarist Magic Slim turns up the boogie in “Get Your Business Straight,” and inspires some low-down give-and-take on “Can't Get no Grindin'” from Thomas. That most of the other tracks are fairly forgettable (other than the catchy Elvin Bishop standard) doesn't mean that they're not fun – maybe just not as much fun as great blues ought to be.
 
Bert Saraco
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3  TOCKS