Jim Diamond
Somewhere Somehow
(JD-2635)
Jim Diamond is a Kentucky based blues guitarist and
vocalist who fronts a band that plays extensively in the
Tennessee-Kentucky-Ohio area. They have just released their latest CD on
their own record label and have recently toured England in support of the
release. Diamond's band on the release included Jackie Hughes on bass, Joe
Digiuseppe on saxophone and Beth Diamond on drums and backup vocals.
Special guests on the album also include Reese Wynans, formerly with
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and The Cincinnati Longhorns
provide additional horn support for the project. Jim Diamond and his band
play blues-rock in the style of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Chris Duarte.
Diamond wrote most of the songs on the recording, provided the lead vocals
and handled the guitar work. In fact, Diamond may be one of the most
technically awesome guitarists working in the blues today. He is capable
of unleashing a barrage of notes at a moments notice and is adept at
achieving the warm distorted tone that Stevie Ray Vaughan was noted for.
Diamond opens the album with an instrumental tribute to Dick Dale, the
king of surf guitar, which showcases his nifty fretwork. The next track,
"Down So Long," is a foot tapping shuffle featuring the
keyboards of Wynans. On "The Sun's Gonna Shine," Diamond trots
the out the old wah-wah pedal and proceeds to lay down a solo that will
leave blisters on your ears. He also includes a version of Kenny Burrell's
"Chitlins Con Carne" that shows that Diamond can back off the
accelerator and play with feeling and dynamics when the occasion calls for
it. All in all a fine record that will have great appeal to blues-rock
guitar fans.
- Barry T. Gober -
Southwest Blues CD Review - February 2000
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