Steve Guyger
Radio Blues
Severn CD 0044
I have to admit that my favorite type of blues band is a 4 piece combo consisting of drums, bass, guitar and harmonica. Whether you are talking about the Chicago sound of Little Walter backed by The Aces, the raw distorted Memphis sound found on the old Sam Phillips’ recorded sides featuring Howlin’ Wolf, James Cotton and Joe Hill Louis or Lazy Lester backed by a stable of local musicians recording at J.D. Miller’s studio in Louisiana, the harmonica just belongs in a blues band. Some people prefer trios with blazing guitars, but it is true magic to see guys who really know how to play traditional blues as an ensemble and provide the proper support to a harmonica player. This is exactly the type of music found on Steve Guyger’s 2nd release on Severn Records.
Guyger is an East Coast based player who apprenticed in Jimmy Rogers’ band before his death. I had a chance to review Guyger’s first Severn release Past Life Blues and still rank it as one of my favorite recordings of the last decade. This record finds Guyger backed by a different group of musicians including Johnny Moeller on guitar, Steve Gomes on bass, Rob Stupka on drums and Bill Heid on piano. If you have heard any of Severn’s other recordings you have likely heard these guys as they seem to be their unofficial house band and as a unit function as well as any band in the country. The disc starts off with “Lookie Here” which is a shuffle in the style of many cuts off Junior Wells’ album Hoodoo Man Blues. The next cut “You’re So Fine” finds Guyger mining the same musical territory that his former boss Jimmy Rogers was comfortable in. “Cool in the Evening” is a laid back tune with a touch of the Little Walter’s sound. This tune features Johnny Moeller supporting Guyger by playing in the Louis Myers/Robert Lockwood style of playing that defines how a guitar should back a harp player. “Afghan Rumble” is an instrumental harp showcase featuring Guyger backed only by Stupka’s drumming. “Let Me Hang Around” is one of Muddy Waters’ more obscure tunes and is delightfully lowdown and greasy with Johnny Moeller eerily summoning the style of Luther Tucker. This tune was my favorite tune on the disc.
Fans of blues harmonica will not be disappointed with this effort. Guyger is easily in the same league as harmonica heavyweights such as James Harman and Kim Wilson and this recording is a definite winner.
- Barry Gober -
Southwest Blues CD Review - August 2008
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