© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2009

Joe Pitts Band
One Night Only
Kijam #8450101788

The spirit of the power trios The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream are alive and well in The Joe Pitts' Band release One Night Only.

With bassist Jimmy Lynn and drummer Dave Bishop acting as the explosive backline, Joe Pitts is able to further his visions with scalding Les Paul runs that bring back memories of the original Gov’t Mule.

These 10 songs are taken from a live recording at Cornerstone Pub, in NLR Arkansas. There are very few bands that can jam and rock with the authority of The Joe Pitts Band. And if there are, they won't reach the bar that has been raised.

There are no lackluster performances on this CD. Opening track "Blue Light Rain" has a catchy riff recalling Mountain in its heyday. An interpretation of an obscure Robin Trower tune "Step Into The Dark" turns into a long heavy jam with Pitts soloing above the wall of sound created by rhythm section Bishop and Lynn.

This is a CD for guitar lovers who love their rock hard with a bluesy edge. They tackle "Tales of Brave Ulysses" with a fervor Clapton could appreciate. Sure there are the characteristics that mark this as a jam band. But the excursions into improvisation have a definite direction more than just being sonic travels of fancy. Instrumentals "Blackout" and "Zambified" take flight as Pitts lays down guitar lines drenched in lava lamp pyschedelia and heavy thunder.

Bridging jazz, blues, funk and hard rock, it's no wonder this Arkansas outfit is getting gigs in Europe. Their style of music can be appreciated easily by fans whose tastes are Cream, Gov’t Mule, Free and Mountain. Pitts is taking the sounds of yesterday and moving them forward. Not too much of a bad thing, is it?

- Gary Weeks -


Southwest Blues CD Review - June 2009

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