First off I'd like to apologize for not running this review earlier, as it is definitely a very, very special blues CD from a very special artist. Remarkable music from an equally remarkable musician. I had heard Levenson's name mentioned from time to time over the years but really knew nothing about the man until I got this CD. Now I feel as though I know him intimately, thanks to his soul-baring expressiveness in his playing plus the best liner note biography I've ever had the pleasure of reading, courtesy Frank Joseph (Guitar Player). If I've learned one thing about the music world, it's that you never ever come close to knowing every great talent that's out there.

Here is a guy who is totally immersed in blues for most of his life and always with an insatiable appetite to know and learn more about other artists and blues history besides adding to his own talent. When I read about his dues-paying it makes me even more aware of the ridiculousness of the hype-inflated blues stars that are becoming increasingly more common, much to my chagrin. If stardom was to be awarded solely on the merits of talent and dues-paying, Barry Levenson would be as well-known as Buddy Guy.

A Pittsburgh native, Levenson came to Los Angeles in the early 1980s for a chance to play with people he idolized (Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield, a.o.) and besides gigging with the well-known 'stars' he also worked with unheralded greats like J.D. Nicholson, Finis Tasby and Johnny Dyer, realizing that everyone who had made a career of playing the blues had something to offer in knowledge and experience. This album really is a collection of his many blues moods, each one a unique expression but all connected by the blues thread. He can cover a Chicago West Side tribute (“Cobra Days”) as soulfully as a jazzy tribute to Grant Green (“Crawford's Grill”) and his tribute to Albert Collins (“Royal Albert”) is at the same time a salute to the 'Master of the Telecaster' and an exciting foray into the string-popping school of blues guitar. This is much, much more than a blues guitar showcase disc as Barry picked a few of his favorite people to guest on this album and add a whole lot of flavor and spice. Vocalist Mary Williams is a strong-voiced treat on “Whole Lotta Blues,'' and Finis Tasby delivers a typically wonderful performance singing “Slippin' Down.” Finally, we have L.A.'s unheralded King of Blues Harmonica, Johnny Dyer (remember “Overdose Of Love”?) singing and playing on “Wrong Side Of The Blues.”

The sound is excellent, production and arrangements (by Levenson) flawless, and the performances inspired and imaginative. Special mention must go to Levenson's bandmates Dave Kida (drums), Blake Watson (bass) and Mike Thompson and Chuck Tripi (keyboards) for stellar backing and soulful contributions that help make this disc one of the most enjoyable experiences on the blues music market. Levenson's prowess and the artistic excellence of “Heart To Hand” shouldn't be confined to just blues consumers though. One would hope that this disc makes a big noise overall in the music market place but that's expecting too much of North American consumers. Apparently Storyville have opted to retain Levenson's services as a talent scout/A&R man and producer, and if these reports are correct, the long-neglected L.A. blues scene just got a wonderful break and we can expect some more great CDs from this label. I'm going to declare this disc to be worthy of a 6 bottle rating as it sets standards in modem blues guitar recordings. And you can dance to it, too!

Andy Grigg
Real Blues Magazine