Barry Levenson has all the tools, the heart, the hands, the chops and experience. What places this release a step ahead is the production, which in this instance, is as well, the work of Barry Levenson.
So we’ve got a multi-faceted guitarist who’s as adept behind the boards as he is in front of the amp. What’s not to like? He pays the deepest of respects to the masters, Albert, Danny and the man with whom every blues guitarist should spend at least a lifetime studying, Grant Green.
The liner notes
state that (for the most part) he only used a Strat on this release.
If that indeed is the case, he certainly did coax a plethora of tones out
of its carcass. From early Cobra Magic Sam & Otis to the
inimitable Mr. Green, who never (for the most part) played anything more
solid than an E.S. 330.
Levenson presents the listener with a CD’s
worth of great guitar tones. Once again, it would have been nice to
hear a vocal or two by the west coast stringer, but he chose instead to
employ the tried and true pipes of veteran blues men Finis Tasby and
Johnny Dyer, as well as the gospel based renderings of Mary Williams.
It will be interesting to see if Levenson uses his band as a launching pad for a variety of front people, certainly a formula that worked for the big bands of the swing era, or if he’ll try to distance himself even further from the competition by taking a stand behind the mike (as well as the board).
I doubt that Ronnie Earl is ready to give up his reign just yet!
David R. Hussong
Vintage Guitar Magazine
“That CD is really killing me! There is a lot going on and a lot being extremely understated until "just" the right moment! You're on a roll! That whole record has a bunch a grooves that are very infectious… BL really got me on a real natural "brain endorphine RUSH." Barry is indeed a real wizard…
I have faith in music once again as for a while back things were looking pretty dismal at best! No more ... thanks to Barry's new endeavors and Storyville label!”
Dean Farley
Vintage Guitar Magazine