BLUES N'AT

Mrs. Black-N-Gold was fortunate enough to be able to pick up "Get Up", the collaboration of indie fave Ben Harper and harpist extraordinaire Charlie Musselwhite. Harper and Musselwhite didn't do too bad for a first time team-up. This CD is nominated for a 2014 Grammy for Best Blues Album. It certainly is deserving of such consideration. I never realized that Ben Harper had blues chops but he definitely brings the blues as he wrote or co-wrote all 10 tracks as well as produced the CD and shows off his slide guitar virtuosity. But it's not all strictly blues. Some of these tunes are really rocking. There's also flavors of gospel and some country, too. And then there's soul. Man, is there soul. It's Charlie Musslewhite that is the soul of this CD. Charlie and his magical mouth harp gives the CD the vibe that gets it going from the first note. Some of the tunes that standout for Mrs. Black-N-Gold are "I'm In I'm Out and I'm Gone", "You Found Another Lover (I Lost Another Friend)" "I Ride at Dawn" and "She Got Kick". What's really great about this CD is each song is like a snowflake, no two are the same. And Charlie's MVP performance enhances each song in it's own special way. Whether it's a little rock and roll or a whole lotta soul, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite play like they've been together for years, that each knows instinctively the next step that the other will take. And they're both ready to take that leap together. Again, I can see why this is nominated for a Grammy for Best Blues Album. Do yourself a favor, get up outta your chair, and get yourself a copy of "Get Up". Until next time boys and girls, keep it bluesy.