For years vocalist-guitarist-harp player E has been bringing new
lifeblood to the blues via his dual knockout talents. And while
his later recordings reveal a consistently maturing artist, this
2006 debut album shows that the New York native had the goods
right from the get-go. E sings with honesty, subtlety, and
persuasion while playing the guitar and harp with head-shaking
authority, both as accompanist--he offers amazing asides in
between vocal phrases--and as an absolutely A-one improviser.
Indeed, it is remarkable to hear him weave his gifts into a
wondrous whole. E presents one winner after another. "Yellow
Dress" is typical, a selection where it is all but impossible
not to tap your foot. After a nicely enunciated vocal--he slides
into phrases much like John Lee Hooker--the guitar and harp
cooks in his own personal style, playing soulful ideas that fall
easily on the ear, underwritten by his rock-solid feel for time.
"Talking To The Air" is another example of E's ability to sing
and heat things up a with a nonstop groove. "If I'd Known" is
slower and features a deeply bluesy vocal; "It Ain't Been Easy"
is equally sultry. The classic ballad "Just The Two of Us" finds
him singing with intimacy and playing with a caressing touch. A
very impressive start for a very impressive artist.

Track Listing

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