James Montgomery Bluesband

James Montgomery has had his own band for over 30 years and has worked with legends like B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy. You can also hear him on Uncle Kracker's LP. Bring It On Home is his first record in ten years and it's a beauty. He's not especially notable as a vocalist but when it comes to living blues harp players, there are few finer. He smokes from the git-go. The sound is a raw, electric juke-joint variation of the rough Detroit strain of the blues: meaty, greasy and smoky. And as good as Montgomery is (very), what really kicks the LP over the top is the fiery guitar work of Marc Copely. Their scrappy version of John Lee Hooker's "Dimples" is one of the LP's highlights, but right up there with it is the rendition of Willie Dixon's title track and a primal cover of Bo Diddley's "Mona." Other covers come from Al Green, Lowell Fulson, and Hank Williams. The legendary James Cotton joins for two tracks, the aforementioned "Dimples" and the traditional "Sinkin' Blues." The latter is just two harps, voice, acoustic guitar and a squeaky chair, and serves as the perfect acoustic closer after all the electric fireworks that preceded.