Suzie Vinnick

It has been pleasing to see the inroads Canadian blues/roots luminary Vinnick has made Stateside with last year's superb solo album, Me 'n' Mabel. That's demonstrated by the fact that this new live record was recorded in Washington, DC at B.B. King's Bluesville last November for Sirius/XM Radio. It finds Vinnick and trusty guitar Mabel in top form vocally and instrumentally on a nicely varied set of songs (some reprised from recent albums). Alongside originals, co-writes with Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson ("Looking For A Kiss"), and long-time collaborator Rick Fines ("How'd You Know I Missed You") are convincing covers of songs by Willie Dixon ("You'll Be Mine") and Americana stars Buddy and Julie Miller ("Shelter Me"), and Kevin Welch ("Everybody's Gotta Walk"). An album highlight is her take on the Steve Winwood-penned Blind Faith classic "Can't Find My Way Home." Her crisp guitar work is all the framing Vinnick's strong, soulful vocals need. The only flaw is the disc's brevity, with its eight songs clocking in at 27-and-a-half minutes.