Joe Bonamassa – You & Me

Joe Bonamassa, as his press kit tells me, has been playing since he was four years old. It sounds it. He’s got excellent chops and a great feel for the blues. You & Me, his latest CD, infuses his evident love of the blues with more of a southern, swampy sound and it works from the first note of the opening number, a tastefully understated cover of Charley Patton’s High Water Everywhere. Not only is his guitar work spot on, he’s got a terrific voice for the blues. That’s not something of which most would-be blues guitarists can boast.

Two of Joe’s own songs follow – Bridge To Better Days and the drop dead gorgeous Asking Around For You. While the latter could have done well with a little less strings in the mix, Joe’s guitar work, very reminiscent of one of his major influences, Robben Ford, keeps the song from sinking totally into sentiment. It’s a tough highwire to walk, but he pulls it off with aplomb.

Joe, in fact, emulates his many guitar heroes very well. So Many Roads brings to mind an interesting cross of B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn while we get a wild blend of Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy in the rollicking I Don’t Believe.

As wild as he can get with fast runs, Joe’s actually at his best when he settles in and plays sparsely. Ry Cooder’s Tamp ‘Em Up Solid, just acoustic guitar and some resonator slide lead, is one of the best tracks on the CD.

The enthralling instrumental Django, Bosmans and Lefebvre’s homage to the king of Gypsy jazz, follows. You can imagine sitting and listening to this out on the grass under the stars and thinking life couldn’t get any better.

Tea For One, yes the Led Zeppelin song, follows and this too is a wonderful homage to another influential guitarist, Jimmy Page. Wisely, Joe doesn’t try to mimic Robert Plant’s vocals and his cover is even stronger for the choice. Joe’s voice works incredibly well with the material just by being himself. It’s a lesson most singers would be better off learning early in life.

Jimmy Page is again evoked in Palm Trees Helicopters And Gasoline, as is Leo Kottke. It’s a wild solo acoustic piece and will probably become a very sought-after guitar tab for the single acoustic player.

Sonny Boy Williamson’s Your Funeral And My Trial offers a great trade-off between Joe’s guitar and the sharp and exciting harmonica playing courtesy of twelve year-old LD Miller. This is one song that could have gone on much longer!

The original song, Torn Down, brings us back full circle to the swamp feel of the opening number and it’s definitely been a fun trip. You & Me is certain to please Joe’s fans and will hopefully introduce him to an even bigger audience.