Long Island Blues Society
By Dr. Blues

When 2 CDs are so filled with great stuff that I put them into rapid rotation in the office and the car stereos, you know something serious is afoot.  When the 2 CDs are part of a double set of blues guitar goddesses, it just pours out smokin.' 

 The contemporary set blows it down and turns us on to some outstanding playing.  Along with Joanna Connor, Debbie Davies, Deborah Coleman, Sue Foley and Ana Popovic who are well known for their chops, there are quite a few new names with equally eye opening talent. the styles range from Delta to rock to world beat influenced insturmentals to gospel/soul shouters.  This side opens with the Lara Price Band.  Like her sisters in the blues, she uses her axe well and is powerfully expressive.  The songs vary widely in style, subject and soul.  Sue Foley's "Mediterranean Breakfast" is flamenco flavored, Tracy Conover's take on "Goin' Down" rivals Jeff Beck and Deborah Coleman's jazzy, atmospheric "The River Wild" is tasty.  These girls come from all over.  Finland, Canada and Yugoslavia have contributed female slingers as well as Texas, Illinois and California, USA. 

Disk 2 explores the traditional blues woman.  Acoustic blues is easily portable, direct, honest and to the point.  The unampified sound blends well with the plaintive purity or raunchy growl of the selected artists' vocals.  Contemporary and legendary voices co-mingle within. If anything, the diversity of acoustic styles and approach catch in your mind even more definitively.  Legends like PreciousBryant, Algia May Hinton and Memphis Minnie show the root while Sue Foley, Rory Block and Gaye Adegbalola hold forth with respect and continuity.  Ellen McIlwaine blends in the raga while Jessie Mae Hemphill kept the fife and drum alive. 

From Mississippi to Texas to Virginia and Scandinavia to the Balkans, from electric hellcats to the deepest root, this is one sublime compilation.