New York isn't the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of
blues singing --
jazz musicians playing 12-bar themes, certainly, but not
blues singing in the usual Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, or Houston sense. There isn't a law against bluesmen coming from the Big Apple; it's just that the five boroughs are better known for
jazz,
hip-hop, and
salsa than they are for
blues singing. But if talented
blues singers can be born in Sweden (
Sven Zettenberg) or Yugoslavia (
Ana Popovic), there is no reason why the Apple shouldn't participate -- and New Yorker
Michael Hill's participation has been quite valuable. Recorded live at two different NYC venues in the early 2000s, this double-CD paints a consistently attractive picture of what
Hill proudly describes as his "New York City
blues." The singer/guitarist is far from a
blues purist; not everything he does has 12 bars, and
Hill has been greatly influenced by
rock,
soul and
funk. In fact, the title
Electric Storyland Live acknowledges his creative debt to
Jimi Hendrix, who was arguably the first
heavy metal artist -- this release's title is a play on
Hendrix's
Electric Ladyland. But the
blues are
Hill's foundation, and he always brings a wealth of
blues feeling to the table regardless of whether or not something has 12-bar
blues.
Hill maintains the feeling of the
blues whether he is being influenced by
reggae on
"Grandmother's Blues," hinting at African
pop on
"Blessings," or incorporating elements of
the Isley Brothers and
the Average White Band on
"Something in the Sky," which has a '70s-like sound but is a commentary on the aftermath of September 11, 2001. A consistently rewarding document of the
Michael Hill Blues Mob's live show, this double-CD is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who is seeking something fresh and challenging from the
blues. ~ Alex Henderson
