Blues Union

Blues Union has recorded before, but not in this specific configuration. The nominal leader is drummer Jud Sherwood who also produced this effort and is involved as director of The Jazz Project, a non-profit grass-roots organization. The disc consists of nine covers by mostly well-known figures from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Mose Allison. Over a tight bottom supplied by Sherwood and bassist Anastasio, they put their spin on these evergreens, some very familiar and some not so common.

The disc consists of nine covers by mostly well-known figures from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Mose Allison. Over a tight bottom supplied by Sherwood and bassist Anastasio, they put their spin on these evergreens, some very familiar and some not so common. Tenor saxman Brian Kent and guitarist Zane Rudloph both have the imagination and chops to handle their solo sections capably but it is keyboardist John "Wizard" Carswell that steals the show every time out. His voice is filled with inner warmth; he never strains yet nails everything he goes for in an assured manner.

Listen to his economical interpretation of Joe Scott's ballad "Never Let Me Go" or the way he gives Johnny Adams a run for his vocal money on "Not Trustworthy." On several of the cuts Carswell switches off between acoustic piano and Hammond B-3 to good effect. On "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" he even overdubs both. The sole instrumental is a take on Dexter Gordon's "Gotham City" with plenty of hot Hammond from Carswell. These guys are probably great to catch in person at a funky club somewhere. ~Review by Larry Hollis