Paul Black "Blue Words" (Canada)

 Paul Black had already been a great musical presence for a few years, on the Canadian Music scene, but the International music scene really started to take notice when Paul won first place in the Song of the Year Competition for his song “About You”, not long ago. That win gave him a lot of exposure to a lot of great artists and music executives, and has since seen him playing with "Chilliwack, Kim Mitchell, Sass Jordan, Long John Baldry, Barney Bentall and Buckwheat Zydeco". It is his skill as an amazing writer which is ones of the things that you will really notice when listening to his latest release "Blue Words".

 

Paul Black's early musical interest was mainly Rock, which when it came to the likes of Led Zepellin, he had to sneak it on the record player when his mom was not around, as the main music in the household, otherwise, was Gospel and Country. Paul Black's love for the Blues became a big part of him after his cousin gave him a ticket to a Stevie Ray Vaughan show, and from then on, it was listening and learning from all the greats such as Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, and Buddy Guy, to name a few. It is from all that, that has made this Canadian Blues Rocker such a captivating presence not only on the Canadian Blues scene, but also Internationally, with "Blue Words", being able to show you exactly why.

 

"Blue Words" consists of 12 Tracks, and it certainly would take no guessing that Paul Black wrote and arranged all of them. For the main core of this album, we have Paul Black (Guitars,Vocals, and Harp on Track 2), David Augustin (Bass), and Jerry Adolphe (Drums). In addition "Blue Words" features 6 other Guest performers on various Tracks, most notable, Jann Arden’s keyboardist Darcy Phillips (Organ Track 11/Keys Track 5), and Canadian Bluesman Extraordinaire Gary Preston (Harp Middle Pad Track 2). "Blue Words" was Produced and Engineered by Rick Erickson at Erickson Audio Productions, and I must send out Kudo's to Rick, as this is one mighty fine and professional sounding album.

 

As said earlier in this review, Paul Black is a Canadian Blues Rocker, something that you will certainly get from a fair bit of "Blue Words", especially the first 3 Tracks (Talk To Me, Slippin' Away, and Jelly Fish), but in addition, you will also get the treat of a few slower Ballads, that I feel really brought not only Paul's Vocal dynamics and his Musicianship forward, but also his great Songwriting skills, which come across as Creatively Potent. Two very fine examples of that were Track 7 "Burn" and the final Track "Sister Sadness", which I would swear was done we just Paul Black and a Acoustic Guitar.

 

For those that like the more intense side of Blues Rock, it is Tracks like the opener "Talk To Me", Track 3 "Jelly Fish", and Track 9 "It's Alright", which come across, in the vein of Stevie Ray Vaughan , that will certainly satisfy your Blues Rock appetite.

 

One of the neat things I got from one of the Tracks on "Blue Words", specifically Track 5, the title Track, "Blue Words", was a very distinct Brickhouse feel, which I totally loved because I totally love Brickhouse, a infectiously addictive band based in Vancouver. Great stuff.

 

All in all, "Blue Words" is one of the strongest Canadian Blues Rock releases I have had the pleasure of listening to so far for 2012. There really is a lot of great stuff going on in this album, not only from Paul Black, but also from all the masterful musicians he has playing with him.

 

I have not had the opportunity to hear Paul Black's debut release, "Paul Black & Taxi", but I am betting that this release is equal to or even better.

 

"Blue Words" is one really really solid release and certainly deserves my highest rating of 5*****. For great Blues Rock and More, "Blue Words" is a sure thing.

 

Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

 

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