Kern Pratt - Broken Chains - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Broken Chains, from Kern Pratt and the boy can play. Opening with Greenville Mississippi Blues, an Elmore James like track with nice slide riffs and Eden Brent on piano. Lights Are On But Nobody's Home is up next with a compliment of horns including Lacy Blackledge on trumpet, Bob Henderson on sax, Pete Verbois on bari and Chris Belleau on trombone. There is some exceptionally warm sax work here that you should check out and Kern absolutely smokes the guitar on this slow blues number. Excellent! Somewhere South Of Mississippi has a radio style format but nice and clean... well written. David Hyde runs a nice bass line on this track and Denise Owens on backing vocals adds a bit of warmth. Black Hannah is a high stepper with tight drums by Nelson Blanchard, nice vocals with Kern and Owens and tight horn work from Blackledge, Henderson, Verbois and Belleau. Nice blues rock guitar riffs lay out nicely on this track making it a sure radio crossover track. Cotton Pickin' is a cool upbeat blues track a great lead guitar line and sax melodic response. One that I will point out that my old pal Stilladog will likely really dig. I do! Don't Leave Me Baby has a Rhumba beat with Blanchard really digging in. Kern shares the guitar stage with Kenny Neal and along with Henderson and Verbois really crank this track up. It Hurts Me Too takes a more traditional feel with Luc Borms on harp and Pratt on acoustic guitar. Very nice! Handcuffed To The Blues gets more into a funky rock feel with an Albert King style guitar attack. Pratt, Owen, Elaine Foster and Blanchard get an almost gospel blend on vocal on this track. Very cool! Smokin' Gun features Denise Owen on lead vocal backed by Pratt for another radio track. There are some nice vocal harmonies on this track and Kern does some some hot riffs off as well. Soulshake, a classic revival style track from the 70's is up next and the vocals are blended nicely, the horns are hot and the drums are tight. Sit back and wait for the hot sax solo! Excellent! Closing the release is Broken Chains, an Eerie resonator guitar solo by Wes Lee. Almost ends too quickly. Very nice!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”