I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Best for Last, by Pete Thelen and it's a blend of tasty music. Opening with slow blues, You Make It Easy, Bennie Hughes sets the pace with his silky smooth voice, backed by Charlie Prazma and Mark Raddatz on guitar who lay down some really nice riffs, Mike Shellans on piano, Jim Massoth and Bennie Hughes on sax, Chico Chism on drums and Mike King on bass. Strong opener. Annie Dekom takes the mic on Some Kind of Sign, a cool boogie woogie track. A solid piano groove by Shellans and a strong bass line by Paul Sowinski make the stage and John Reuter rips it up on slide guitar. Rena Haus gets her time at the mic and her vocals are strong. With it's open club feel, this track has a great groove. Thelen's vocals on Lost And Found, played nicely against Massoth on sax and Shellans on piano gives this track a smooth relaxing feel. Move On is a cool track with droning like guitar work by Pat Macdonald under chant like vocals. Very cool. Chico Chism takes lead vocal on blues number, New Pain with tight drumming, cool harmonica and a straight up blues guitar lead by Raddatz and cigar box guitar by Macdonald. Wrapping the release is Thought Passing Through, possibly my favorite track on the release with it's folk/blues ballad format. Thelen is at his best in this format on piano with and Hans Christian on cello and nyckelharpa. Very nice closer.
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