Delmark Records artist: Linsey Alexander - Live At Rosa's - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Rosa's, from Linsey Alexander, and it really captures Alexander in his element. Opening with cool shuffle track, Please Love Me, Alexander on lead vocal and guitar starts electrifying the audience right from the first note. Joined by Sergei Androshin on guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy on keys, Ron Simmons on bass and "Big" Ray Stewart on drums, they set a tight groove. On blues classic made popular by Freddie King and later Eric Clapton, Have You Ever Loved A Woman, Alexander really digs in on guitar and with essential organ work by Purifoy, lays down my favorite track on the release. Alexander's vocals are real and his soloing inspired. Another cool shuffle is Goin' Out Walkin' and Alexander works his guitar against his vocals nicely. Hi steppin' Snowing In Chicago has a cool driving beat with fluid guitar lines and energized organ soloing by Purifoy. Wrapping the release is funky, Going Back To My Old Time Used To Be, with a cool bass line by Simmons, and with just the right amount of organ and electric piano by Purifoy. Stewart's drumming is tight and Alexander steps up with some real nice soloing of his own to wrap up this solid set. 

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Delmark Records artist: Linsey Alexander - Two Cats - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Two Cats, from Linsey Alexander and it's smooth with that sassy R&B overtone. With Alexander's strong vocals and soulful guitar work, strongly supported by Kenny Anderson on trumpet, Hank Ford on sax and Norman Palm on trombone, I'm Not Your Problem is a  nice opener. A blues with saunter, Where Did You Take Your Clothes Off Last Night? has a cool bass line by E.G. McDaniel and stinging guitar work by Alexander with nice harp work by Paul Hanover. Funky, That Ain't Right highlights the horn section and a high stepping rhythm by Bryant Parker is spot on. Ford lays in a real nice sax solo, followed by Anderson on trumpet and Palm on trombone giving the track punch. Another hi stepping blues number, title track, Two Cats, have a real nice balance with horn accent and guitar soloing. Very nice. Gospel flavored blues, Facebook Woman features some of Alexander's finest vocals with Roosevelt Purifoy doing an excellent job on keys coaxing some of my favorite guitar work on the release. Another particularly cool track, How Could You Do Me Like You Done Me, has gripping guitar riffs pushing Alexander's vocal work, topped by the tight harp work of Hanover. Slow burner, Starting Monday shows really nice balance between Alexander's vocal and screaming guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a funky, Kiss Revisited. This song features some base rap vocals by J. Parker and subdued vocals by Alexander. With a cool bopping vibe, the release is gone.

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Delmark Records artist: Linsey Alexander - Come Back Baby - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Come Back Baby, from Linsey Alexander and it is full of grooving R&B Blues flavor! Opening with Little Bit Of Soap, a BB King style track with Bill McFarland (trombone), Chris Neal (tenor sax) and Ryan Nyther (trumpet), Alexander takes the lead on vocal as well as guitar shared with Breezy Rodio. High stepper Booze and Blues is driven by a nice bass line from Greg McDaniel and Roosevelt Purifoy weighs in with a sweet organ solo. Slow blues number, I Got A Woman, finds Alexander at his best with powerful vocals and searing guitar solos. Pooky Styx plays a nice simple contrast on drums as Alexander wails on. Very Nice! Come Back Baby is solid soul and Alexander is surrounded by horns. A very cool radio track with a nice melody and light airy guitar work. Harmonica wiz, Billy Branch, joins on Call My Wife, a classic Chicago style track. Branch's featured work on this track as well as simple, soulful guitar riffs from Alexander makes it one of my favorites from the release. Led off my a cool feel and solid snap of Styx, Things Done Changed is another of my favorites on the release. A head bobbing beat and solid horn work behind Alexander complimented by a nice electric piano solo from Purifoy and Alexander make this another track that stands head and shoulders above. Easy swing track Can't Drink, Can't Sleep, Can't Eat again features the masterful work of Branch on harp. Alexander takes an easy but effective ride on the fretboard for a little punch. Quick paced R&B track, Booty Call, is pure and simple with pop hooks and Alexander leading the way with relentless guitar lead. Too Old To Be A New Fool is another slow blues track with nicely articulated guitar work. Alexander really hits his stride on vocals on this track and again joined by Branch, this track instrumentally is tops. Very nice! Snowing In Chicago is a smooth R&B track with steamy guitar work complimenting Alexander's cool vocals. Another radio track for sure. Willie Dixon's I Can't Quit You Baby, is not a direct copy of Dixon (or Rush/Led Zep for that matter) so I find it a bit more interesting as an interpretation. Alexander does the track justice, singing in a much more rich blues styling playing guitar call and response to his own vocals. Purifoy's keyboard work on this track is particularly effective at keeping it tight. Alexander's guitar solo on this track is also one of his richer interpretations on this release. Funky Feeling is...well funky. With a R&B strut and cool horn work adding accents, this is a cool track. Chris Neal steps up with a really nice tenor solo and of course Alexander smokes the fretboard as well. Easy blues loper, Goin' Out Walkin', wraps the track. A bright keyboard solo from Purifoy and a relaxed guitar solo from Alexander take this release home.

  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”

 

I Got A Woman - Breezy(Fabrizio Rodio) with Linsey Alexander

Chicago is the blues capital of the world, and if recent popularity is any kind of benchmark, Linsey Alexander just might be the hottest sound in town right now. Born in Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Linsey Alexander discovered on Chicago's south side a down to earth city that truly understands and appreciates music. In much the same way as many great blues artists before him, he grew up in a poor but honest and hard working family, learning early on that music has the power to lift the spirit and comfort the soul. In Linsey's own words, "Blues music is not hard- it's just a documentary about life." His first guitar - a gift from a family friend who played on the front stoop of Linsey's home in Memphis - was never retrieved from the pawn shop where he left it almost 50 years ago. Using the money to help pay his way to Chicago, he now plays a variety of Gibson and Fender guitars, and since 1959, Linsey Alexander has been perfecting the art of entertainment blues for the sheer and simple pleasure of it. His easy smile and unpretentious personality define a charismatic entertainer who loves to perform; and perform he does! Although having played with B.B.King, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, Little Milton, Magic Slim Johnnie Taylor, A.C.Reed, Larry McCray, Bither Smith, John Primer, Otis Clay, Eddie Clearwater and other great blues performers., Linsey Alexander has remained resolutely true to his own style. His first cds release, Someone’s Cookin' In My Kitchen, My Days Are So Long and his latest realease If You Ain't Got It is a compilation of original Blues and R&B tunes. He is thankful for the good things in his life, and now at last, seems willing to realize that the friends who encouraged him to keep playing over the years may have known a thing or two about talent. Maybe, just maybe, he's ready to believe . 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 favorite band!

In My Dream - Linsey Alexander

Chicago is the blues capital of the world, and if recent popularity is any kind of benchmark, Linsey Alexander just might be the hottest sound in town right now.

Born in Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Linsey Alexander discovered on Chicago's south side a down to earth city that truly understands and appreciates music. In much the same way as many great blues artists before him, he grew up in a poor but honest and hard working family, learning early on that music has the power to lift the spirit and comfort the soul. In Linsey's own words, "Blues music is not hard- it's just a documentary about life."

His first guitar - a gift from a family friend who played on the front stoop of Linsey's home in Memphis - was never retrieved from the pawn shop where he left it almost 50 years ago. Using the money to help pay his way to Chicago, he now plays a variety of Gibson and Fender guitars, and since 1959, Linsey Alexander has been perfecting the art of entertainment blues for the sheer and simple pleasure of it. His easy smile and unpretentious personality define a charismatic entertainer who loves to perform; and perform he does!

Although having played with B.B.King, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, Little Milton, Magic Slim Johnnie Taylor, A.C.Reed, Larry McCray, Bither Smith, John Primer, Otis Clay, Eddie Clearwater and other great blues performers., Linsey Alexander has remained resolutely true to his own style. His first cds release, Someone’s Cookin' In My Kitchen, My Days Are So Long and his latest realease If You Ain't Got It is a compilation of original Blues and R&B tunes.

He is thankful for the good things in his life, and now at last, seems willing to realize that the friends who encouraged him to keep playing over the years may have known a thing or two about talent. Maybe, just maybe, he's ready to believe .

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