Reviews roundup – JW-Jones vs. Trevor Sewell vs. Hannah Aldridge
JW-JONES
High Temperature
Solid Blues Records
A welcome reissue of this album from last year in advance of a forthcoming UK tour.
As I said first time out he’s a well known face on the vibrant Canadian blues scene, and he’s certainly made a name for himself over the years, what with three consecutive Maple Blues Award nominations and performing onstage with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, and Junior Watson.
He’s even had Kim Wilson and pianist Gene Taylor of The Fabulous Thunderbirds performing on his albums with the former even producing one of them which saw well known singer/guitarist Colin James guesting. And now he’s back with his latest excellent release.
Colin Linden is in the producers chair this time around and the album is in more of a roots rather than pure blues sound. This is obvious from the get go with the opening “Price You Pay” and the following duet with country singer-songwriter Jaida Dreyer aiming for a wider audience.
But there is still oodles for blues fans to enjoy as his guitar is firmly in the blues idiom. It’s mainly originals with a couple of covers from the Moby Grape and Charlie Rich songbook showcasing his expanding and splendid sound.
TREVOR SEWELL
Calling Nashville
independent
I first encountered Trevor Sewell last year when he punted out a Christmas single with Janis Ian. That was ‘Shadows’ and it was a very enjoyable piece of piano driven balladry.
Well he’s back with a full album, the latest in many for the Brit who made the move to America many moons ago and has successfully forged a career over there. This latest record is subtitled “An Americana Adventure” and that should be all the information you need really as he works his way through an enjoyable set of largely melodic country tinged roots rockers.
He doesn’t completely abandon the blues sound that has served him well over the last few years, as the opening ‘Someday’ attests and his songwriting is exemplary throughout. Janis Ian is back to duet on ‘Fade To Grey’ as is Tracy Nelson of Mother Earth who also appeared on an earlier album. But this is about Mr Sewell and he ably demonstrates on songs like ‘Mountain Of Gold’, ‘Tear It Down’ and ”The Way You Are’ just why he’s managed to carve out a place for himself over there in the colonies. An excellent release that comes highly recommended.
HANNAH ALDRIDGE
Gold Rush
Rocksnob/Rootsy
Some modern country now on the latest offering from Hannah Aldridge. And by that I don’t mean pop country, I mean dark, rootsy country which also nods back to the introspective songwriting of Kris Kristofferson and his ilk.
It’s a very personal record that takes on a variety of demons, all of which seem to indicate that the three years since her debut album haven’t been easy ones. Either that or she’s made it all up. Regardless, there are a lot of brooding moments on this record which would place it firmly in tne idiom of made up media thing Southern Gothic.
But treat it is a country record with a few rockist tinges and you’ll be in for a treat. For sure, her voice isn’t one of the most distinctive in country and can sometimes get swamped in the more aggressive songs but the songs themselves are quality. When the production and performance bumps into a great song like ‘Dark Hearted Woman’, ‘Shouldn’t Hurt So Bad’ or ‘Living On Lonely’, then there is no question that you’re in the company of talent.
To help things along Ms Aldridge worked with writers such as Mark Narmore (Blackhawk,Shenandoah+) and Brad Crisler (Brooks & Dunn, Sons of the Desert+) as well as bringing in her songwriting legend father, Walt Aldridge, to master the record.
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St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
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The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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