I love the feeling I get when I hear the first notes of a new disc from a band I've never heard of, and those notes - as a smile appears on my face - have me thinking I'm going to like what I'm about to hear.  Occasionally, first impressions can be deceiving, but that was not the case with "Must Be Love", by the Alabama Blues Machine.  They nailed it on this disc.

 

    As with all machines, it's reliable and quality parts that make it run smooth and the parts that do that for the Alabama Blues Machine are:  Bruce Andrews, Lead Vocals & Harp; Ross Roberts, Lead Guitar; Clay Swafford, Keyboards; John Jackson, Bass; Lewis Ross, Drums; Mike Lingo, Trombone; Rick White, Trumpet; John Remley, Saxophone; Maggie "Blue" Glass, Background Vocals.  The disc is the first for the band and it consists of seven, all original tracks.

 

    Those earlier mentioned very impressive first notes came from "Hindsight", the smokin' opening track.  This one features the whole band and they were all up to the task.  With everyone getting in some hot licks, while in a track long jam behind them, Bruce and Ross belt out some scorching blues on vocals and guitar.

 

    "Clay's Boogie" is a fast and furious instrumental that should not be listened to by the faint of heart or while operating a motor vehicle.  I can't imagine anyone listening to this number and maintaining control of their body parts - mine seemed to have minds of their own.  This one features the horn and rhythm sections wildly kickin' some ass.  Because it's a way too short two minute track that I wanted to hear about thirty minutes of, I literally played it over about fifteen times.  I'd buy this disc just to hear this one.  PHEW!

 

    "Double "R" Shuffle" is another short and sweet one.  The Double R refers to Ross Roberts, the songs' writer and featured artist.  This instrumental has the guys jamming hard behind him while he does his thing on lead guitar.  More good stuff right here.

 

    "Black Widow Baby" features Ross and Bruce once again working their magic, with some great rhythm from John and Lewis to back them up.  These four are all at discs best right here.  More highlights include Maggie's background vocals and sultry whispers and moans.  I would have loved hearing her on more of the tracks.   

 

    It's interesting that the closing track describes what "Must Be Love", has been doin' since the opening track, - "Rockin' Me Baby".  This one happens to be one of the longest tracks on the disc, and when these guys are in the groove they're constantly in, that's a good thing.  Midway through the song, the piano and horn section team up and what they do together may very well be the discs highlight. 

 

    Other tracks on what I am calling one of the front runners for the 2009 Blewzzy Award - "Must Be Love" , include the title track, "Must Be Love" and "LaQuita". 

 

    Although the members of the Alabama Blues Machine all have impressive individual resumes, as a group they have not been together all that long.  It's this writers opinion that should this ensemble stay intact, there's no question they will be a force to be reckoned with in the blues world.  I'm looking forward to hearing lots more from the Alabama Blues Machine.

 

    Check the band out at www.alabamabluesmachine.com and be sure to tell them you stopped by to see what the Blewzzman is fussin' about.   While you're there, do yourself a big favor and grab a copy of "Must Be Love".

 

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro

Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com