On their debut CD, "THE VINTAGE ROOM", members of THE BLUES EXPERIENCE include: CASH MC CALL -  with well over 30 years experience, much of it with WILLIE, on vocals and guitar; ALEX DIXON on piano; STEVE BELL - son of another late legend, CAREY BELL, on harp; BILL "YOUNG BLOOD" LEARNED and KATY J on rhythm guitars; BRADY WILLIS on bass; VINNIE THREATS on drums; JOHN RISTROM on guitar; DYLAN COOPER on upright bass.

 

    On "THE VINTAGE ROOM", listeners shouldn't expect to experience any attempts to reinvent the blues, any attempts to reinterpret the blues or any attempts to redefine the blues....and thank God for that.  What you can expect is a sincere and very successful attempt to carry on the tradition of the blues in the way that WILLIE DIXON, and many of his legendary associates, meant it to be. 

 

    "THE VINTAGE ROOM" offers eleven tracks of which ten are DIXON penned - seven by ALEX and three by WILLIE.  The opening track of "HELLUVA TIME" is an ALEX original that is very reminiscent of "WANG DANG DOODLE".  It's an invitation, by name, to many past and present blues legends, to come to a party where instead of "wang-dang-doodling, they'll be having a "hell-uva-time".  CASH is stellar on vocals and STEVE is very impressive on harp.  Good opening track.

 

    Classic WILLIE D is up next.  THE BLUES EXPERIENCE did such an admirable rendition of "I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU", I'm thinking the originator of this one would feel proud of these guys. 

 

    Maybe it's just me, but another track reminding me of something gramps did is "SLICE OF THAT PIE".  I could swear I hear some of "SPOONFUL" in here somewhere.  This track is the first to give you a good taste of ALEX on piano.  Great rhythm by BRADY and VINNIE, and more hot harp by STEVE also highlight this one.

 

    "MAKE A FOOL OF ME" is one of several smokers on the disc.  STEVE leads the jam on this one with ALEX, BRADY and VINNIE once again unrelenting on rhythm.  Of course, CASH gets his licks in as well.

 

    What kind of a tribute to WILLIE DIXON, which indeed this disc is, would it be without "I'M READY"?  Well, the THE BLUES EXPERIENCE certainly agree and they certainly were ready to hit this one.  The track is very short but oh so well done.  CAREY - who obviously was a strong influence on his son - would be real proud of STEVE BELL on this one. 

 

    Other tracks on  "THE VINTAGE ROOM " include: "GYPSY WOMAN", "CATCH ME BEFORE YOU GO", "MAMA", "BRING IT ON HOME" and a vocal and instrumental version of "ONE TOUCH".

 

    If you're a fan of WILLIE DIXON, you'll want to grab a copy of  "THE VINTAGE ROOM".  Additionally, you'll want to keep your eyes and ears open for future work, be it performing or producing, by ALEX DIXON.  The whole purpose of him and his wife MELISSA, forming DIXON LANDING MUSIC is to "reach out to the little known or undisclosed musician/artist and to bring back the Chicago Blues feel that his grandfather helped create".  AMEN!  It doesn't need to be reinvented, reinterpreted or redefined......it just needs to be kept alive.

 

    To learn more about THE BLUES EXPERIENCE, and the company's mission in general, shuffle on over to www.dixonlandingmusic.com and tell them you came to see what the Blewzzman's fussin' about.