"LOVE AND CHARM" 

BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO  © AUGUST 2008     

 

    The resemblances are absolutely uncanny.  Although there would be a small degree of uncertainty involved, looking at JACK LEAR'S picture - while listening to his music, would surely have me thinking that I might be listening to BOB DYLAN.....on steroids!   It's kinda like BOB DYLAN singing the blues while playing like CHUCK BERRY.  In spite of never having been a really big fan of BOB'S folksy style, I always did appreciate his musicianship and songwriting.  JACK LEAR possesses all those talents with an abundant supply of exuberance. 

 

    On his debut CD - "LOVE AND CHARM" - JAKE LEAR, on vocals and guitar, is joined by CARLOS ARIAS on bass, BRAD GORDON on drums, and PETE RUDDLE on harmonica.  The disc contains thirteen tracks, of which nine are originals, with a cover of ROBERT JOHNSON, ELMORE JAMES, RICHARD RABBIT BROWN and, of course, BOB DYLAN.

 

    The opening track, an original called "KISS ME", already has me thinking I may be listening to the discs best track.  It's a smoker that could even get Beethoven to roll over.  With the rhythm section absolutely wild behind him, JAKE is even wilder on lead guitar.  It doesn't get any hotter than this one.

 

    "CRY, CRY, CRY" is just what PETE'S making the harmonica do on this one.  I guess he wanted to get in the licks he missed on the opening burner.  His doing so, along with more great rhythm, highlight this one.

 

    "DUST MY BROOM" is a classy rendition of a classic song.  CARLOS and BRAD, on bass and drums, are on top of their game here, and some of JAKE'S best guitar work is heard on this one as well.

 

    "SURE ENOUGH I DO" mean it when I say this less than three minute track is way too short.  I could have taken a few more minutes of JAKE'S soulful vocals and the hot guitar licks he put out on this ELMORE JAMES cover.

 

    "LEAVE THIS TOWN" is another smoker.  JAKE, CARLOS and BRAD are unbelievably tight together.  This is one rhythm section that JAKE needs to keep together.  This listener would hate to hear that these guys would ever want to 'leave this town'.

 

    Other great tunes on "LOVE AND CHARM" include: "LOVE AND CHARM", "TROUBLE IN MY MIND, TROUBLE IN MY SOUL", "EARLY IN THE MORNING", "NORTH MISSISSIPPI BOUND", "LORD PROTECT MY CHILD", "RUTH'S BOOGIE" and "JAMES ALLEY BLUES".

    

     Now that you're done reading this, take yourself over to www.jakelear.com and grab a copy of "LOVE AND CHARM".  Jake's got a heck of an offer going on that includes shipping.  I'm sure you'll tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.

 

This review has been complimentary written for your newsletter by Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, a contributing writer for BLUESWAX and the Blues Editor at www.Mary4Music.com where you can read many more CD and live show reviews, view lots of blues photographs and find an abundance of blues material. I can be reached at Blewzzman@aol.com