Jeff Stone
"3 Faces Of The Blues"
Featuring: Rev. KM Williams, Charlie Love and Sherry Pruitt
Bluestone Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2012

The name Jeff Stone should indeed sound very familiar to you. As a member of The Mid South Blues Revue - he's an International Blues Challenge winner and a Blues Music Award winner as well. Back then, band leader Zac Harmon and his sideman Jeff Stone were arguably the best 1-2 punch in the blues business. I'll never forget the performance they put on at the Beale Street Music Festival in May of 2004. As the opening act in the blues tent, they tore the place apart. As their set ended they stood on opposite sides of the stage, each soaked with sweat and physically drained. Zac motioned Jeff toward him, put his arm around him - then said to the audience with all his heart - "Jeff Stone is to me what Junior Wells was to Buddy Guy". The crowd of course went wild and the moment was as incredible as the performance. I'm blessed to have witnessed it.

Speaking of blessed, that's exactly what Jeff Stone's music, and I'm assuming his life, have become. Since those days with Zac Harmon, while still one of the best harmonica players in any genre, Jeff Stone's musical preference has turned spiritual.

His latest project - "3 Faces Of the Blues" is put together in three different four song segments, with all of them being spiritually and Gospel influenced.

The first segment is mostly a duet with Jeff on harmonica & vocals, and Rev. KM Williams on vocals & guitar and it features Andre Collins beating out a rhythm on track 4. These four Delta style Gospel tracks include one of Jeff's originals - "I Know You Don't Love Me", along with covers of three traditional songs - "God's Got It", "Goin' Over That Hill" and "The Blood Of Jesus".

The second segment is a lot more livelier. It features Jeff on harmonica and Charlie Love on vocals and guitar along with: Doug Tramble on guitar; Dawonis Harmon on bass; Renrick Smith on Hammond C-3 organ; Enrico Cecconi on drums; Alex Perruchot on guitar; Eric Calloway on introductions; and the Vocal Authority Choir.

This segment opens with a smoker that will definitely have you feeling "So Full Of Jive". Well sung, uplifting vocals backed by great harp and guitar leads and a snare drum beat that will induce hand clapping all highlight this Jeff Stone original.

Sounding a lot like the late Barkin' Bill Smith, Charlie knocks it out of the box singing "I Know You Don't Love Me" - another original from Jeff. With it's slow and relaxed rhythm, the ever present hum of the Hammond, the swapping of scorching harp and guitar leads between Jeff and Doug, and the seriously soulful vocals, this track is six and a half minutes of absolute bliss. Replays required!

The other two songs in this segment are "Dance Of the Holy Spirit" and "I Went Down To The Water".

The third segment features Jeff on harmonica with Sherry Pruitt on vocals and guitar. They're joined by: Charlie Love and Jason Cobb on guitar; Crystal Robins on keyboards; Nelson McElrath on drums; Peter Jeffery on Hammond C-3 organ; E. G. McDaniel and Andre "Big Perm" McCottry on bass; and the Vocal Authority Choir.

There's no question you're riding in the right direction if you're riding on "This Train". The harmony between Sherry and the Vocal Authority Choir, her vocal range, Robin's heavenly piano playing, the faint but distinctly noticeable guitar leads, the whispering of Jeff's harmonica, and the pulsating rhythm all make this a classic version of this Gospel classic.

Other tracks in this segment include: "Sunshine In Ever Rain", "Standing In The Mercy Of Our Lord" and "It Won't Cost Very Much".

Having nothing to do with the disc or the review, I'd just like to give a quick mention that on my first ever visit to Chicago this past October, I accidentally discovered that Jeff Stone was also in town. Knowing that, I made the trip over to bad, bad Leroy Brown's side of town to a place called Lee's Unleaded. Interestingly , seeing him play with Jeff Dale and The South Woodlawners - an unexpected event wound up being one of the trips highlights.

Please check Jeff Stone out at www.3facesoftheblues.com. After you hear his heartfelt welcome, and some killer sound clips, click onto the record store and grab a few discs. And as always, please tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.