Pete Anderson is a Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning Producer/Guitarist who is most widely known as the musical partner to Dwight Yoakam, whose records he produced/arranged/and played on from 1986-2003 resulting in sales of 25 Million and counting. He's also a renowned bandleader who has appeared on Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, and The Tonight Show nineteen times. All that - and that's not actually all of it - now has me wondering what the heck am I going to say about Pete that hasn't already been said. Oh well, here goes.....

On this project Pete returns to the music he fell in love with as a teenager while attending the Ann Arbor Blues Festival - the blues! "Even Things Up" consists of a dozen tracks, of which most are written or co-written by Pete, that are a perfect blend of blues, jazz, R&B and swing. Joining Pete Anderson, on vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums and percussion are: Michael Murphy on Hammond organ, electric piano, accordion, bass and lead vocals; Herman Matthews and Jeff Donovan on drums; Lee Thornburg and David Woodford on horns; Maxine Waters on background vocals.

Although it might sound like a country title, "Honky Tonk Girl" might just be more for the swing, rather than the line dancers. This smokin' shuffle, fueled by the steady rhythm of Michael on organ and Jeff on drums, features very impressive work from Pete on guitar.

The assortment of rhythmic sounds you'll here on "Even Thing Up" is endless. From Mike's mastery of the Hammond, to the beat Herman's got going on the drums, to the percussion and guitar work of Pete and right down to the tone of his harp, all make this one a complete listening pleasure.

Whoa! Speaking about rhythm and percussion, "Wes' Sid Blues" nails it. I can see the dance floor filling and the hips shaking when this one starts. Get ready to cha-cha-cha. Due to sheer music perfection, this one had to be an instrumental. Pete on guitar and Michael on piano are both at discs best right here.

Since you're already dancin', don't stop now....just change speeds. Stop shakin' and start swingin' to the rippin' beat of the "Dogbone Shuffle". Lee and David do a great job of jazzin' this one up with their horns. This one's real hot stuff.

This next track is all Pete. It features some of his best blues guitar work and some very soulful vocals. It's a very slow, very bluesy ballad which has him singing to someone he's sadly, yet very "Still In Love" with. Although I'm out of touch with the songs that win Grammy's, I do know that this is the kind of a song that wins Blues Music Awards.

"Prophet For Profit" is an acoustic solo effort with Pete singin', pickin' and harpin'. And if you think, that with a title like this, the song might be cynical and sarcastic, of course you're right. That's what makes it fun.

Other tracks on "Even Things Up" include: "Booker Twine", "That's How Trouble Starts", "One And Only Lonely Fool", "Stop Me", "Room With A Few" and "Blue Guitar".

More stuff like this from Pete Anderson just might "Even Things Up" by winning him some BMA's to go along with those Grammy's. Welcome back to the blues Pete.

For more on Pete Anderson, and to purchase the disc as well, just go to www.peteanderson.com. And as usual, make sure you say the Blewzzman sent ya.