Just when you think you know a lot about something, along comes a guy like Stan Erhart to prove to you that there's so much more to learn - especially when music is involved. Having never heard of him before, I caught myself thinking I was listening to a "debut" CD from a new artist. How foolish of me! Spanning twenty-five years, "Missing You" is Stan's tenth release.

"Missing You" is a mix of original music and original arrangements of some classic blues tunes. The players are: Stan Erhart on vocals guitar and flute, Michael Warren on bass, Randy Hayes on drums and harmonies, Nancy Wright on tenor sax, Mike Emerson on keyboards, and Garth Webber on guitar.

The opener's a smoker. It's one of Stan's originals, "Hey Baby" (I Need You Tonight), and it blew me away right out of the box. With Nancy & Mike wailing on the sax and organ, along with the great rhythm and the melodic vocals, I'm already thirsting for more from this excellent ensemble.

One of several instrumentals, this slow, jazzy style blues number is the kind of stuff you might like to hear while being close to someone who......oh let's say may have been "Missing You". It's one of those soft, sultry numbers that pack the floor with slow dancers. The soothing guitar sounds, the mellow organ and the low notes of the tenor sax crossing into baritone territory make this one beautiful piece.

Wanting to hear about twenty more minutes of "One Of These Mornings", I just replayed this three and a half minute song about five or six times making it louder each time. It's not a coincidence that Stan's at disc's best on guitar on the disc's best track. This is really good stuff.....I'm going back for another listen.

The sincerity couldn't sound more real as Stan pleads "Please", please believe me. The serious and soulful vocals, the scalding guitar leads and the torrid tenor riffs all highlight this original.

The soft instrumental background on Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin" is a perfect track for highlighting Stan's wonderful, mellisonant voice. That, along with Mike's organ and Nancy's sax solos make this another of the disc's best.

Having been a huge Jazz fan in an earlier life - well, during an earlier lifestyle, anyway - and adoring the wonderful sound of Herbie Mann's flute, "Buster's Move" (Bust's Mov'a) certainly moved me. With the band in a jammin' jazzy groove and Garth doing a hell of a job filling in on the guitar behind him, Stan's an absolute maestro on the flute. Side note to Stan.....more of this on disc eleven, please.

The disc closes with what's billed as a bonus track - "Hot Cha". It's a Junior Walker instrumental , so saying it's got style and soul with arousing percussion and horns is needless - but I said it anyway. Stan's guitar work, Randy's fancy drum work and Nancy's best effort on the tenor all highlight this one.

Other tracks on "Missing You" include: "All Your Love", "Close Down", "Mystery Train", "Let Me Down Easy", "Serves Me Right", and "I Just Want To Make Love To You".

Now that I've finally discovered Stan Erhart, here's to hoping you do too. You can check him out, and pick up a disc as well, at www.erhart.net. Once you're there, tell him the Blewzzman said it was nice to have finally heard him.