MICK KOLASSA
AND THE TAYLOR MADE BLUES BAND
149 DELTA
ENDLESS BLUES RECORDS MMK 062018
I CAN’T SLOW DOWN–US 12 TO HIGHWAY 49–ALTERNATIVE MAN–COTTON ROAD–AMERICAN INTERVENTION–PULLIN ME DOWN–WHISKEY IN THE MORNIN–I DON’T NEED NO DOCTOR–MISS BOSS–35 MILES TO EMPTY–ALTERNATIVE MAN ALTERNATIVE–THE VIPER
Mick Kolassa has become one of our favorite players in contemporary blues. On his last two albums, he recorded other folks’ material, and it is great to see him back in his element dropping some cool originals on his latest set, “149 Delta.” Mick is on vocals, and his Taylor Made Blues Band is still the “usual suspects” of Leo Goff on bass, David Dunavent on guitar, Lee Andrew Williams on drums, and Chris Stephenson on keys. There is a literal “who’s who” of special guests on board, too.
Kicking things off is a lively look at Mick’s bluesman life, “I Can’t Slow Down–I’m afraid I’ll stop!” Beale Street legend Eric Hughes is on the harp on Mick’s tale of his ongoing life-long journey from “the North, between the Big Lakes,” to where he is today, “US 12 To Highway 49!” He strikes a poignant chord with a powerful tale of loved ones battling addictions with “American Intervention,” where “I can’t watch you killin’ you.” Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson’s “I Don’t Need No Doctor” is set over a funky horn arrangement, and another of Mick’s originals features J. D. Taylor on harp, where Mick explains his love of “Whiskey In The Morning.”
We had two favorites, too. Alligator guitar man Toronzo Cannon is all over the strings in the Delta “history lesson” all about that King Cotton and its consequences, “Cotton Road.” And, a tune about havin’ a lover on the side is the tale of our hero who “only wants to be your Alternative Man, when yo’ man ain’t around!” This one features Jeff Jensen on guitar. This cut is reprised later in the set, as “Alternative Man Alternative” plays out over a much edgier, rocked-out arrangement.
Mick Kolassa is a lover of all shades of blues, and this set shows his knack with a lyric no matter what the situation. Take a trip down to “149 Delta” with one sho’ nuff “Kolassa-l” bluesman! Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow.
