WILL JACOBS AND MARCOS COLL
TAKIN’ OUR TIME
IT AIN’T SAFE–GOIN’ TO BERLIN–WHAT YOU DOIN’–C. J.’S BOUNCE–STRANDED–HEY BABY–BLUES CAZORLA BOOGIE–ONE TOO MANY TIMES–GOIN TO BERLIN (LIVE)
Will Jacobs is an outstanding twenty-six-years-young guitarist, singer, and composer who has found his calling within the blues community not in someplace such as Chicago or Memphis, but, rather, in his base in Berlin, Germany! He has forged a working friendship with harmonica monster Marcos Coll, founder of the group, Los Reyes del KO. These two giant players have pooled their talents and just released “Takin’ Our Time,” nine prime cuts of what can best be explained as authentic, Chicago-styled blues. The whole thing reminds me of the good ole days around the turn of the century when Albert Castiglia was Junior Wells’ guitarist and bandleader just before Junior’s passing. These guys have that same telepathic feel for each other’s music that Albert and Junior had, and they have that kickass swagger and ‘tude, too.
Leading off is the blasting funk of “It Ain’t Safe,” where Will tells a lover that it’d be “safer to for you to choke a gorilla with a shoestring,” ’cause “It Ain’t Safe to mess around on me!” Will finds out the hard way that lyin’ don’t pay, and she gives him the boot after “One Too Many Times.” The band hits a low-down, Muddy groove on their “theme song,” of sorts, “Goin’ To Berlin, gonna do it right!” It is presented in two versions, as the set closes with a live version, with Will on a twangy guitar and stompin’ percussion that gives it a true Delta feel.
Our favorite was a shot of soul-blues funk that has that good, South Side gritty feel, as Will asks a lover “What You Doin’ to me,” ’cause “sometimes I don’t know where my head’s at!” Marcos’ harp on this one runs up and down the scales with a Sugar Blue or John Popper feistiness!.
Will Jacobs and Marcos Coll play the blues as if they grew up backstage at Theresa’s or The Kingston Mines. nowhere near Berlin, Germany. Dig the authentic sounds they’re puttin’ down in “Takin’ Our Time!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
