Mick Kolassa - 149 Delta Avenue [CD]

After releasing two critically acclaimed albums of other people's music, Mick is back to what he loves the most: recording and releasing what he calls his own "Free Range Blues." "This new album, "149 Delta Avenue", covers a multitude of blues styles and subgenres. Mick has assembled a collection of fine new original songs and three of his favorites written by others. To bring this body of work to life he has brought together a stellar group of musicians that include the Taylor Made Blues Band, and some great guests. The album opens with Mick's song "I Can't Slow Down", which is his confessional about how he lives, followed by "US 12 to Highway 49", which traces Mick's lifelong blues odyssey. "Alternative Man" is a sexy blues tune in the classic "macho" sense, treated two different ways on this album. "Cotton Road" is a powerhouse song that Mick wrote after a conversation with the curator of Memphis' Cotton Museum and driving on the road on which he lives (Cotton Road). "I Don't Need no Doctor", a song introduced by Ray Charles but also delivered by Humble Pie and others, has a special place in Mick's heart, as does Larry Garner's great composition, "Miss Boss", which has been a mainstay in his live shows for years. Then there's "The Viper", which is just a fun song! Taken as a whole, this album represents Mick's love of all styles of blues, as well as his continuing drive to improve as an artist and a songwriter.