ALEX BURNS
"The Blues Is Here To Stay" - 21/11/2004

Alex Burns is a connoisseur of interesting and beautiful music. Alex would be well remembered for his work throughout the nineties with Nick Charles but Alex has schooling in many genres from pop and rock to Hawaiian steel guitar. From the opening joyous yell of "yeah" on this album you instantly know where Alex's heart and soul is, enthusiastically in love with the blues. Alex gives us 12 wonderful songs that have a great diversity yet all fit so well together despite being different genre's, moods and tempos, a great achievement showcasing Alex's ability to perform his version of the song rather than copying. This album is a great example for any blues artist. When doing other people's songs you need to pay homage and respect to their achievement but it is also a duty to add to the song. This balance is hard to achieve and doesn't work unless perfectly balanced, every song on this album is spot on perfect from Johnny Winter's sexual innuendo drenched "TV Mama" to the beautifully sad ballad "Memories of you" which was performed by the poignant Lonnie Johnson.

"TV Mama" commences proceedings, a rollicking foray into blues and sex performed with an energy that gets you excited not only about this song but also what is to come. Robert Johnson is often done to death, but there is no "Crossroads" here but the less covered "Little Queen of Spades" a perfect example of staying true to the originator but adding to it with your own style. One of the stand out tracks for me is "My heart's in sorrow", which I first heard Dutch Tilders play on the "Direct" album. This Brownie McGhee classic features what Brownie did best, put emotions into simple words that we could all relate to. "I aint got no lover now, my heart's in sorrow and the tears come tumblin' down", you couldn't express that feeling any simpler. Alex plays steel guitar that, combined with his earthy vocals, adds a coarseness that toughens this song without minimising its emotion. Traditional gospel songs "Gospel ship" and "Must Jesus bear the cross" get the workout and end up with Alex's distinctive brand. Alex's voice certainly isn't the gruff, deep voice often expected in blues singers. Alex is a wonderful singer with a higher range that he uses to advantage by singing very sweetly at times, but he also has a toughness in his voice that he also exploits. The all time classic "Jelly Roll Baker" is another standout track with Alex using a Beltona reso-phonic ukulele, giving the song a newfound freshness, a magnificent achievement considering how many times this track has been recorded. "Memories of you" has all the components of a great blues, love, love lost, grief and despair. Alex's National, blends beautifully with Peter Baylor on his 1936 Gibson L10 and again Alex sings with pure emotion that grabs you and pulls you into the songs emotional space, the highlight of the album for me.

With 6 albums to his credit, Alex is certainly becoming an elder statesman of the blues and with the likes of him around the blues is definitely here to stay.
Rooster
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