USA - BERNARD ALLISON: Higher Power
RUF1101. 13 tracks. 59 mins.
We often have unrealistic expectations of the sons and daughters
of blues legends, expecting them to be as good if not better than
their parents. This can lead to disappointments but not so with
Luther Allison's offspring, Bernard, who was born to play and
sing the blues. Bernard might wield the same axe as his late
father used, but he is undoubtedly a second generation blues
musician who has taken the blues he grew up with and renewed and
expanded it for a much broader range of listeners. Having said
that, uncanny resemblances exist between father and son -
pictures of each Allison in full flow on stage on the front
covers of Luther's Live in Montreaux 1976 album and Higher Power
respectively could be identical photographs. Apart from the
physical similarities, Bernard has also inherited his dad's
soulful voice and smokin' guitar style and slide techniques.
Significantly he has also taken Luther's advice: "Don't be afraid
to go outside the blues; don't let them label you as they did
me." As a result, Higher Power is a classic and thrilling
collection of blues, soul, funk and rock. It is clear throughout
that the "higher power" is the spirit of Luther who died of
cancer 7 years ago. Bernard bares his soul and at last feels free
to express himself, his life's achievements and personal
tragedies. In I've Learned My Lesson he admits, "I let my anger
control me. I have learned my lesson and higher power lets me do
a better thing." The other self-penned songs are also
biographical, for example, Into My Life is a plea to the woman he
loves, "If you don't need me babe there is no place left for me
to go." The acoustic Ami is another very wistful and tender love
song which has a clever play on words. This strong emotional
undercurrent is complemented by some frantic guitar solos which
his mentors Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter would be proud
of. Recorded in the studio but with the feel of a live gig, the
Bernard Allison Group is in fine form, none better than drummer
Ron Sutton. All-in-all, an inspirational album; you won't have
heard Bernard Allison in better form than this as he exorcises
his demons and finally establishes himself as a unique and worthy
talent in his own right……. Dave 'The Bishop' Scott
Blues Matters!
'The UK's MOST READ and MOST RESPECTED Blues Magazine'
'The UK's BIGGEST DEDICATED Blues label'
www.bluesmatters.com
|
