Chris Canas Blues Revolution

continued

With a warm, wet singing voice that is not at all affected, he delivers the traditional repeated blues lines with force and heartbreak. He can growl his way through a sexy original song where he compares succulent thighs to sweet potatoes and then serve up a falsetto ballad reminiscent of Smokey Robinson.

But it's when his guitar starts to sing that his talent really transcends his age. Canas understands how to communicate the electric blues. No mere mimic, he clearly has command of his instrument, coaxing a tight, saw-toothed sound for solos that don't wander but continually surprise. He sneaks in a little wah-wah, or even a touch of Hendrix style, but not for the sake of showing off. He plays what is appropriate to the song, even if we hadn't realized that was what the song needed.

On top of all that, Canas has written a couple dozen blues originals, with titles like "Big Bone Woman" and "Hard Times," that showcase his considerable talent. And he's put together a band of veterans, including Shane Rasmussen on keyboards and Kevin Schoepke on bass, who not only underpin his musicianship but bring their own funk and groove to the party. Chris's mother, Angela Cottingham, sings backup vocals, creating the lovely blend you would expect.