Bryan Lee: Katrina Was Her Name

Bryan Lee can’t forget what happened to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. But while not celebrating the fact that his city was destroyed and hundreds were killed, Lee makes the most of the opportunity to bring the blues back to the city. Bringing to mind the likes of fellow city resident Fats Domino, Lee shines on the swinging blues of “29 Ways”, the funky “Don’t Joke with the Stroke” and the equally pleasing “Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You”, the latter featuring some mean guitar solo work. This record is all about having a party and damn good time, with “Barefootin’” keeping the momentum going. While it might pale compared to the likes of Robert Cray or Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lee delivers the soul needed to get these songs over the bar, as is the case with the gorgeous but stark title track. The only problem is that some tracks don’t quite work, including the ordinary “Take It Like a Man” and the sullen “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”.