Debbie Davis: Blues Blast

With help from Tab Benoit and Charlie Musselwhite, Debbie Davies brings the blues to life on a few occasions on Blues Blast. Yet at other times, especially the swinging opening, “A.C. Strut”, it just comes off as a bit too slick and telegraphed despite some strong guitar licks throughout. The slower, moodier “My Time After Awhile” fares much better and brings classic Blues Boy King to mind. However things take another downturn with the rather limp “Movin’ & Groovin’” despite Musselwhite contributing vocals to the effort. The highlight here has to be how effortlessly the creeping and aptly named “Crawling King Snake” inches along thanks to Tab Benoit nailing the tune. Davies doesn’t have the best blues voice, but musters up enough to make “Like You Was Gone” passable as well as the stronger, Bonnie Raitt-ish “Where the Blues Come to Die”. The closing “Sonoma Sunset” is also well executed along the lines of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.