5 comments about Breakin' It Up & Breakin' It Down.

1. What a concert CD! "Breakin' it Up, Breakin' it Down" features the vocals of three pretty good bluesmen--Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Johnny Winter. Waters and Winter also play guitar, and James Cotton is referred to as "Superharp" in the notes accompanying the CD. Also in the group: Bob Margolin (guitar and vocals), Pinetop Perkins (vocals and piano), Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drum), and Charles Calmese (Bass). They play awfully well together. . . .
   
   Bob Margolin wrote to notes. At one point he says of this CD: "[The CD] showcases each of these [three] blues legends leading the band, but more important historically, and much more fun, we find them jamming together, pushing, teasing, and inspiring one another."
   
   Let's take a look at a few examples of the cuts on this live CD. . . .
   
   "Black Cat Bone/Dust My Broom." The authorship of this song is split among Winter, Elmore James, and Robert Johnson. This is a rocking version of this song! There is fine guitar work, good keyboards, and terrific harmonica. It is taken at a rollicking pace. The three central vocalists take turns in vocals--to good effect.
   
   "Can't Be Satisfied." One of Muddy Waters' hits, covered by many others, including the Rolling Stones. There is cool guitar work at the outset, and Waters' singing does justice to this song. There is a sense of improvisation and spontaneity, as the three central players interact with one another. Lots of fun.
   
   "Rocket 88" is one of Cotton's songs, about his car. It starts up with some great harmonica work. This work is taken at the quick pace and there is a sense of joy to Cotton's vocalizations.
   
   Another Waters' classic closes out this concert CD--"Got My Mojo Workin.'" The three principal artists share in the vocals, but this is Muddy Waters' song. Love the lyrics!
   
   "Got my mojo workin',
   Just don't work on you.
   So bad I just don't
   Know what to do."
   
   A real lively version, with the crowd getting involved. Harp, drums, guitars work well together. There is some nice jamming among the musicians in the middle. What a way to close out this CD.
   
   So, my judgment? If you like the blues, this would be a fine addition to your library. I rate this highly.



2. Why was this stuff hidden away for so long--I love this CD--a great addition to my collection



3. As a Muddy Water's CD, I've heard him do better, but as a Johnny Winter CD it's some of his best work. Still, if you are a blues fan, you must add this important collaboration to your collection.



4. This was a match made in "blues heaven". Some have lamented that Johnny Winter and James Cotton sings part of these tunes...somehow they just don't understand that all of these men are true legends of the blues.
   
   I saw Muddy Waters as the headliner in 1970. Ten Years After stole HIS show! He was going through the motions, but he pretty much "phoned in" his set. He looked and sound whipped. I saw this group at the Palladium in Los Angeles, CA. on 03/04/1977 (I still have the stub). Johnny Winter was producing and resurrected Muddy. Ever since Johnny had struck gold with The AND Band, he was a huge personality in the Rock and Roll genre and with the blues crowd. Muddy was a new man compared to what I saw in 1970. To this day, the show I witnessed in LA, was one of my all time favorite blues shows (and I seen dozens).
   
   Toss out the 2 star guy, he obviously doesn't understand the importance of this offering. If you LOVE THE BLUES, or you enjoy any of these featured artists, buy this one, you'll have no buyer's remorse.



5. You thought this was a Muddy Waters CD? Not so, majority of the vocals here are Winter and Cotton, with Muddy Waters singing some or part of only 5 songs on this 11 song disc. Unless you want to hear James Cotton imitate a young man singing like a girl, pass this up and head for the real deal that this tour sprung from, the excellent Muddy Waters "Hard Again" disc. Even "Got My Mojo Workin'" begins with Johnny Winter singing vocals on the song Muddy Waters made into a classic.

5 comments about The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 3.

1. I'v been avoiding writing a review about these dvd's (American Folk & blues festival vol 1, Vol 2, vol 3,) for a while now, mainly because I get so emotional when I think about them. So I wont even try. But I will say this much....The ONLY place in the world where you can see the fabulous T-Bone Walker on dvd... is on these sets (he appears on all 3 volumes). And where else are you gonna see Lonnie Johnson, Shakey Horton, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams, Willie Dixon, Otis Span, Sonny Boy Williamson, Big Mama Thorton, A very young Buddy Guy, and a very young Hubert Sumlin, Big Joe Turner, Son House, Koko Tayler, Lightnin Hopkins, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Howlin Wolf, AND MANY MORE!!! YOU NEED TO HAVE ALL 3 VOLUMES FOR YOUR COLLECTION!



2. If you like the blues you'll love this DVD. I especially liked the acoustic set with Skip James, Son House & Bukka White. The Black & White is cool and the sound is good.



3. buy all 3 volumes - if you are a music fan, this is the origin of the blues.



4. I am new to the Blues. I've listened to many songs, from Delta Blues to Chicago Blues, and loved them all. After listening to so many songs, it is nice to put a face to the name. Not only that, but to see and feel the energy of real Bluesmen and women. I absolutely loved this DVD! I'd highly recommend it to anybody looking to start or continue a Blues DVD collection.



5. This dvd is an historical treasure. The product is very high quality in every way. It has some of the earliest films known from some blues artists, as well as some of the only known films of some as well(Little Walter).Everything from the urban blues of Big Mama Thornton, Buddy Guy, Hound Dog Taylor,and Koko Taylor. To the haunting,country blues,of Skip James, Bukka White, and Son House. I particularly like the performance of the famous song " Crow Jane" by Skip James, as well as the extras like the raucous, obscure Earl Hooker, who evokes shades of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix with his Univox guitar and Sound City amplifier. Buy and enjoy this forgotten legacy!

5 comments about A New Day Yesterday Live.

1. Mr. B plays a mean guitar. This is a good effort, and he's progressed nicely since it's release. Some good stuff, buy it !



2. what a HOT cd! joe bonamassa is awesome, looking forward to seeing him play in march 2009 in cerritos CA.



3. Joe Bonamassa is THE premire blues guitarist in the world. Saw him live over the summer and he was even better than studio. Which is why this album is definitely worth it. Can't wait to see him again!



4. Nice CD I played this CD for about a month before I wanted to hear something else. This Guy can Play the guitar and sing the Blues like any of the old timers. Even the Bass Player sounds Great



5. I'm impressed, what a guitar. I totally agree with Harris Gershman's phrase "GREAT MUSIC, TERRIBLE PRESSING" but not with the 3 stars. I think this record deserves 4 or 5 stars at least even if it is more a rock record than a Blues record. In spite of that, it reaches stellar moments of Blues for instance in "Steppin out/Rice pudding" (the Bluesbraekers of Jonh Mayall play a great cover in its LP featuring Eric Clapton) or "If heartaches were nickels" (in Kenny Neal LP Hoodoo Moon there is a good cover of this piece too) or Free singer's Paul Rodgers's Blues "Walk in my shadow". Bonamassa's guitar level is absolutely great, It is even exceptional. By the way, the title record "A new day yesterday" is a great Jethro Tull singer's Ian Anderson's composition, what a great band, and in this record Joe makes a sensational cover which includes a guitar demonstration with plenty of feeling, just like the rest of the record. Highly recommended to all guitar lovers.

5 comments about Truth.

1. At last a CD of Robben Ford I really liked again. In line with his first albums (although nog as good as Handful of blues, in my opinion his tour de force, hence the four stars). He's still the master of the "smooth-blues", with very tastefull guitar solos and jazz-influences. I know of only two guys who put so much jazz in their blues, Robben Ford and Melvin Taylor. And both are masters at their craft. I recommend it.



2. Blues guitarist, Robben Ford (Yellowjackets), has a new album on Concord Records titled "Truth".
   The blues will never die is an axiom proven over and over again, but it does change shape.
   Robben Ford's latest release presents blues as they are today: in a powerful setting only a master veteran like Ford could envision.
   "The blues have always been socio-political", says Ford.
   In the opening song "Lateral Climb", he addresses the 9 to 5 grind, credit card debt, and the political frustrations we all experience.
   "Peace on My Mind" was inspired by Willie Dixon's "It Don't Make Sense, You Can't Make Peace", which Ford describes as an anti-war song without being too preachy.
   "If you're pointing the finger, no one wants to hear it. It's a portrait rather than a sermon. The truths I describe are self evident"
   In this set, Ford also incorporates playful tunes, like "You're Gonna Need a Friend", co-written by his wife and singer Anne Kerry Ford.
   In it, Ford subverts blues clichés, such as the evil lady who bedevils her victim.
   Other tracks on the album include a funky cover of Paul Simon's "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor", which features guest vocals by Susan Tedeschi, as well as loyal version of Otis Redding's early B-Side, "Nobody's Fault But Mine".
   This is an album from a jazz electric guitarist that has a splash of soul, a pinch of R & B and a dash of jazz.
   All of these genres mixed together form a musical brew that will enthrall listeners, and Ford's emotive lyrics will put the poignant feeling over the top.
   My favoutite tracks are : "Riley B. King", which has bluesier guitar work with a slow pace, "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man Floor" (on which Susan Tedeschi, with her soulful voice literally saves a cover of Paul Simon's song ) and "River Of Soul".
   I'm loving it.
   You will like it for sure!



3. This album was pretty good. Its the 2nd album I have purchased of Robben Ford.



4. One of the most uninspired CD's I've ever heard from Robben Ford. With the exception of a couple of cuts, this is the epitomy of average. I've followed his career for many years now and am pretty disappointed with this one. Tedeschi livens it up a little but Ford seems to have abandoned his guitar brilliance for a palate of pop style songs. I'll pick up some Yanni if that's what I'm looking for.



5. Robben has all kinds of different influences and unlike some other "fusion" players, he really does know how to play real jazz. The result is distinctive. Can you think of anyone else who sounds like Robben Ford? And when you see him, he never plays the same solo twice. He doesn't have to.
   
   I'm not sure he will ever top his performances with the Blue Line or on Talk To Your Daughter but there is a lot to like on Truth. From funky Lateral Climb to the sweet Riley B. King and my favorite, River of Soul which sounds like Steely Dan with a good guitar player. He even sings well.

5 comments about Blues Masters: The Very Best of Lightnin' Hopkins.

1. Just wanted to say that Item was every thing I expected of it and your attention and response to order was outstanding. will most probably be ordering from you again.



2. The songs on this CD were recorded between 1946 and 1961. They cover a wide range of his songs. The instrumentation is spare, with--normally--only Hopkins or playing or only a couple other backing players (sometimes we don't even know who the other musicians were). This is unelectrified blues, hearkening back to an earlier era in the history of the blues.
   
   A handful of examples of his work on this CD:
   
   "Baby please don't go." The cut features simple and spare guitar work by Hopkins. The liner notes comment that (page 12): "They say he only knew three chords on the guitar. I say that made him greater. . . .I saw how he turned technical limitations to aesthetic advantage." He repeats the title line several times to set a tone and atmosphere and implores her not to go to New Orleans. Hopkins plays alone, with no backing instruments.
   
   "Mighty Crazy", too, features no backing musicians. He surely displays a "lived in" voice. He begins the song, as with "Baby please don't go" with a repeat of the title four times.
   
   Finally, "Mojo Hand," one of his better known works. This cut features a nice rhythm section backing him (musicians' names not known). This has some of the best recording quality on the CD. He shows animated singing and spare but effective guitar work.
   
   The liner notes summarize Hopkins' place in the blues world (pages 11-12): "Lightnin' Sam Hopkins was one of the towering geniuses of American music. At a time when big-city blues was electrifying the world, Lightnin' brought us back to the basics. He infused his country sensibility and singular personality into every song he sang." This represents a nice introduction to the work of one of the finest blues players.



3. The blues do not get any bluer than this. This was my first foray into Texas/folk blues, and it will most certainly not be my last, as the music on this CD are some of the most representative blues music I have ever heard. One of my favorite songs is a song sung by both Hopkins and Sonny Terry, Conversation Blues. If you do not like this song, the blues are simply not for you! But every song on here is exceptional, something I had not expected as I picked this up more out of curiosity than anything else. Now, it is one of my favorites to listen to, right up there with Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. The album covers Hopkins career for a 20 year period, from 1941 to 1961, and is ideal for anyone who is starting out their Hopkins' collection(as I was).
   
   Sam "Lightning" Hopkins learned the blues, at least in part, from Blind Lemon Jefferson, and for a time even became his guide. Let the music on this CD be your guide to Texas/folk blues. Surely there can be no better guide for an introduction into this genre.
   
   A definite 5 star pick, especially for all that Rhino has managed to pack on here for the inexpensive price. A must have.
   
   One thing to note however: If you believe from the outset that you will come to love Hopkins' music, Rhino's release of "Mojo Hand" is recommended; it is a 2-CD set of Hopkins career. Either way, you will not go wrong.



4. Bought this CD as a gift and he really loves it. He grew up listening to Lightnin' Hopkins, so it really brought back some good memories for him.



5. A classic from a little known, at least by me, talent. Lightnin Hopkins is easily one of the best blues artists I ever heard. This is down home, back in the day, drafty shack wif dee leaky roof Blues.

5 comments about Burglar.

1. great funky blues from the master. sounds like allen toussaint had a hand in it. has aged well, highly recommended !!



2. read the other reviews, and then put the determining factor in - it's freddie king. there you have it.



3. FREDDIE KING WAS AN AMAZING GUITAR PLAYER AND HAD A LIGHT, BREEZY STYLE OF SINGING THAT COULD PACK A LOT OF PUNCH, TOO. HE HAD TWO PHASES TO HIS CAREER: HIS ORIGINAL STUFF RECORDED IN THE EARLY 60'S ON THE KING LABEL, AND HIS LATER PHASE OF HIS CAREER, MOST OF WHICH HAS BEEN CAPTURED ON VINYL ON LEON RUSSELL'S SHELTER RECORDS LABEL. THIS CD FALLS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO PHASES. THIS ALBUM WAS ON THE POLYDOR LABEL AND WAS PRODUCED BY ERIC CLAPTON, WHO IDOLIZED FREDDIE (I GOT TO SEE THEM PERFORM TOGETHER ON TOUR AT ROOSEVELT STADIUM IN NEW JERSEY IN 1975 OR 1976). THIS IS A GOOD ALBUM BUT NOT A GREAT ONE, ANYTHING ON THE KING OR SHELTER LABELS IS MUCH BETTER THAN THIS. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME FREDDIE KING BUT NOT ANY OF HIS SEMINAL RECORDINGS, I GUESS YOU WILL ENJOY THIS CD, BUT IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD FOR ME.



4. This album is a little bit different then what I had expected and I couldn't be happier. It has turned into one of those CD's you have trouble getting out of my CD player. I've heard lots about Freddie and what a great blues guitar player he was and being a big fan of Texas blues, I was eager to learn more about Freddie King, so I bought this album. What surprised me the most is how great the man can sing. Freddie sings with some serious passion and soul and it really shines on this album. Recorded late in his career this album finds Freddie leaning more torwards rock then blues, much like SRV and some of his post Texas Flood albums (i.e. Couldn't Stand the Weather). If you are looking for a prue blues album this is not it. It is a very good bluesy\funky 70 style rock album with a great band and excellent production that has aged well. Even the cover art is great. The album has some excellent horn section that is very well done.
   
   If you are looking for more traditional blues from Freddie check out Rhino's Hideaway collection. If you are looking for a great album with soulful sing, great guitar, and excellent songs in a Texas Rock\Blues style buy this album. You might be surprised. You will not be disappointed.



5. If you have heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Walter Trout, Johnny Lang or Joe Kubek; Ask where does their music come from? Most probably the answer is: Freddie King; Burglar.
   In this album, Freddie sets the standards of any guitar used in a blues or a rock song.
   A 1972 release, shortly before his death, this album will blow your mind and ears away. No other blues album of its generation comes close; and this is nothing like Fredddie's previous releases.
   I believe that Freddie King ranks in Blues the same as Miles Davis in Jazz. Too bad he died too soon.
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough.

1. Junior kimbrough came from another planet... when he is solo, Junior is the pervair of Mississippi swarmp music at its best, his choice of notes. timing and the almost agonizing sound of his voice is way way out there but still old north Mississippi blues. With a constant beat, (with his band which are great in there own right) is still great and its easy to see where some of the sixties bands got there chops, his playing was so eccentric I can only think of Hendrix when he would go off. Jessie Mae Hemphill was my friend and she told me of bands such as the Stones going to Junior Kimbroughs juke joint, got to give them points for having big ones to take the chance of never leaving the way they came in... If you are reading this then you know of kimbrough, kudo's to you, purchase any of his stuff and you won't be disappointed except check out the tunes on the cd or down load because some have poor recordings but even then .. it sounds probably more like a Friday night at his juke joint.



2. Damn if the cover doesn't just sound like the album. Every tune is dirty, follows old school blues stylings- few chord changes, non-song structure, good beat to move to. Let it play from track 1 while drinking, you'll know what I mean.



3. "You Better Run - The Essential Junior Kimbrough" serves as a fascinating collection of tunes from one of the most hypnotically, bare-bones musicians on the twentieth century.
   
   Junior Kimbrough was a Mississippi Delta bluesman to the core, and these tunes, all recorded live, reveal a classic musician who perfomed at his own juke joint in the Mississippi woods, and seemed to be playing for himself as much, if not more, than for others.
   
   "All Night Long," "Meet Me In The City," "Done Got Old," "You Better Run," and the outstanding "Most Things Haven't Worked Out" display Kimbrough rough-hewd vocals and mezmerizing guitar playing.
   
   This collection shows that there will always be musicians who live and play on their own terms. Junior Kimbrough was definitely one of the best.



4. You thought Robert Johnson's Hellhound On My Trail was spooky? You haven't heard anything until you've heard Junior Kimbrough's You Better Run. How this brand of blues was overlooked for so many years is inexplicable, yet understandable as the Mississippi delta and Chicago styles of blues dominates what record labels choose to release. But up in the hill country of north Mississippi a different style of blues developed. You can hear echoes of it in Mississippi Fred McDowell and John Lee Hooker. Thank God that Fat Possum Records brought bluesmen like Kimbrough, RL Burnside, and T-Model Ford into the studio and preserved this music for future generations. Start here, then search Amazon for "Fat Possum." You will never listen to blues the same way again.



5. I am not one to write a review when so many people have already said so much (and they are all spot on) but there was something I needed to add here. This was the first Junior Kimbrough album I bought and it blew me away. I love Junior Kimbrough's brand of punk blues. Enjoying this collection prompted me to pick up all his other works (6 CDs in all) and they were all worth it. What I'm getting to, in a roundabout way, is that not all Junior's albums are represented on this collection. His two earliest Do the Rump and All Night Long seem to be left off of this collection, or at least the versions of songs from those albums. It is worth your money to buy this as a starter but I deplore you not to stop there pick up Junior's other works- he really deserves the spotlight which he has never gotten.

5 comments about The Ultimate Collection.

1. What can I say? It's BB King's greatest hits. If you're a BB King fan who wants to stick one CD in and drive, this is the one!



2. This recording is aweful. I've heard B.B. King in concert, and he sounds a lot better than this. This recording makes his voice sound harsh and flat. Maybe the LP is better. Try that instead of the CD.



3. It is awesome I gave it to a friend for Christmas and she loved it



4. This album is aptly named: it really is the ultimate collection. And with 21 tracks, you really get your money's worth. All the old favorites are here.



5. B. B. King is one of the best known bluesmen of the past several decades. His first hit came in 1951 with the wonderful "Three O'clock Blues" (more on this cut below). Nonetheless, his reputation was not very widespread among "mainstream" America. That changed with the British invasion (the Rolling Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, and so on) as well as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (the liner notes do a good job of chronicling King's career). By the later 1960s, he became well known to people throughout the world. And in 1970, his great song, "The Thrill is Gone," became a hit. Even though this is a nice compilation of his best works, one can always wonder about items excluded. Personally, I regret that "Why I Sing the Blues" was not a part of this CD. But that is hardly a major problem. One final comment before taking a look at a sampling of his works on this CD. His guitar playing, of course, is legendary, but his is a restrained style, not spitting out a bazillion notes in a few seconds, as some guitarists are wont to do. But his guitar playing is mesmerizing.
   
   Some cuts:
   
   "Three O'clock Blues": This is a nice example of his blues singing. He has a fine voice, a nice blues voice. He looks around, in the song, at 3 O'clock in the morning.
   
   "Well, I can't find my baby,
   Lord, I can't be satisfied."
   
   His guitar work is sterling, but understated. There is a very well done guitar turn about 2/3 of the way through. All in all, a strong work.
   
   "Sweet Sixteen": This cut begins with some very well done guitar work. Not wild playing, but controlled and oh so effective. It reminds one that playing fast is not necessarily playing well. He sings of when he met his baby, when she was "sweet sixteen." He says that she was "the sweetest thing I ever seen." But then things soured and she left. He displays great blues singing, as he wails away about her running away from him.
   
   "The Thrill Is Gone": Quintessential B. B. King. This features wonderful guitar work. "The thrill is gone" is sung throughout as a recurring phrase. The pain of lost love is manifest. And his splendid guitar work is a glue that holds the work together.
   
   "Nobody Loves Me but My Mother": This is short but cool! One of my favorites. There is nice keyboard playing. One of the great blues lines is repeated in this bagatelle:
   
   "Nobody loves me but my mother,
   And she could be jiving, too."
   
   When all is said and done, this is a good way for anyone interested in B. B. King to be introduced to his work. His blues playing on guitar and his singing are top notch. A good CD to add to one's musical library.

3 comments about The Best of Susan Tedeschi: Episode Two.

1. When I couldn't find the Susan Tedeschi latest release on BMG I found it quickly at Amazon...and received it within two days! What a talented young lady this is! I've been a fan since I first heard her at 19 years old singing like she'd lived a lifetime of blues.



2. This is obvioulsy a 5 star rating because it is a hits package. I would have been even better to make the two CDs a single release. Susan Tedeschi can really play the guitar and sing the blues. Don't let the pictures of her fool you. She is a good looking woman who almost sounds timid when she speaks but she can belt out the blues like no other woman out there...and better than a lot of the men.



3. Episode Two is great music but the record company isn't doing their job. Episode One had nice packaging with notes that described which CD's the songs are take from. Episode Two has no such notes, uses the same pictures, is in a jewelcase rather than a matching case and does not dig deeper into the source material than the first.Not a real pair.

5 comments about The Best of Louis Jordan.

1. The CD doesn't include, "Is you is or is you ain't". An essensial Louis Jordan song.



2. JORDANISM (jor-den-ism) adj. Joyful and happy music predating rock and roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Rap, created by one super-lunatic madman supreme of jazz comedy and sultan of saxophone named Louis Thomas Jordan (1908-1975) accompanied varying musical aggregations collectively known as the Tympani Five. Guaranteed to induce tapping of toes, jitterbug dancing, intense laughter accompanied by the slapping of one's knees and/or pounding of the floors, and general good feelings overall.
   
   If you want a sample of the above, this is a good place to start.
   
   Essentially a budget "best of" collection, it has most of the better known good stuff and a few rarities. Tunes like "Caldonia" (a major influence on Little Richard, the Latin tinged "Early in the Morning," the Carrbean comedy of "Run Joe," and the sweet and somber "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out." Our man can do it all and was in a class by himself. Get this and let it whet your appetite for other excellent collections of JORDANISM such as "One Guy Named Louis," World Transcriptions," "Just Say Moe-Moe of the Best of LJ," and the later albums "Sakatumi" and "I Beleive in Music." If you have never been exposed to JORDANISM before, I envy you for the wonderful world you are about to experience.
   
   PS-JORDANISM is as much fun to watch as it is to listen to, so stock up on DVDs of "Beware," "Look Out Sister," "Swing Parade of 1946," "Reet Petite and Gone," and his last filmed performances in "The!!!Beat Vol. 4."



3. Fantastic. Anyone deciding whether or not to buy this- just do it. As good as the best of Cab Calloway or Bill Haley, etc.



4. This collection truly gives insight into the beginnings of Rock 'N Roll. Sassy, big grooves, rockin' and swingin'. Great sax solos. A must-have for a true collection.



5. No wonder he influenced a lot of musicians; Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard and many more. Not only is the man a excellent musician, he's also an excellent entertainer. His music is rocking and has a story line.