The James Solberg Band is best known for being Luther Allison's american backup band for the past several years (Blues Band Of The Year / 1997 + 1998 W.C. Handy Awards), while Solberg himself played on and off with Allison for almost three decades. "L.A. Blues" is a blistering set of hard rockin', down and out blues that would have made Allison, who passed away last year, proud. Two months after Luther's death James was in the studio writing and recording his third solo album, "L.A. Blues" . Confronted with the loss of Luther at every turn, Solberg found this experience the perfect vehicle to speak about the loss and also continue his own musical growth. L.A. Blues is Solberg's farewell to Luther Allison (L.A.). The James Solberg Band shreds through a moving tribute to Allison in "L.A. Blues", and they also perform a version of the last tune that Allison and Solberg played together, the gospel standard "Just A Closer Walk With Thee." They burn through Dylan's "Ballad Of A Thin Man," and they even do a great instrumental version of "Happy Trails" (which they call "Happy Snails"). |
