Hudson Blues Band

Nothing fancy about this debut from The Hudson Blues Band, just good ol' fashioned blues. Every dog Has It's Day efficiently combines Texas and Chicago blues with style.
The Hudson Blues Band has been a staple on the Seattle club circuit since 1994. The extremely tight quartet consists of: Michael Wilde on vocals and harmonica, Greg "The Kid" Smith on guitar, David Hudson on drums, and Guy Quintino on bass. Every Dog Has It's Day is in many ways a live recording. Recorded in only three sessions with microphones in the room, a little reverb and vintage amplifiers, the disc has an unrehearsed and loose feel to it.

The album kicks off with one of six originals. I Don't Go For That is a harp driven shuffle done in the Chicago vain of a Little Walter or Junior Wells. The eleven standards pay homage to the band's long admired influences, such as Otis Rush, Albert King, and Sonny Boy Williams II among a host of others. The band tackles the Dixon classic Mellow Down Easy with an old school style in which Wilde lays down some traditional harp playing. The Earl Hooker classic, Blue Guitar, features unyielding guitar work "The Kid". Veteran Seattle tenor player, Ron Ussery, makes an appearance on the classic shuffle Hug Ya, Kiss Ya unleashing a clean, effective and solid solo. The Austin influence comes to light with the Hudson originals, I'm Not The One and Mama Told Me, where Smith exhibits eminence with inventive guitar licks. There is not an mediocre song on this CD, and the list goes on to include such notable covers as Elmore James One Way Out to another Willie Dixon standard, Hoochie Coochie Man.

By keeping it unpretentious and time-honored, The Hudson Blues Band's Every Dog Has It's Day is a very impressive debut, and a gratifying listen for anyone who enjoys their blues uncomplicated and down-to-earth.

http://www.hudsonblues.com/

- Tony Engelhart