All too often, blues-rock guitarists are compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It's a ploy to spur excitement and attention. In my opinion, almost none of them (May I even be so bold as to say none?) ever really sound like him, instrumentally or vocally. Hence, if a guitar player is good enough, why can't we just go with that? Every now and then one pops up who spurs the same excitement by just being himself, and expressing his own identity.

Tinsley Ellis is one of those players. Keep in mind that both he and Stevie were playing the blues at just about the same time, and both released debut albums in 1983. Tinsley was greatly influenced by other Texas guitar slingers, such as Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown and Freddie King. Throw in some Lonnie Mack fire, Albert Collins ice, and some Robert Cray reserve and you've got the searing, blistering blues that's Tinsley Ellis. That blend gives him a persona all his own.

Live! Highwayman is Tinsley's first Alligator Records release since 1997s 'Fire It Up'. It's bursting with live guitar and vocal energy. With the song's opener, 'To The Devil For A Dime', and the Jonny Lang covered, 'A Quitter Never Wins', both from 1994s 'Storm Warning', and the searing 'Hell Or High Water', along with the Freddie King penned 'Double Eyed Whammy', Ellis rocks the 'Chord On Blues' club in St. Charles, Illinois. Add in 'The Last Song', a classic slow blues that's absolutely killer in style and tone, and 'Leavin' Here', which gets the place rocking in a Stevie Ray 'Willie the Wimp' mode, and you're in blues-rock heaven. 'Pawnbroker' is a clever and inspirationally driven cut. Listen to the John Fogerty knock-offs in this one. The CD's club atmosphere is purely sensational, and the acoustics are excellent.

Live! Highwayman has been on the Billboard blues chart for a couple of months now, and for good reason. This CD demonstrates just how alive and stimulating blues-rock guitar still is. Tinsley Ellis doesn't miss a note; his playing is tremendous.

Live! Highwayman

1. Introduction
2. To The Devil For A Dime
3. Highwayman
4. A Quitter Never Wins
5. Real Bad Way
6. Hell Or High Water
7. The Next Miss Wrong
8. The Last Song
9. Leavin' Here
10. Pawnbroker
11. The Axe
12. Double Eyed Whammy

Tinsley Ellis: guitar and vocals
Todd Hamric: keyboards and background vocals
The Evil One: bass and background vocals
Jeff Birch: drums

Produced by Tinsley Ellis and Bruce Iglauer
Alligator Records - June 7 2005

Links

Tinsley Ellis
Live! Highwayman on Alligator Records
Tinsley Ellis tour dates
Live! Highwayman on Amazon.com