Steve Thorpe
Live, Down and Dirty CSI #12693

This is a powerful and blues packed CD, and that’s all there is to say, but I’ll tell you anyway. I had to stop and wonder if I’d ever seen this guy, and ask myself, where’s he been all my life! He is one of the hottest guitarists I’ve heard in a while, and once I put it on, It just kept ripping me apart. This recording consists of 12 tracks mostly picked from a list of guitar great’s B.B. King, who dominates with four of his cuts here. A funky version of “The Thrill Is Gone,” the classic “Everyday I Have the Blues,” “Never Make A Move Too Soon,” and the medley “Sweet Little Angel/How Blue Can You Get,” with the other half by Jack Clement all provide enough entertainment to fill Lake Michigan. Another medley of sorts includes the thrashing opener, “Dust My Broom/Boot Hill.”
A stunning rendition of Jimi’s “Little Wing” is here, and is nearly a light year long at just over nine minutes. It scorches the listener with it’s incredible solo’s by Thorpe, and a drenching melody from the band. It’s one of the best versions I’ve ever heard. Several other precise and accentuated tracks are present that relive the story of the blues including Willie Dixon’s “Young Fashion Ways,” and Broonzy’s “Key To The Highway.” The staple classics “I Just Want A Little Bit,” and “Stormy Monday,” only strengthen the foundation of this recording. Two Thorpe originals are here with “Flower Girl,” and the finishing bonus track, which is in sharp contrast to the rest of the songs as dueling acoustic slide and finger picked guitars lay out the boogie beat of “Hurricane Grays.” A line in the song goes “I used to have the Hurricane Blues, but now I’ve got the Hurricane Grays,” seeming telling the story of life in the sunshine state where this CD was recorded. The pure authenticity of this four piece band is amazing. The Blues Orchestra includes Nathan Thorpe on bass, Tom Bayes on drums , who is also on the Steve A. Miller CD “Goin Home,” and the incredibly talented keyboardist Kenny Clarke. His playing litterally stands tall along side Thorpe’s ripping guitar as his agile fingers tear into the keys with passion and deliverance. The sound quality of this live recording is dynamic and absorbed in clarity. I will in the future be looking for his live performance even if I have to venture into gator country to do so.

- Dirk Wissbaum