Bryan Lee Sanctuary

Bryan Lee
Sanctuary
Earrelevant Records

Some of my most memorable experiences listening to blues live (as well as listening to blues recordings) came from Bryan Lee. This is his latest CD with a variety of backing musicians including Jimmy Voegeli on keyboards, Jack Berry on bass and Matt Liban on drums.

Lee calls this a blues-gospel recording and that might impact one's reaction to this. I do not take away from Lee's convictions, but some might find too much preaching here although Lee sings strongly and plays wonderfully. The band is excellent as well but even on a solid shuffle like "The Gift" where he recites his musical influences he was says Jesus straightened him out and now Bryan knows what to do. Then he sings that "Jesus Gave Me the Blues," that is followed by a rendition of the late Cootie Stark's "U-Haul," with its lyric that we don't owe anything since we can't take it when we pass on. Lee does a fervent new recording of one of his older blues, "Don't Take My Blindness For Weakness," where he sings I'm as good as you, and anytime one makes one, Bryan has to make two. There is also a nice arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer," that Lee sings his heart out.

As stated, "Sanctuary" is musically a solid Bryan Lee performance, but again some may be turned off by the religious content.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the January-February 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 382). Here is an earlier live version of "Don't Take My Blindness For Weakness."