JD Taylor The Coldwater Sessions

JD Taylor
The Coldwater Sessions
VizzTone

JD Taylor is a triple threat as a singer, harmonica player, and songwriter. Formerly a member (for 25 years) of the band Little Boys Blue, "The Coldwater Sessions" is his first solo album. He brings a bunch of influences from Jimmy Reed, Junior wells to Memphis soul. Among the musicians backing him are guitarists John Hay and Landon Stone, bass guitarist Matthew Wilson, drummer Danny Banks, keyboardist Rev. Charles Hodges, brass player Mark Franklin, and saxophonist Art Edmaiston. Kevin Houston, who recorded this and co-produced it added percussion, Joe Restivo and Zack Lees each guest on guitar on a track, Mikey Junior plays harmonica on one song, and members of Southern Avenue add backing vocals.

Taylor establishes himself as a singer of nuance and passion quickly on the Jimmy Reed-styled lazy shuffle "Get Me Where You Want Me," and the funky "Ooh Wee." The latter number is built around the guitar riff of Junior Wells "Messing With the Kid," and there is a nod to Wells in Taylor's singing here. His harmonica skills are evident on both these tracks, whether the full-bodied amplified harmonica on "Get Me Where," and the warbling playing on the latter number, which also sports two crisp guitar solos with strong horn riffing in the background. Then Taylor follows up with the Memphis styled soul of "Nothing Left to Stay," sung with warmth and heartfelt emotion. Another convincing slice of deep soul is "At First Glance."

There is also a funky Chicago-styled blues, the easy rocking shuffle, "By All Means" which features Joe Restivo's solid, straight-forward guitar. Landon Stone sparkles on guitar on both the funky, "It Ain't Real Deal," and the quick-paced shuffle "Hanging On." There is another lazy Jimmy Reed styled shuffle, "Honey Honey Baby," where Taylor channels Reed as a singer and harmonica player. Mikey Junior wrote, added harmonica, and shared the vocal on the blues he penned, "Anastasia," an atmospheric performance.

Closing this release is "The Coldwater Swing" is a high stepping instrumental that may evoke the theme from The American Bandstand TV show. It features superb guitar from Zach Lees and Jon Hay and sterling harmonica. It is a splendid finale to a superlative album of first-rate blues and soul music.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. Here is a video of a 2019 performance involving JD Taylor.