ELLIS HOOKS
Up Your Mind (Evidence Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

---

I'm very fortunate to be your Cosmik Blues correspondent, because I get to discover many new blues artists like Ellis Hooks. Ellis Hooks' Up Your Mind is his second debut, his first being 2002's British release, Undeniable. Producer Jon Tiven, who also twisted knobs for the Handy-award winning It's Harder Now from Wilson Pickett, sits in on guitar along with his wife Sally on bass. The set-stealer for me is the duet with blues vocalist Freddie Scott, "Man of the Blues," because it brings me right back to backporch blues down South. When I first heard Up Your Mind, Ellis reminded me of the younger generation of bluesmen like Bernard Allison or Jonny Lang, particularly on songs like "Ride With Me," the title cut, and "Controlling Picasso." The story Jon Tiven tells about his first meeting with Ellis in the liner notes is priceless, but it's no match to Ellis' R & B vocals and fine guitar work.

Track List:

Ridin' With Fire * Up Your Mind * Eight Months Ago Today * Holding Out My Love * Man of The Blues * Controlling Picasso * Still Waiting * Last Chance for Happiness * Down For the Last Time * Jessie Got Shot * Black Wolf Bone * How Long * To Get You Back in My Arms Again

© 2003 - Eric Steiner