ANTHONY GOMES
Sweet Stringin' Soul (Urban Electric)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

---

Anthony Gomes' all-acoustic baker's dozen on Sweet Stringin' Soul is a must for fans of acoustic blues. He's a hard-charging electric bluesman around Chicago, but he's quite capable of simmering just fine not plugged in. Gomes and Dan "King" Kahn fire up tasty acoustic blues, flavored with slide and just great blues pickin.' The jaunty "When I Play the Blues" and the title cut showcase a tight ensemble with Gomes right out front on acoustic, backed by the soul-filled Joan Collaso and Rene Mohannon on vocals. Veteran harpman Slim Harpo ushers in "Heartbreak Train" just like an old freight rolling off in the distance, and he blows sinister on "Wolf in the Henhouse," right along with Gomes' great slide. "Pain in My Heart," recalls Muddy, Son House and Howlin' Wolf (if they ever played unplugged). There's also a surprise cut that features Biscuit Miller (of the Lonnie Brooks band) on bass and Roosevelt "Matter" Purifoy on keyboards (it was too short, though).

© 2000 - Eric Steiner