All-star blues

Well, the touring 10-piece Mannish Boys are currently wowing audiences in the US and, more recently, in Europe with an all-star blues line-up and a new album called Lowdown Feelin' - their fourth for Delta Groove.

Delta Groove's label boss Randy Chortkoff assembled the Mannish Boys back in 2004 with veteran blues artists, such as soulful vocalist Finis Tasby and west coast harmonica player Johnny Dyer.

They played alongside some of the cream of white blues artists, who hailed from such great bands as The Hollywood Blue Flames and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Also on this album are guitarist Junior Watson and drummer Richard Innes - both veterans of Hollywood Fats band and the mighty Canned Heat.

Fronted by the triple guitar threat of Kid Ramos, Kirk Fletcher and Paris Slim (Frank Goldwasser), with Chortkoff alongside Dyer on harmonicas, this set also includes an array of special guests - Al Blake on keyboards, Ronnie James Weber on bass and, notably, harmonica wizard Little Sammy Davis.

Their new 17-track set features originals and marvellous covers of blues sides that other contemporary blues band's don't normally touch.

The Mannish Boys last outing Big Plans was one of the best rhythm and blues albums of 2007. With Lowdown Feelin', they are onto another sure-fire winner.

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