Steve James
Fast Texas
Burnside Records
Texan Steve James might not be the household name that say Kelly Joe Phelps is, but that’s more a marketing issue than one of talent. Steve James is indeed anyone’s equal with a guitar in his hands. His latest offering, Fast Texas, is 16 cuts of acoustic blues bliss. It’s part new takes on old (like prewar) blues, such as “Jack O’ Diamonds (Is A Hard Card To Play)” (a staple for Blind Lemon Jefferson) and “Cocaine Blues,” and part James’s own creations, like the driving title track and the Fahey/Kottke-ish “Sukey.” Joined by Del Rey on resonator and the legendary Cindy Cashdollar on steel guitar, James has impeccable taste and more chops than a Kung-Fu marathon.
Burnside Records: http://www.burnsiderecords.com/