The title certainly gets it right – as the album definitely brings a bit of jazz into the mix for the great John Mayall – given that the set features strong work from funky jazz heavyweights Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Freddy Robinson on guitar! Both are musicians that we love for their late 60s records on their own, and they work mighty nicely here with Mayall in a live setting – alongside heavy saxes from Clifford Solomon, and lots of great guitar, harmonica, and piano from John Mayall himself! The style is still more blues than jazz, but definitely shows an expanding style past the more slavish roots of Mayall's early years – especially reflecting his new interaction with the American scene after the breakup of the Blues Breakers. The first side of the album features a live set from Boston – and includes "Country Road", "Mess Around", "Good Time Boogie", and "Change Your Ways" – side two is from New York shows, and features three longish tracks – "Dry Throat", "Exercise In C Major", and "Got To Be This Way". (Rock, Blues) CD

The first full length collaboration between blues, soul and rock slide guitar eclecticist Ben Harper and harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite – and it's win for both – with a vibe that's rooted in many traditions, but feels right at home in both Harper's and Musselwhite's wheelhouses. We expected a blues & soul covers set when we first heard that this project was in the works – and while the prospect of these 2 fellows working together on the classic Americana songbook sounds like a pretty good idea to us – we're actually all the more impressed with this all originals take on classic styled craft. A bit of blues and blues rock, a bit of gospel, and a bit of southern styled folk soul – and a bunch of great songs! It's a full band set up for the most part, too, as opposed to a spare duos set – and the titles include "Don't Look Twice", "I'm In I'm Out And I'm Gone", "We Can't End This Way", "You Found Another Lover (I Lost Another Friend), "I Ride At Dawn", "Get Up!", "She Got Kick", "Blood Side Out" and "All That Matters Now". (Rock, Blues) CD