Blues Plate Special

With any luck, Blues Plate Special should prove to be the breakthrough album that lands Mick Martin a national recording contract. In the past few months I've listened to dozens of major label promos and this CD stands up well against the competition. Backed by his best band ever, Mick has taken some huge personal strides as a journeyman practitioner of the blues. I was particularly impressed with his growth as a vocalist as evidenced by his handling of an intense, slow blues in G like The Way You Used To Be, the album's runaway highlight. Mick's voice is clean and strong and his phrasing is impeccable. This track is also a showcase for band members Russ Skarsten, playing high wire Hammond riffs, and guitarist Tim Barnes, who plays some wickedly bent strings.

Russ Skarsten's keyboard throughout the album is a revelation. Whether he's pounding out a driving boogie on the piano as on There's the Door; or doing his best Lucky Peterson on the Hammond as on Boogie All Night Long, Russ's playing fills out every song with tasteful rhythms and inspired solos. Tim Bames, the ex-Stoneground lead guitarist, provides everything from razor sharp, overdriven slide as on She Must Be Crazy, to the pleading, sustained notes of The Way You Used To Be. I was particularly impressed with his restraint on the solos and fills of that song. The backbone of the band, providing a rock solid back- beat and expert shuffle fills, is one of the best blues drummers anywhere, Sacramento veteran Jerry Banks ably assisted on rhythm by bassist Steve Schofer.

Blues Plate Special is filled with high energy dance numbers, funky grooves, rockin' shuffles and even the swamp boogie of Got to Move, which also features a smoking Bames guitar solo.. . and of course, be sure to catch the guys live at their frequent Sacramento area appearances.
- Jack Oudiz, Sacramento Blues Society