Review of Lucky Oil on My Hand

A CD that will leave the heart of the Blues traditionalist beating faster! The acoustic trio of Sheryl Warner on the vocals, guitarist Gregg Kimball, and harmonica player Rick Manson moves completely in classic Blues waters. Thus the repertoire of the disc comes from among others Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red and Blind Boy Fuller, and stylistically moves between Piedmont (“Corrine, What Makes You Treat Me So?”), Ragtime (“Chump Man Blues”), St. Louis (“Won't You Be Kind?”) and Delta (“Trouble in Mind”). Steve Utts re-enforces the three on some tracks on the piano.

Warner’s voice is clear and delightful, and sometimes recalls the Icons of the great era of the Blues singers of the Twenties. Kimball and Manson offer the perfect foundation for the vocals, excellent in technique and atmosphere. The interaction of the full-sounding guitar work with the extremely melodic harp and the dynamics of Warner’s voice conjures a mood that succeeds overall in striking a fascinating bridge between history and the present. The material may lie in the past, but the sound could not be more in the present. Impressive!