I've received quite a few recordings from Mudcatters over the four years I've been here, and many of them have made it to the airwaves on "Acoustic Workshop". They've ranged from (occasionally)pretty bizzare to really excellent, but few (if any) have reached the level of Reggie Miles (with Ham Gravy) At The Crossroads.

I don't know the guy, and all I remember about his posts here is that he has a pretty knowledgeable sense of the blues, he busks, plays the SAW(!) and lives in Washington State.

I put this album on two days ago, and after about thirty seconds was calling to Heather in the other room...."Hey, come and listen to this! This guy really swings"!

Well the whole album "swings", including the slow pieces. It's a mixture of Bluesey, jazzy, juggy, eclectic stuff and it relects a HUGE commitment on the part of the singer/players. I'm not sure who plays what on specific songs so I'll focus on Reggie (his band mates are Jack Cook and hugh Sutton) for this review.

My criteria for enjoyment of music are simple: Originality being the first. Well, that's a tricky thing in Blues music, because so many recordings are derivative with very slight deviations from "the learning source". Reggie MAKES this music his own. His take on Leroy Carr's "Papa's On The Houstop" is the best I've heard, and Gershwin's Summertime "on the saw" must be heard to be believed. He's got songs by Rusty Draper, Bert Williams, Clifford Hayes etc. which proves that he "digs deeply" for material. One question though: "Who's 'One Man Johnson'? You got me there, reggie.

I'm big on "investment". Well, if Reggie Miles isn't a "lifer" (someone who's commitment to making music is life-long and supercedes many of the more mundane things like 'earning a lot of money' Ha ha(!), I'll be surprised. He seems to know his genre well enough to simply be called "A Bluesman".

Timing, and pitch. Yup...he swings, and he's on key, I can't ask for more.

Anyway, this album causes me to smile...Big time. Great work Reggie.

I'm not sure if I should give ordering information, without hearing from Reggie first, (If you see this could you let folks know how to get it) but I WILL say, if you give this album as a holiday present you can be sure of some smiles on the other end. Even your elderly Aunt who watches Lawrence Welk re-runs will probably like it!

Cheers

Rick