October 2006 Cd Reviews

Cds are rated from 1 to 7 Harps!

Steve"Big Daddy BluzHarp"Harvell

The Reverend Raven has new cd out called,"Big Bee",and it has got to be one of the best cds that I have listened to this year.The Reverend Raven has this special talent of finding the very best blues harmonica players on the planet for each new cd,just like Muddy Waters use to do.In the past Reverend Raven has used harmonica players Cadillac Pete and Madison Slim(one of the top (5) harmonica players on the planet). And now for "Big Bee" we have Benny Rickun on harmonica.

Now,as most of my readers know I am VERY specific in my personal taste and for the first three songs on "Big Bee" I was not sure about Benny Rickun because Madison Slim is a pure Monster on harp.But when the 4th song came on,"Someday When I am Dead and Gone", I became a new devotee to the awesome tone and expertise of Benny Rickun! I then started the whole cd over and listened with a new appreciation and was I ever treated to some of the best blues harmonica and guitar to be had on the planet earth.

And now to our MAIN MAN, The Reverend Raven who in my mind's eye should be upheld as one of the Top (5) Blues Guitarist in the world! He is adept at leading a band,keeping it fresh and new over the span of his career. He can cover every aspect of the blues imaginable with his own twist that makes his original and cover tunes absolutely a pure pleasure to listen to time and again. In fact, I listen to the Reverend Raven more than any other blues guitarist, I hope that this statement gives you and inkling to how much I like this cat's music.

Back when I was a younger buck we use to have this statement in the group of friends that I hung with,"Talk is cheap, let's see some action"! So ya want to hear The Reverend Raven before ya buy, O.K. , go to the following link to listen and buy, "I Command You".Click here to listen to The Rev and Benny play! The Rev is carrying on the tradition that Muddy and Little Walter laid the foundation to almost a half a century ago, please , give The Rev some praise and a listen, you will become converted like me and be destined to spread the word wide and near.

I give this new cd by The Rev a granite solid (7) Harp Salute and to Benny Rickum the harp player I have created a new catagory. And that is"The Tastefull but Damned Nasty Harp Award" for giving us a new twist on how the harp SHOULD be played.And let us not forget P.T. Pederson on bass and Spencer Podash on drums,for they too are at the top of their relative instruments and lay down the grooves for The Rev and Benny to play on and provide us with some of the best blues and boogie in the galaxy.I highly recommend this cd.

Go to the following link to read my "September 2004" review of The Reverend Raven's cd "Live At The Blues On Grand" featuring Madison Slim on Harmonica. "Live At The Blues On Grand" featuring Madison Slim on Harmonica



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