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Scott Ellison - Walkin’ Through The Fire

JSE Records

15 Tracks. 58: 58

CD Baby

www.myspace.com/scottellisonband

Born in 1954 and raised in Tulsa, OK, Scott was inspired by Memphis and Motown music and became a good enough guitarist to be invited to join Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. in 1981. By the mid- 1980s, Ellison had moved to Los Angeles keeping his music career going by playing with the Box Tops, the Shirelles, the Coasters, and Peaches & Herb. By the '90s he had formed his own blues band and opened for the likes of Joe Cocker, the Fabulous T-Birds, and Buddy Guy. Unusuall for a blues tinged musician, he wrote the soundtrack to the Ben Affleck motion picture Reindeer Games.

This CD is 15 original songs all penned by Scott with either Charles Turberville or Walt Richmond and range from the lively “You Talk Too Much” through to funky soul like “Don’t Wanna Need You” and Scott is admirably supported by Turberville (bass, guitar and backing vocals), Spenser Sutton (piano, B3) and Jalon Brown (drums and percussion). The album was produced by Walt Richmond. Walt joined Eric's touring band on keys for all 2010 dates, including EC's third Crossroads Guitar Festival and has a background with country rock band The Tractors (including writing their hit “My Baby Loves to Rock It”).

But here comes my problem. The music is fine – much of it outstanding – the arrangements are terrific (including The Hot Tamale Horns in various places), Scott is a fine gravelly singer and an excellent guitarist but, and it’s a big but, in my humble opinion in far too many tracks, Scott’s voice is so far back in the mix, it almost sounds like he is in another room…well, some may like that but not me. It’s a production not a performance problem.

All in all although this is apparently supposed to be Scott’s ‘breakout’ album, I fear it will be nothing of the kind…I hope I am wrong!

Reviewer Ian McKenzie lives in England. He is the editor of Blues In The South (www.bluesinthesouth.com) a monthly flier providing news, reviews, a gig guide and all kinds of other good stuff, for people living and going to gigs along the south coast of England. Ian is also a blues performer (see www.myspace.com/ianmckenzieuk) and has two web-cast regular blues radio shows. One on www.phonic.FM in Exeter (Wednesdays: 1pm Eastern/ 12 noon Central), the second on KCOR – Kansas City Online Radio (on Fridays at 1pm Eastern/ 12 noon Central) www.kconlineradio.com.

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