Texas Slim - Driving Blues - TopCat Records 2009

The Dallas-born Texas Slim has been primarily a regional artist for much of his career, fronting bands Texas Slim and the Gems and The Texas Slim Blues Band, while also playing, recording, and opening for regional and national Blues acts such as Coco Montoya and Johnny Winter. He is set to break out with this Driving Blues, though, as he showcases his formidable skills with the microphone, guitar, and pen.

All of Driving Blues's 13 tracks (including the Bonus Track "Jaqui's House") were composed by Slim, who also handles lead singing duties, as well as guitar work on all of the tracks, and organ & dobro on selected tunes. Comess lends his talents on the drums, bass, and percussion throughout the disc.

Driving Blues shifts into first gear with the hard charging "Welcome To the Game," a fun song discussing the wonders of modern technology, and the fact that it can drive some folks to catch a case of the blues. Andy Comess guests on the opener on electric piano, and comes back later on the album for acoustic piano work on "Coffee Shop Girl," as well as "High Alert." The title track, "Driving Blues," is a chugging Blues shouter, where Texas Slim flexes his vocal muscle. This song is a favorite of mine on the disc. Things kind of mellow for the Slow Blues, "Three Bridges Blues," although Slim still keeps that signature intensity.

"You're Hip" features call and response guitar work. "Funky Love" has some great bass (funky indeed!), and the lyrics here are cool, opening with "Come on let's go down to that rib shack. Get some soul food with our friends, have a good time, and kick back." "Deville" is a slow, jazzy number featuring a raspy vocal from Slim, electronic piano work by Pat Daugherty, and a very nice trumpet solo from Todd Horton (who returns for "Cool With the Flow.")

"Cool With the Flow" is exactly what it says, a very cool track, with sharp guitar, hot horns, and a great bass line. This is one of the best songs on Driving Blues, and I can understand why it was selected for Texas Slim's first music video. Very nice.

Texas Slim lets his dobro talents shine on back-to-back tracks, "Country Home" and "And It Is." The first is a tune about the simple pleasures in life that most of us can only dream about ("City pace is movin' too fast. Give me some mountains, tall trees and grass. Get me away from technologies. Pass the moonshine to fight the disease.") "And It Is" is a great number with Slim handlin duties on not only dobro, but guitar, vocals, and organ.

All in all, Driving Blues is a very solid offering from Texas Slim and the good folks at TopCat Records. Slim not only fronts his own band, but also backs E.C. Scott, so my suggestion is to check out the album, and if this is your type of Blues, then don't miss Texas Slim when he comes to your city.

Standout Tracks: "Driving Blues," "Deville," "And It Is," and "Cool With the Flow"

Click Here to Listen to Clips and Purchase Texas Slim's Latest CD Driving Blues

Texas Slim Performing "Driving Blues"