Don Wise has been around for a few years serving time with The Delbert McClinton for at least 15 years. Don has just released a third solo album which has a classy feel to it. Don has also co-produced the album with Wally Moyers.
The album opens with "No Longer a Part of Your Dreams" to which George Hawkins, Jr. adds the vocals to this thrusty mid tempo gusty song. George also sings on two other numbers "Lonely Island" and "The New is Me and You". "Lonely Island" is a lovely Eden Ahbaz song which starts with some great sax from Don and has a welcome warmth stamped all over it. I particularly liked the two vocal tracks by Teresa James, "Deeper Shade of Blue" which was written by Don and his wife Pamela, and "Louisiana Moon". "Deeper Shade of Blue" is a driving forceful song with Don's lush sounding sax and Steve Meador drumming well up in the mix, but never competing with Teresa's strong vocal delivery. "Louisiana Moon" is the stand out track on the album with it's rain and it's pinch of the "I Can't Stand The Rain" rhythm pattern which is added to by some Cajun dialogue by Missy French, which gives the song a very atmospheric feel. Although another favorite is the Leiber & Stoller "Shoppin' For Clothes" originally done by the Coasters, which sees Don share the convincing vocals with "Butter Phil" Ayte, over a deep sax riff. Big Joe Maher guests on the vocal for "Lots Of Flame" which was written by Don & Pamela and has some great horn work from Don, Terry Townsend and Jimmy Bowland. There is one instrumental, the final number which is also the title track "Genuine Snake", which is a great piece of rocking honking blues.
There are also two hidden instrumentals not listed on the sleeve notes, the first starts after 30 seconds of silence on the final track "Genuine Snake." The second piece starts 30 seconds after the first bonus has finished and they both last for about 4 minutes and sound like they are a studio jam which is a very enjoyable bonus. I very much enjoyed this album, it's a well crafted and lovingly put together piece of work by a connoisseur, Don Wise.
Don Wise has a website at www.donwise.com
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This review is copyright © 2002 by Dave Thomas, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission.
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