CD Review
    William Lee Ellis
    Conqueroo
    (Yellow Dog Records BR515)
    by Gordon Baxter
    Review date: September 2003
    "Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
    Achievement for Blues on the Internet
    Presented by The Blues Foundation
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    blues picture William Lee Ellis must have been destined to be a musician. His father, Tony, was one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, and Ellis junior was named after the great man. Ellis' third CD, "The Full Catastrophe," was well received on both sides of the pond when it came out in 2000. Yellow Dog Records have now picked up on "Conqueroo" which looks set to follow in its predecessor's footsteps.

    "She Conquered The Conqueroo" opens the album in a jaunty style. Ellis serves up some nimble fingerpicking, and sounds in good voice, delivering this one with a lighter touch. A positive start, which is reinforced by the a cappella rendition of "My Religion Too," where the Masqueraders help out with the vocals. Ellis is an acknowledged lover of sacred blues, which makes the inclusion of this one, and "How The Mighty Have Fallen" a fairly natural step.

    Ellis' music is firmly rooted in the blues tradition, but he also incorporates other elements of American music along the way. Country/bluegrass gets a look in on "Where Would I Go," for example, where father Tony supplies the violin, and "Honey Take Your Time." He also gets close to rockabilly territory on "Never Be The Child" and "Rider On Your Soul" where long time cohort Larry Nager slaps the bass whilst Ellis supplies some appropriately fiery slide on steel guitar.

    Apart from a Chuck Berry's "Maybellene," which Ellis delivers as a relatively genteel romp, all of the other songs are originals. This includes the two solo tunes that close the album. "Black Sea Blues" is a fairly laid back piece which features some more nice picking before Ellis rounds off with some very neat laps slide guitar on "Rose Hill."

    "Conqueroo" is a good album, and a worthy successor to 2000's "The Full Catastrophe." Anyone who bought that one and liked it, will not be disappointed by "Conqueroo." Those who missed out last time around who like their roots music with a heavy blues slant will find plenty to admire here.

    www.yellowdogrecords.com

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