New York based guitarist Michael Powers lengthy career includes spells with the Ad Libs, James Cotton and Moonbeam. Powers was rediscovered by Baryon label boss, Andrew Mullhaupt in 2002. Powers' debut album, "Onyx Root," was recorded with support from Steve Jordan (drums), Neil Jason (bass) and associate producer Jimi Zhivago (keyboards and guitars).
The Hookeresque boogie, "Successful Son," gets things off to a good start. It offers a useful insight into Powers' guitar style, but you get a better feel for where Powers is coming from on the ensuing brace of covers. "[I] Can't Quit You Baby" is recognisably the Otis Rush number, but the lyrics may not be quite as you remember them, something that is also true of "Baby's Got A Train" (aka "Who's Been Talkin'?"). Powers patently regards the blues as a feeling, rather than something that has to be learned by rote.
There is also a psychedelic strand to Powers' blues, which reflects some of the influence of Jimi Hendrix. This particularly shines through on an excellent cover of "Psychotic Reaction." It is more than matched, however, by the originals "Shock" and "Graffiti," the latter calling to mind Hendrix's "Little Wing" in a few places.
Pick of the tracks is a terrific Latin based instrumental, "Night In Madrid" which features some very fine guitar picking in a flamenco style. It is run a very close second by the closing track, "Shimmy Up," a James Brown style soul number, which rounds things off in style.
Although "Onyx Root" is a rather eclectic mix, it has an overarching blues feeling running through it. The overall sound is based around the guitar and vocals of Powers, which are both up to the task. With the able assistance of a fine supporting cast of musicians, "Onyx Root" certainly shows that Powers is more than capable of delivering the goods.
www.michaelpowersfrequency.com
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