Night Train, the lead-off tune, offered me a ticket onto an unexpectedly appreciated ride with a gentleman whose music I was not acquainted with before now. I say “unexpectedly” because,..... well, everyone “plays the blues” these days, but the authentic, traditional feel Mr. Benoit captures is, in my opinion, quite special. Tab Benoit’s got a great voice, and of equal importance, he has nice command of it. Research of MNBlues Reviews would indicate that my old friend Jimmy Thackery may have stumbled upon the same discovery a while ago ( the two talents have evidently colaborated on several occasions ). Tab is not a guitarist’s guitarist, and has not achieved what some have in terms of touch and tone. He does, however, use the skills he possesses on the guitar tastefully and honestly. The band sound is good throughout eleven enjoyable cuts.
Plenty of traditional blues abounds with Little Girl Blues, I Smell a Rat, and Can’t Hold Out. Tab’s “home” is a Cajun-style design under which “Golden Crown” and some of the other simple soul-feel numbers draw spicey flavor. It’s easy-listening; the CD plays smoothly, and without the need to skip a track. To me, that’s saying something. The three piece instrumentation set-up of the band is an elective, and can be a challenge, especially in the studio, for any artist. There is an occasional sparseness in the tracks, but I regard that as an element that is, on the most part, won over by the talents of these players..
There is little new or flashy about “Fever for the Bayou,” as a CD work; it’s not necessarily a “stand-out.” There is , however, much heart, soul and simple, good feel, and for those who “like it like that,” here’s a winner for your blues collection.
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