The Edmonton based jump blues band the Highliners have had an astonishing career in the last few years. Formed in 1995, the current lineup consists of front man, singer and songwriter Robert Tycholis, guitarists Clayton Sample and Alex Herriot, drummer Ken McMahon and bassist Jeff Smook.
The band plays more than 250 dates each year and has released two independent albums-"Chicks Suits" and "Cadillacs" and the Juno-nominated "What Were You Thinking?"-and won the Toronto Blues Society New Talent Search. The band was also chosen 1997 Independent Recording Artists of the Year by COCA, the campus entertainment organization and last year they were nominated for Entertainer of the Year alongside established acts 54-40, Wide Mouth Mason and Big Sugar.
Back in Alberta, they've won ARIA Awards for Best Group and for Best Blues Album. CD's Best cuts: T-Bone Walker's "Two Bones and a Pick"; "Come On Let's Boogie"; "Pac A Lulu" and "Sassy Sally," which finds producer/guitar slinger Duke Robillard adding some tasty electric guitar phrasing.
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This review is copyright © 2000 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.