William Clark's debut CD on Alligator records Blowin' Like Hell was heralded as one of the best harp recordings of the year. After seeing and hearing him play it's no wonder he is getting all this attention. He plays a mean, powerful, deep toned harmonica that reminds me a little of Carey Bell and Walter Horton but in a style that is all his own. I think I was more out of breath than he was after listening to some of his blistering harp solos. In addition to his first CD he has three more on Alligator, Serious Intentions, Groove Time and his new release The Hard Way. If you like hard driving, straight ahead harmonica blues you'll have some good listening in store for you.

On one of his CD's he sites some of his influences on harp as Charlie Musselwhite, Shakey Jake Harris, and George Harmonica Smith. Clark certainly has mastered his instrument and is progressing in his personal style that is all blues. It's too bad the show was on a Sunday night (they played in Kansas City Saturday and drove all night to get here). I don't think there were more than 40 or so people in the audience but they were true blues fans and readily showed their appreciation for the bands outstanding performance.

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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