Alberta Adams, Say Baby Say, Cannonball Records

Septuagenarian shouter Alberta Adams is a legend in her hometown of Detroit, where this real-deal blues queen is treated like royalty. Her latest disc is a bold, brash, feisty statement on life and love that carries the subtitle Life's Trials And Tribulations According to Miss Alberta Adams. And expound on life she does, in an experienced, husky voice that still radiates with feeling and soul. With a crack backup band and help from her buddy, guitarist Johnnie Bassett, Alberta proves she's still happening. Her recent appearance with Bassett at the Pocono Blues Festival (see below) proved she can still cut it live, despite her need to sit while performing.

Too Slim & The Tail Draggers, King Size Troublemakers, Burnside Records

This rocking three-piece blues band lays out a rainbow of blues colors on their new CD, from wailing, dirty slide guitar, to funk, to slow laments and wistful instrumentals. All of it is notable, and it's high quality from beginning to end. Cuts like "King Size Troublemaker," "I'm Gonna Blow," and the haunting "Rosado" are exemplary. Highly recommended.

Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, How'm I Doin'?, Cannonball Records

One of my oldest friends once asked me incredulously, "You're a drummer, how can you NOT be into Latin music?" Truth is, most Latin music just doesn't move me, but Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers do, in fact, this is great stuff, with the accent on funk and jazz instead of something that reminds me of some traditional Xavier Cugat retread, or pop fluff like Selena or Ricky Martin. Check it out.

Ian Hunter, Once Bitten Twice Shy, Columbia Legacy Records

Ian Hunter enjoyed a very successful solo career after leaving Mott The Hoople and this is the first real retrospective collection of his post-Mott work. This double disc is grouped into one disc for rockers, the other for ballads, and I question the wisdom of separating the two. Other than that lone issue, there's a lot to like here, and as could be expected, a little to forget as well. All in all, a very good recording.

Billy Bragg & Wilco, Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II, Elektra Records

This is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Mermaid Avenue, a collaboration between English folkie Billy Bragg and country rockers Wilco, as they add music to another set of heretofore unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics. After World War II, Guthrie wrote lyrics feverishly at his home on Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, New York, as the effects of Huntington's disease overtook his body. The melody lines Guthrie envisioned for these songs died with him, so for a second time, Bragg and Wilco have crafted music to 15 more sets of lyrics. The results fall somewhere between the simplistic, working-class-hero approach of Guthrie's classic Library of Congress recordings and energetic roots rock ' n roll, bluegrass and country. From the vociferous hand claps and fiery acoustic guitar of "Airline To Heaven," to the 60's garage rock frenzy of "Feed Of Man," and "All You Fascists," to the poetic splendor of "Secret Of The Sea," and the sea shanty sprawl of "Hot Rod Hotel," Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II is an outstanding disc.

Supposedly, there are over 2,000 sets of completed Guthrie lyrics still waiting for music in the archives maintained by the legendary musician's family. Woody Guthrie indeed lives.

Guitarist Tinsley Ellis, now on Capricorn Records, is back with a new album of blues, rock and R&B covers and originals. Always an incendiary guitarist and decent vocalist, Ellis doesn't disappoint, attacking his arsenal of guitars with passion and energy. His version of "I've Got To Use My Imagination" is taken at a chugging medium tempo. "Days Of Old" is a rolling shuffle, "Slingshots and Boomerangs" has a New Orleans second line feel and the closer, "Let's Think About It," contains socially conscious lyrics and a swampy feel. Recommended.

The Burns Sisters, Out Of The Blue, Philo Records

The Burns Sisters just might have the best sibling harmony I have ever heard. Their emotional yet sometimes forceful phrasing is an amazing musical instrument that caresses folky ballads, celtic airs and pop songs and rocks out on uptempo numbers. The sisters are in excellent form here, as they work their way through one vocal tour de force after another. If heavenly vocals do it for you, look no further.

Caught Live: The ninth annual Pocono Blues Festival took place on Saturday July 29 and Sunday July 30. The intermittent rain and extreme humidity did little to discourage attendees, who roared appreciation for artists such as Sam Taylor, Eric Bibb, Barbara Carr, Willie Kent, George Stancell, John Mooney, Lone Star Shootout, The Holmes Brothers, Arthur Adams, Johnnie Bassett & The Blues Insurgents with Joe Weaver and Alberta Adams, Bobby Parker, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers and James Cotton, the Sunday night headliner, who filled in for the ailing Ruth Brown. As always, there were merchants selling food and drink, clothing, records, CD's, tapes, artwork, souvenirs and even smoking supplies and cigars. Several blues societies had booths also. After four years of attendance, this writer can honestly say he has never experienced anything but excellent performances at Pocono and always looks forward to next year's festival. For information on the Pocono Blues Festival contact Jack Frost/Big Boulder at 800/468-2442. Suppose I remind you about this around January 2001, OK? Fair enough.