Lucid Intervals takes the listener through various canals of R&B, county and classic blues. Kelly displays his musicality on Lucid through his smooth slide guitar work and Robert Johnson sounding vocals. A must buy for any true blues lover.
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George has amazing talent. This is a GREAT CD.  I'm going to introduce my favorite local DJ, who plays The Blues on Sun. nights, to this CD.
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When Detroit singer/guitarist George Kelly asks you "Where the Blues Are", he need only direct you to his new CD, Lucid Intervals on Mixter Records.  As he sings his words, it's obvious that he's been there, 

In an era of cover versions and collaborative writing, it's refreshing to note that Kelly proves to be an accomplished songwriter as well as performer, penning the lyrics and music for all ten songs on his CD.  His compositions are steeped in the traditions of rhythm and blues but are performed with the fire and desire of the day.  From the dark depths of "Desert Island" to the beat cool rhythms of "Love Interest" to the rockin', foot shufflin' "Bluesman", we are taken on a journey through a musical landscape of low valleys and high mountaintops, seemingly bathed in the warmth of your lover's breath and chilled by the winter wind off of Lake St. Clair.  Kelly and his band deliver on every level.  It's clear that each musician has been hand-picked because of their first-rate talents and collaborative capacity.  Russ Miller's saxophone blasts and brassy fills leap and bound confidently about the arrangements, Dave Taylor's drums and Paul Finazzo's bass ask no more than to be the heartbeat of the music and Mark McCoy and Mike Mackey's guitars provide a warm rhythm underlying Kelly's voice and guitar.  Co-producer Bill Gaff is on keyboards, playing a B3 organ through most of the tracks, complimenting the flavor of the sound with its rich chords.  Most importantly, the sound and mix quality of the recordings presents each performer in a distinctive manner, while allowing the whole to come together in assured balance.

Rising above this skilled backing swells George Kelly's vocals and slide guitar.  When you hear his rich, strong voice, full of character and passion, you can't help but compare it to others.  I think of David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin, Chicago).  Kelly holds his words to their meaning, inflicting a character that only one who wrote them can impose.  Kelly's slide guitar technique also affords comparisons, reaching as far back as Elmore James, as current as Derek Trucks and sometimes as fluid as Duane Allman.  This guy can play!  The roller coaster of emotions evoked by his songwriting are often born on the strings of his slide guitar, full of lament or soaring with joy.

It's one thing to be a good songwriter, and another to be a proficient slide guitarist, and yet another to bring it all forth with such a cultivated voice.  With Lucid Intervals you get all three in one individual, served up over a group of nearly perfect musicians.  All things said, I'm not yet familiar enough with this album.  Like a new romance, I look forward to getting better acquainted.

Skip Moore
Albany, CA
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The other review pretty much sums it up, I just wanted to verify everything on the other review because it's all true. George Kelly is an incredibly talented musician and also a great songwriter. Believe me when I say this cd is worth the buy and so much more.
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