The Tiger blues band may be LI's busiest band and Monster Mike Manne makes it happen. They are releasing their 2nd disk, Mr. Blues and I and it is filled with the same fire that their live sets are known for. Manne provides Southside axe that flies and soars on nimble fingers and fretwork. The songs are a combo of covers and self written blues. The band is tight, the rhythms clean and authoritative, the vocals powerful and the groove is moving. The disk opens with "Come Back Baby" and precedes to cover a finely selected group of classics and 4 Manne-ish compositions. Mike's singing is effective and direct and he exhibits from a unique melismatic quality and sense of phrasing. My favorite cuts included the cooking "Texas Stomp", a cool and jazzy read on Grover Wahington Jr's "Mister Magic" and the final extended jam of "Elizabeth Reed." Mike and band have put out some fine, strong cuts in an interesting and well produced disk. Congrats to all.