Album Notes

This article was written by Mark E. Gallo "Blues Notes" published by the Detroit Blues Society Feb-2008,some additional material included by Paul Miles.
Paul Miles has a new CD titled Steppin Out , a born entertainer , as any one who has seen his energetic performance will attest..Dressed to the nines in a style more at home in the 1940s than 2008,with a penchant for uptempo guitar and a voice-driven tunes that generally bring a smile to the listener,he is in a category by himself. he's just as much a born entreprenuer. He produces and releases his own discs, and writes, sings and plays guitar unaccompanied on each of them. Miles won in the Best Acoustic Blues category of the 2002 Detroit stage of the International Blues Challenge,the Detroit Music Award 2007 for Best acoustic/folk instrumentalist,recently he won 3 Detroit Music Awards in 2008 for Best Recording-"Steppin Out",Best Songwriter,Best Instrumenatalist in the Blues/R&B category. As a slide player he's formidble.As a singer he explodes with joy. This 16-tune collection abounds with standouts. "Come Back" is especially impresive with its shuffling slide and expressive vocalizing."Lets Dance" is a tune about one of his favorites pastimes(like Marvin Gaye." Lets get it on."),"Is the World Going Insane?" is his take on human relationships, and "Can You Tell Me" 9"what I'm fighting for/can you tell me what I'm dying for") is the self-avowed peace activits's narrative on the war.,"Just Relax" is a mellow tune that suggests that the music should"come on through to you". he plays banjo on "Gonna Be Allright" and on "Back to the Country" he cranks the energy up with tasty speedy guitar licks. Paul Miles fans, who grow by leaps and bounds with every new performance, will find the same formula here that has been impressing for so long. It grows more refined with each new release. This marks the seventh album in nine years. Like its predessors,you get aural glimpses of everyone from Taj Mahal to Furry Lewis in the mix,but the essence is purely Paul Miles. The guitar,vocals and songwriting are all superb and injected with joy. Paul Likes to hoot and holler in accompaniment to that might voice and strong guitar work. This is a recording that might make listener respond in kind.