Album Notes

The West End Blues Band has cooked up a good one with the release of their new CD "Just Because I'm Out Of Money" featuring 18 original songs, all penned by the band. The band draws it's sound from a foundation of classic electric blues, but has built it into something all their own based on their roots in Blues, R&B and Jazz.

The rhythm section, propelled by Ray Fisk on bass and Jimmy Lavezzo on drums, powers the band from the get go, laying down a rhythmic, pulsing feel on the opening title track, then pulling the listener by the hand on a blues induced carpet ride, with a tight and tasty mix of blues inflected grooves, including up tempo shuffles, full flavored Texas marches, and finger snapping Jump and R&B rhythms.

West End founder and guitarist Jim Atkinson cranks out a full range of great guitar tones, combining gritty rhythm chops and snarling lead fills on tunes such as the Texas flavored "Just Say You Will", "Shining Star", or the rousing up tempo instrumental "Albert" (a tribute to early influence Albert Collins). Then he shifts gears in songs such as "Michael" and "Kerri Lee" with alluring, soulful phrasing, interlaced with a warm biting tone

Master harmonica guru Gary Bernath adds his sometimes smooth, sometimes rootsy vocal style to many of the songs. Ease into the smoky mood of "Moving To Texas" where his soulful vocals are combined with one of his many satisfying helpings of fabulous harp tone. Check out his finger popping, uptown harp attack in "Scattin' The Blues", then sit down for some greasy Delta flavor with "It's Dark and It's Cold".

And if it's saxophone you crave, this band delivers. Listen to Dave Stringham blowing up a storm in "Dave's Boogie", then catch the sweaty intensity he delivers in "Only Your Love". Stringham also teams with Gary Bernath on sax as they weave their horn parts into the sultry instrumental head in "You Think I'm Blind", featuring Jim Atkinson on vocals.

Compelling guitar styling, mesmerizing harp solos, soulful sax lines, heart felt vocals, savvy songwriting, it's all here, as the music twists tightly around the changes in every song. Masterfully recorded and engineered by Bill Smith at his Club 39 Studios in Sudbury, Massachusetts. You need to add this one to your collection!