Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin

April 18 - 25, 1 9 9 6

**1/2 Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin

MY BLUES & MY GUITAR

(Alligator)

Margolin opens the CD with "Moving South," staking out a Muddy Waters-style rolling guitar backed by a disciplined rumbling rhythm section. As in his live shows, the ex-Waters sideman is clearly at home with his searing electric guitar, his loud-mouthed Sunnyland Slim-style singing, and a band stripped to the sultry, blues-club basics of piano, percussion, and bass. Unfortunately the studio gives Margolin the freedom to record with horn arrangements -- such as on Leiber and Stoller's "Drip Drop" and several other less classy numbers -- and these are too big and too loud to be enjoyable outside an equally big and loud club.

Then again, his live shows leave out the country-blues intimacy of "Falling Star" and Waters' "Going Home." With Steve Hunt's bass prevailing over Margolin's acoustic, and drummer Chuck Cotton's vocal harmonizing with Margolin's baritone lead, the trio provide a sound as thick and humid as Mississippi air in August. "Peace of Mind," a Snooky Pryor tune, features Pryor singing and blowing his whiny, soul-bleating harp solos. Pianist David Maxwell chips in with an easygoing treble harmony and solo, and Margolin's rhythm guitar apes the swing of Pryor's notes.

-- Marc Levy

(Bob Margolin plays Johnny D's on Friday, April 19.)