WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Bohler, Kaye – “Like a Flower” (Indie) B+

Lots of promo noise being made about Bohler, here backed by Robben Ford and Tommy Castro on guitars, horn and big vocal-backups behind a collection of blues-pop-rock tunes. Power vocals with lots of vibrato. Killer musicians put down a bed over which Bohler soars with plenty of vocal power. I’m not much into big band blues, but she can hold her own with what it takes to stay out in front of it. Castro and Ford sure put this disc in the pocket and nice vocal backups polish it nicely.

Handley, Randy – “You Don’t Know My Mind” (Way INTUIT) B+

Long ago, but not far away, Randy Handley was a prominent figure in Bloomington’s music scene. A wonderful songwriter and singer, he held together a band that kicked booty (with Kenny Aronoff doing some of the kicking). Went the way of the buffalo for beaucoup years, and here he is again on a CD produced by another local musician (lately of Nashville, TN), Mark Robinson. Handley’s songs have been featured on “platinum and grammy winning” albums. He checks in here with five originals (two co-written with Robinson), and one killer cover of a traditional tune—the title cut—which he puts over deliciously in both acoustic and electric-band fashion. With a voice wizened by time, he fills his tunes with vivid description, maturity, and the weary observation of Dylan/ Springsteen/Knopfler. The disc starts with slow songs, moves into medium rock and finishes with some righteous rockers – all bristling with thoughtful lyrics and a keen musicality. It felt good to hear Handley still delivers, even from the land of the buffalo.

Nelson, Tracy – “Victim of the Blues” (Delta Groove) B

Tracy Nelson has been around a lonnnnng time on the music scene. Born in California, but raised in Wisconsin, she began singing there in the early 60’s and recorded her first (blues) record while paling around with Charlie Musselwhite in Chicago. Then she moved to California and a wildly eclectic catalog of music, recording (and garnering fame akin to Janis Joplin) in country, soul, and pop, first by forming the famous “Mother Earth” California band in 1968, moving to Nashville, TN and then returning to California. In ’93, after recording on many labels, performing with just about everyone, and garnering beaucoup awards, she returned to blues/Rounder, and here (on her 26^th album) she delves into her formative blues influences. With gritty and fierce vocal style she puts it over “as well as a Norwegian White Girl can.” The disc is reflective of sixties rock-blues (Cocker/Russell/Ball) with big-mama belter out in front and multi-back-up lady singers (Angela Strehli/Marcia Ball guest.)