Fuelled by
Coco Montoya
's searing but economical string-slashing, drummer
Joe Yuele
, and bassist
Rick Cortes
,
John Mayall
has managed to keep a stable core of Bluesbreakers together in recent years.
Mayall
rarely does the same album twice, and
Wake Up Call
finds him returning to a basic, physical sound after 1990's more progressive/highly produced
A Sense of Place
. The harp whiz has rarely flirted with the pop charts over the decades, a track record that will likely handicap the title track - a potential hit featuring guest vocalist
Mavis Staples
and some take-charge riffing from former mate
Mick Taylor
. For pure guitar joy though,
Montoya
turns the trick all on his own with barnburners
"Loaded Dice"
and "Nature's Disappearing." ~ Roch Parisien