Search - Big Dave, Ultrasonics :: Big Dave & Ultrasonics

On their third album, "Big Dave" Steele and his four Ultrasonics gravitate to historic black music styles without coming across as copycats. Rather, the Ann Arbor-based band, led by Steele from its inception in 1990, brings freshness to its sound by streamlining elements of house-rockin' swing, jump-jive boogie, gospel, jazz, Memphis soul-R&B, and Chicago and Texas blues. Steele's blues guitar playing, always technically competent and often jazz-inflected, has the capacity to flame up with inspiration, as when he pursues his muse into Bo Diddley territory on roots-rumbler "Black Coffee" or chooses just the right notes for his feature spots on the stylish shuffle "Big Bad Blues Train." And the band is fortunate in having two other capable soloists: Dave Morris on harmonica and Ben Wilson on keyboards. --Frank-John Hadley