Search - Jimmy Nelson :: Rockin & Shoutin the Blues

Jimmy Nelson is certainly in the running for the Best Singer You've Never Heard Of award. After scoring a hit way back in 1951, he recorded a few more times before basically vanishing from sight. Surprise, surprise: he's still active, and still in fine voice after all these years, as Rockin' and Shoutin' the Blues attests. This CD has it all: Nelson can growl one moment and sound smooth as honey the next, and dig into bittersweet ballads like "How Long Blues" and lighthearted romps like "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" with equal aplomb. "I'll Miss Show Business" is almost certainly autobiographical, and "New Shack Lover" has the sort of sexy rhythm such a song requires. Nelson's backing band is excellent as well; check out Matt McCabe's piano work on "How Long Blues," or the sax and guitar solos on "When You're Smiling." If there's any justice, Nelson will finally get the recognition he deserves. --Genevieve Williams