Search - Will Ray :: Mojo Blues

Tasty Licks and Catchy Hooks!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 04/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Will Ray returns to his roots to pays tribute to the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Danny Kalb, Mike Bloomfield, Dickie Betts, Duane Allman and many others that Ray attributes his early influences. The CD features 11 Ray originals that range from the slow blues number "Bad, Bad Day", to the uniquely arranged Reggae/Blues number "Oh Me, Oh My" to the Jazz/Swing "Holy Smokes" and ends with the hidden country flavored "Chicken Song" which was recorded in the 1980's. There are also guests a plenty on the recording from John "Luke" Logan to fellow Hellecasters Jerry Donahue and John Jorgenson. There is some great stuff on this recording and the guitar work is superb. Let's hope Ray has a sequel to this disc planned for the near future."

Very Quirky, Very Blues, Very Cool

Big Bad Bob | Elyria, OH | 12/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an interesting album. Either you get it or you don't. Some of the other people reviewing this CD obviously don't get what Will Ray is all about. They think his solo stuff should be more "Hellecaster-ish". I disagree. When I buy someone's solo album, I want to see another side of that person, not the same old stuff.



I've had the pleasure of seeing Will Ray perform live with the Hellecasters as well as at a G&L guitar clinic last year. His playing is downright scarey. You cannot figure out how he does some of the things he does, you just know that it sounds good.



You know what I like best about Will Ray playing the blues? It's not about sounding like all the other blues clones out there. And you know who I mean. He cannot sound like anyone else. It's impossible. The guy plays with left hand slides, he plays with right hand slides, he uses B-Benders, toys, kitchen appliances etc. He's one of the most creative dudes out there in guitarland. And he's "out there". But it all makes perfect musical sense.



Mojo Blues is cool because Ray takes a simple idiom like the blues and expounds on it, stretching it, bending it until it's played on his own terms. That's what BB King, Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton all did. It's a more personalized blues if you will. If you want to hear the same old SRV clones, this ain't the guy for you.



His version of Shennendoah will slay you. Roy Buchanan would have a hard time topping it. What's intriguing about this CD is that I always pictured Ray as simply a country player. After I bought this CD, he went up a couple of notches in my book. I also bought the backing tracks of this CD off their website and have to tell you that it's the best backing tracks CD I ever played along with, period. Shear fun.



This CD has changed the way I categorize music. Danny Gatton did the same thing for me. I only hope Mr. Ray gets together with the other Hellecasters soon and they can give us another CD soon. We need more "real" music out here."