THE KENDALL WALL BAND-THE WAY WE WAS-CD REVIEW-“INSPIRED BLUES BLAST IS A REVELATION” BY JOHN EMMS

No blues aficionado should be without this album. It’s required listening

Sounding fresh and vital this set of songs by the Kendall Wall Band proves that good playing and groove never goes out of style. Bassist Gary Kendall who has always had great taste has out did himself rescuing these ‘lost tapes’ from 25 years ago.

Most of the rest of Canada never got a chance to see The Kendall Wall Band. Cash Wall who died in 2009 is in fine form on his own You Got A Way and Won’t You Stay both with gorgeous changes that could easily be a hits on the radio in 2013

Elsewhere guitarist Richard Smyth sparkles on everything he touches and a younger Teddy Leonard delivers as ever (check out the vibrato on Just One More Time)  Piano man Martin Aucoin, and harp player Jeff Baker who also sings lead vocal on two tracks come off seasoned and eclectic.

Bassist Gary Kendall could easily score a hit radio single with the gospel track I Don’t Know (what This World’s Coming To)  Heck if 2013 needed an anthem for this troubled world then this track is almost as good as classic period Motherlode (When I Die)

Drawing equally from all parts of the blues this cd is a revelation.

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, radio host and blues rocker with Canada’s Shaftmen https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-worlds-gone-crazy/id673101570