Tuesday, May 25, 2010


Jimmy Bowskill – The Jimmy Bowskill Band Live (Ruf Records).

It’s always brave to release a live album but to do it with your debut shows a real confidence in your own ability. Is it me or are guitarists getting younger every day? 18 year old Bowskill is the latest off the Ruf production line. He is an exciting young player with a powerful, yet still youthful voice and riffs abound on the gritty opener, Far From Reality. His style on Peter Green’s Rattlesnake Shake is actually more reminiscent of Paul Kossoff and there is some way over the top sustain. Walk In My Shadow is a Free song and whilst he is no Paul Rodgers in the vocal stakes, he has more than the capability to match Paul Kossoff. His fingers are now starting to fly. Loser is the obligatory slow one and he turns in a strong vocal performance to hold the crowd. Be Mine is a driving rocker and Dan Neill’s snare drum gets a real beating. Slide guitar adds to the wall of sound. Broke Down Engine is Rory Gallagher, Joe Bonamassa and Gary Moore all wrapped up in one – he really is that good!!

Drifting Haze is a very descriptive title as Jimmy takes you out on an ocean of sound and allows your mind to completely relax whereas Diamond Ring is a cracking blues rocker. It’s shorter than most but that allows him to maintain the impact. Jimmy’s treatment of the old Free song, Ride A Pony just confirms that the sky is the limit for him. He really can go anywhere his ambition takes him. The hi-pace instrumental, Karaday gives drummer Neill the chance to come to the fore. BB King’s Three O’Clock In The Morning is a mournful blues with a big solo and Link Into Your Chain is a superb finish. It is full of energy and action and confirms his songwriting credentials.

Big things beckon for Jimmy Bowskill – remember the name!

http://www.rufrecords.de/
http://www.jimmybowskill.com/

David Blue.

No comments: