Wetlands

Tab Benoit

Telarc
www.telarc.com

review by Tony Engelhart

One of a handful of bright rising stars in contemporary blues, Tab Benoit has drawn resemblance to guitar legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Albert Collins and Albert King. While the modest guitarist scoffs at the comparisons his playing is remarkable and versatile. His latest offering is varied as Benoit draws from an assortment of styles from swamp blues, east Texas guitar-driven blues to Delta, and Soul.

Wetlands is the first release from Tab Benoit since 1999. While the recording is long overdue, it was worth the wait and a worthy predecessor to These Blues Are All Mine.

Tab gets his mojo working from the first track with a couple Delbert-esc tunes ‘Fast and Free’ and ‘I Got Loaded’. With only an acoustic guitar, harmonica and maracas Benoit takes the listener back to the Delta with ‘Stackolina’. The blues singer ventures into the world of soul with a cover of the Otis Redding ‘These Arms Of Mine’. Fusing a funk beat with bluesy guitar riffs and solos on ‘Let Love Take Control’ creates a union of two distinct genres, which mesh together for a unique sound.

Diversity is a strategic element of Tab Benoit’s success and after only five solo recordings, Benoit seems to have grown as an artist quickly. The varied musical styles on Wetlands is evidence that this guitar player has just begun to come into his own.