Kitchener’s vocalist/harpist Jordan Pattersonreleased a very good CD in 1996 on the JSP label called Give Me A Chance featuring guest spots from Bobby Rush and Bobby Parker. We learn from the press release that he then went into artist tour management & promotion. He returned to his first love last year with a four song EP that did so well he’s here with an exciting full album and a major label distribution deal. He released two singles from the album before its official release February 19.

The time off certainly has not hurt him in the least, he is a very good singer and songwriter as you’ll discover as soon as you hear this. Rocking blues is the style he plays in and it is masterfully handled – two guitars, bass & drums backing his harp & vocals with keyboards & backing vocals. “Favourite Boy” describes how he got a harmonica as a child and how much it impressed him. His harp work here proves the point. Soul blues best describes “Can We Fall In Love Again”, a tender ballad about trying to return to a relationship that once was. Gorgeous guitar work here from either Darryl Romphf or Bobby Thompson. “She’s Cool” is a grinder with more excellent harp work. “Play My Song” is one of the songs on last year’s EP, with Shawn Kellerman on guitar and Patterson labels it ‘revisited’ indicating a different mix and adding Scott Galloway’s B3. It’s still the same song but it’s a good one, even better now. “If You’d Help Me Please”, again from the EP, is a stone solid slow blues, worth the price of the CD all by itself. “Do You Believe” is a new one that sounds very radio friendly to me and I hope they grab it. It may not be blues but you’ll be humming it again and again. Back to grinding for “Heartbreaker”, a familiar theme perhaps but rarely sounding so good. The harp solo is longer here too. The rocking “Don’t Take Me Down” has some very good lyrics, well sung – a superb concluding song. The engine room is excellent with Mark McIntyre on bass and Benjamin Rollo on drums. Skyler Jordan deserves mention too on backup vocals. You’ll be remembering this one when it comes to voting in the fall. But you don’t have to take my word for it, these songs are streaming at www.jordanpatterson.ca.


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