John’s Blues Picks January 2018 – Wes Mackey
Wes Mackey is a Vancouver bluesman, now 75 years old, with roots that go back to South Carolina. He worked as a sideman in blues bands in the US before ending up in Vancouver, where he eventually re-started his solo career. He has often performed as a one-man band but for some of his recordings he assembled the best Vancouver players. This collection is drawn from four earlier discs, a set of songs he says is the ‘bluest of his blues’. He has perfected an appealing, laid back style that works very well on his personalized versions of songs like “Rock Me Baby” and “I’ll Play The Blues For You” – he has a wonderfully economical approach to guitar playing, making each note count. This part of his style is something many players should learn. Eight of the twelve songs here are written by him and/or his partner, Laura Fisher, led by “Prisoner” and followed closely by “Blues Shack”, “Born In Carolina” and “Mr. Blues”. With appearances on keyboards by Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Robbie King or Dave Webb; drums by Chris Nordquist; Dave “Hurricane” Hoerl, harp; and Russell Jackson, bass, the playing throughout is superb. This is a beautifully sequenced collection of old and new. The fans in Europe have long recognized Wes’ talent and in fact he has just returned from a tour of France. Find out more at www.wesmackey.com.