Storms of Life
Dynastic bluesman Bernard Allison is a second-generation star now shining in his own right. The guitarist-vocalist son of the late legendLuther Allisonpaid his early dues leadingKoko Taylor's crack Blues Machine band, learned the family business leading his father's electrifying group in Europe, and has now created his own catalog of fine recordings.Storms of Lifeis the most eclectic and uniformly excellent example yet. After the sizzling solo slide guitar opener "Slip Slidin'," Allison roams wide and free, confidently overlaying his blues personality on material ranging from the reggae-tinged "Just Do Me Any Way You Want" to the R&B; title track, which glides over a cushion of keyboards and extra percussion. A bouncy, horn-powered rendition of "Goodbye Little Girl" that recallsBobby "Blue" Blandprovides a fitting conclusion. Allison surprisingly, but effectively, mixes a wide variety of cover material, including everything fromZZ Top's "I Wanna Drive You Home" toMark Knopfler's "I Think I Love You Too Much" to mentorJohnny Winter's suitably manic "Mean Town Blues." The well-chosen covers, including tunes byAnders Osborne,Leon Russell, and papa Luther, convincingly demonstrate his gifts as an interpreter.--Michael Point