Album Review of
Inside Out

Written by Duane Verh
November 30, 2014 - 12:00am EST
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Like Sugar Blue, harmonica ace Roly Platt pushes the instrument's borders.  Like Charlie Musselwhite, Mr. Platt demonstrates that the blues harp can be right at home in a wide range of material without losing touch with the roots.  The decades-plus veteran of Canada’s blues scene- and his very solid backup unit- here serves up a primarily instrumental set both kick-butt and decidedly fresh sounding.  While one might easily concede that the Crusaders’ r&b gem “Put It Where You Want It” fits in a blues band’s “book”, it may take Mr. Platt’s soulful, articulate work on “Over The Rainbow” (yes, that one) for that song's inclusion.  His own tasty work is spelled with strong work from keyboardist Lance Anderson and guitarist/vocalist Steve Strongman delivers some particularly smokin’ lead & solo work on “Ocean Of Tears”. Fear not, Platt & company know how to swing hard- check out the high-octane boogie number “Mad River".