Bernard Allison Highs and Lows

January 22, 2022

Bernard Allison

Highs and Lows

Ruf Records

Bernard Allison is one of those artists who I totally admire, and I’m absolutely thrilled to hear fresh music from him. Highs & Lows, his latest album is hands-down fantastic. Produced by Grammy Award winner Jim Gaines, this eleven-track blues album is a slice of perfection. The core of Allison’s top-notch band consists of George Moye on bass guitar, Dylan Salfer on rhythm guitar and Steve Potts on drums.

Energy levels are high as Allison fearlessly hits the ground running on “So Excited”. It’s great to hear him blaze full-throttle on guitar. This is exactly what I was hoping for on an opening song. Title-track “Highs & Lows” rolls out with its funky, infectious riff and pulls me right in. Guitar in hand, Canadian blues artist Colin James joins Allison in a juicy duet of Texas-style electric blues on “My Way or the Highway”. The swampy sounds of the Mississippi delta are quite infused into “Side Step”, making it one of my favorite songs on the disc. What a pleasant surprise it is to hear Bobby Rush accompany Allison on “Hustler”. His distinctive voice and harp playing are delivered in his usual suave approach and it’s fun to hear him collaborate with Allison.

I love that Allison pays tribute to his father, Chicago blues legend Luther Allison by recording two of his songs. The first up is the 1974 single “Now You Got It” off the album Luther’s Blues. This is Seventies soul-blues at its best. Immediately following is “Gave it All”, from Luther’s 1994 album Soul Fixin’ Man. It swoops me right up in its cozy warm arms for an intoxicating horn-infused listen. Allison’s performance on this is downright breathtaking.

Lows & Highs ends with a blast of funky downhome blues with “Last Night”. Lyrically timeless, this song hits on every cylinder, and I dig every bit of it. Allison pours everything he has into this guitar performance, making it a huge standout.

This is an album that delivers the goods with each and every song. It’s terrific through and through.

Phillip Smith

Philly Cheeze Blues

<br />

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music