Jimmy Adler

Grease Alley

Sprucewood Records

Jimmy Adler is from the Pittsburgh area. His early influences included Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones and that led to discovering the music of B.B. King, Elmore James, and Jimmy Reed. He later discovered T-Bone Walker, Duke Robillard, and Little Charlie Baty. Guitarist Adler formed his own band The Jimmy Adler Band in 2002 and recorded his first album “Absolutely Blues! Live at The Boneyard” in 2005.

Although he performs as Adler at night; during the day he is known as Mr. Addlespurger an English teacher in the Pittsburgh public school district. He’s been known to pull out his guitar in class to demonstrate the tone and power of words. As an educator he wants his students to develop a balance between enjoying the arts and academics.

For his fourth recording Adler decided to take a trip to California and enlist the aid of producer Kid Anderson who currently plays guitar with Rick Estrin and The Nightcats. In between gigs Anderson operates his own Greaseland Recording Studio. For this project Adler, guitar and vocals; and Anderson, upright and electric bass; were joined by Eric Spaulding, tenor sax; June Core (currently in The Charlie Musselwhite Band), drums; and Jimmy Pugh(formerly with The Robert Cray Band), keyboards. Adler appropriately named this project “Grease Alley”.

Adler has written and arranged all of the thirteen songs included; six with his regular bassist Mike Sweeney. Three songs were also co-written with his wife Barb. The opening track “Say It Like Magic Sam” is absolutely fabulous and should garner Adler some heavy airplay. Adler’s voice has strength and clarity.

Adler plays guitar without a pick in style similar to the late Hubert Sumlin on “Ease Me Down Slow”, on “Cornbread and Lima Beans” and throughout the recording. On “Drank Too Much” he switches to slide. Special guest guitarist Chris Cain appears on both “No Pain” and on “What Will You Do”.

Adler’s performance and the great band that was assembled for him make this a highly recommended recording.

Richard Ludmerer