Easy Bill & The Big Beat - "Midnight Creep"

This Denver-based retro jump-blues combo's CD was produced by Chicago's Nick Moss, who takes over on his original early 50's Chicago-style Awful Thoughts. The band turns out straight ahead interpretations of gems from West Coast artists Ivory Joe Hunter, Jimmy McCracklin, Johnny Guitar Watson, and the Googie Rene Combo, and tips its hat to the Crescent City with Paul Gayten's Down Boy.

These tracks are complimented by six originals by guitarist/vocalist Bill Towber, ranging from the novelty of Swinging On A Vine, which questions the evolutionary theory by asking if it's possible that a fine woman can have descended from apes, to the earl;y B.B. King-style Starving For Your Love, and the cocktail blues Spending Time. Towber's voice is limited but without affect, his guitar work is tastefully restrained, and he generously turns over solo space to pianist Mark Richardson and saxman Ken Plum. Compared with other contemporary units who cover this territory, the band is refreshing in it's restraint.

Living Blues
July/August 2004, Issue #173
www.LivingBlues.com