Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite – 鈥楪et Up!鈥�
A young Ben Harper discovered the talents of blues legend Charlie Musselwhite while working at his family鈥檚 music store in southern California. The pair would ultimately meet during a collaboration on John Lee Hooker鈥檚 鈥淭he Best of Friends鈥� nearly 15 years ago. In 2004, Harper appeared on Musselwhite鈥檚 Grammy-nominated album 鈥淪anctuary.鈥�
The 43-year-old Harper and 69-year-old Musselwhite offer up a melding of their noteworthy talents and styles to produce a spirited collection of original blues arrangements with a distinct Chicago blues sound. Harper鈥檚 12th album is a true labor of love as Harper produces, writes and sings every song on the 10-track set.
鈥淒on鈥檛 Look Twice鈥� opens with the rootsy flavor of traditional Delta blues with Harper鈥檚 soulful vocals and Musselwhite鈥檚 searing harmonica. 鈥淚鈥檓 In, I鈥檓 Out, I鈥檓 Gone鈥� is a pounding, raw and gritty track that smolders under the dark and menacing vocals of Harper, taking me back to glimpses of Jim Morrison and the Doors on classics like 鈥淟ove Me Two Times鈥� and 鈥淩oadhouse Blues.鈥�
The old-time gospel and blues texture of 鈥淲e Can鈥檛 End This Way鈥� is pure heavenly delight as Harper channels the Blind Boys of Alabama for a stripped-down but potent clap-your-hands revival number. Harper and Musselwhite kick it into high gear on the defiant 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Believe a Word You Say.鈥� The frenzied fusing of harmonica and electric guitar evokes memories of early Led Zeppelin as Harper muscles up a rocking vocal delivery mindful of Doug Pinnick of King鈥檚 X.
鈥淏lood Side Out鈥� is a rambling anthem that is fueled once again by Harper鈥檚 commanding voice, this time charged with the charisma and calm and collected coolness of Lenny Kravitz.
The solemn closer, 鈥淎ll That Matters Now,鈥� reminds us that while a great blues tune contains trials, heartbreak and loss, perseverance ultimately triumphs for the patient. Halfway through the album, it is clearly evident that these two artists were made to perform the blues.
鈥淕et Up!鈥� is an instant classic and a must-have for any blues lover.