The Jeff Jensen Band - I’m Coming Home

Swing Suit Records

www.jeffjensenband.net

www.myspace.com/jeffjensenband

11 tracks; 49.55 minutes

First of all, a big thanks to Blues Blast for introducing me to Jeff Jensen who was a new name to me. This is a superb CD which I would recommend highly to all blues lovers.

Originally from California, 28 year old Jeff is now based in Portland, Oregon and gigs mainly on the West Coast. This is his second CD and was recorded in LA and Santa Clarita and features a five piece band (two guitars, keys, bass and drums) plus a three man horn section which gives something of a Stax sound to the album. Jeff handles the vocals, with second guitarist Nate LaPointe also contributing backing vocals. A number of guests add to the mix, the most notable being Marcy Levy (AKA Marcella Detroit formerly with Eric Clapton and Bob Seger) who sings on two tracks. Jeff writes or co-authors 6 tracks, with covers including BB King, Big Maceo and Muddy Waters.

The album has an excellent, well produced sound throughout and starts impressively with a cover of BB’s "Ask Me No Questions", driven along by the horns and featuring a slide solo. Jeff’s voice here reminds me a little of Curtis Salgado (a huge compliment, by the way!) and suits the song to a tee. Next up is the title song "I’m Coming Home" which has a funky feel and is graced by a delightful Hammond solo.

Jeff clearly has a good sense of humour and the third track "Living in Los Angeles" demonstrates that well, with a song about the ups and downs of life in SOCAL. Opening with a nice trumpet feature the song talks of “Hollywood folks with plastic hearts” – now perhaps we see why Jeff moved to Portland! Big Maceo’s "Worried Life Blues" is one of two tracks that exceed 6 minutes and is a solid version with a nice guitar solo. "Doing The Right Thing" returns to the funky side of things, with Marcy Levy’s second vocal well featured in the mix.

Another change of style sees Jeff in a swinging mood on a cover of Louis Innis 50’s comic song "Good Morning Judge" – “I didn’t know her Pop was a city cop and she was just 15”. The horn section also features strongly on "Cocaine Spiked Whisky" before Jeff’s humour returns to the fore on "Skinny Girls". Jeff is looking for a slim girl, like in the ads and has concluded that she must weigh less than his Fender amp! This tune also features the only harp on the CD, well played by Gary Allegretto.

"She’s Evil" is a duet between Jeff and co-author and label stable mate Kyke Culkin, a tune that swings along well and features a great guitar solo (Kyle?). The cover of Muddy’s She’s 19 years old takes the song in an unusual direction, with a jazzy feel to the playing and lots of trumpet featured. At 6.47 it’s the longest track on the album, but like everything on display here it does not overstay its welcome. "Please Don’t Go" closes the album, Marcy Levy testifying behind a wild guitar solo at the end of an uplifting tune penned by the late Stephen Sorenson, another SOCAL guitarist who sadly died of cancer in early 2009.

My conclusion is that this is a first rate CD and for anyone in the West coast area this sounds like a band to catch when they are in your area. First class recording, good variety of styles, strong vocals and a sense of humour – what else do you want from a CD?

Reviewer John Mitchell is a Blues enthusiast based in the UK. He also travels to the States most years to see live Blues music.

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