Erja Lyytinen Live In London
As I mentioned just recently with the Klogr ep you sometimes get floored when new music drops from someone you have never heard of and it blows the doors off.
Where as Klogr was heavy rock this is blues music played by a young lady and her band on October the 7th at London's iconic 100 club and recorded for all time and here in a nice change on both cd and dvd so you get the best of both worlds visually and audio too when it is released on Monday the 8th of June on Tuohi Records.
Joined by her band on guitar Davide Floreno,on bass Roger Inniss and drummer Miri Miettinen they play a mix of originals and some covers from Fred Mcdowell and 4 from Elmore James who was known as the king of slide.
It will come as no surprise then that Erja Lyytinen is a quite marvellous exponent of the slide guitar as well as playing some of the most awe inspiring blues guitar that I have heard in a long time with vocals to match.Her warm vocal range with plenty of pitch,melody and soul fits the style of music like a glove.
On an album of highlights it can be difficult to pick any but for me the highlight is the amazing chemistry of Erja and her band.When you play music that flows like a river and every nuance of the blues is encapsulated within.Drums and bass in perfect unison and allowing Erja centre stage to show her quality whether it being vocally,slide,slow emotive soloing or faster blues string bending.On Hold On Together you even get a dual guitar solo giving Floreno a chance to shine.
Photo Credit: © Tina Korhonen
A Fred Mcdowell cover of It's A Blessing starts the album with Erja's a cappella deep and sultry vocal immediately taking the focus of attention.
Let It Shine shows Erja's majesty of the slide guitar and the band rocking out mid section with some great bobbing bass!!
Single Change Of Season is for me the one that has me pressing play again and again.8 minutes of beautiful music that rises from a picked electric riff and a vocal of pure joy.Erja's vocal is stunning with some extra power on some longer notes and showing a real control of her undoubted emotions.We are the treated to a lengthy solo again showing emotion,control and I love how it starts quiet and builds and builds to a band crescendo.
Have a listen and enjoy.
Everything's Fine shows more slide guitar and plenty of extra guitar melodies and workouts on a fast paced song that again shows the quality of the band as well as Erja having a slightly rougher tone with another solo that builds and builds.
Elmore James's The Sky Is Crying is brought to life with slide guitar and vocal's pitched together perfectly on a 7 minute live colussus.
Another Elmore James tune Dust My Broom closes the album with an 14 minute workout showing off every facet of Erja's and her band's mastery of the blues.
Do yourself a favour and pick up this high quality release and catch Erja and her band at the following dates in the UK later in the year.
2015 UK Tour Dates
LINTON FESTIVAL
DURHAM BLUES FESTIVAL
CLEETHORPES BLUES FESTIVAL
DARLINGTON, DARLINGTON BLUES CLUB FRIDAY OCTOBER 2
SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
BARNES, BULL'S HEAD
WOLVERHAMPTON, ROBIN 2
EDINBURGH, VOODOO ROOMS
KEIGHLEY, KEIGHLEY BLUES CLUB
OXFORD, HAVEN MUSIC CLUB
EVESHAM, IRON DOOR
CHISLEHURST, BEAVERWOOD CLUB THURSDAY OCTOBER 15
SUTTON, BOOM BOOM CLUB
CHESTER, CHESTER BLUES FESTIVAL
FROME, FROME BLUES FESTIVAL
Photo Credit: © Juha Seila
