ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Wolfe "Delaware Crossing" Valley Entertainment It’s amazing how Todd Wolfe has managed to create an album that could be the lost recordings of some seventies group. It’s a rock album of mostly original material; but this is also a band and therefore Wolfe has been borne. “Stranger Blues” starts off the hunt, “I’m a Stranger Here, just blown in your town”, David Hollingsworth’s fantastic drums; bassist Chuck Hearne; and John Cree percussion; lay it down, and guest “John Popper” gives us a little treat with his trademark harmonica playing and with just a little more “tone” than usual. It’s a nice way to meet the band and Todd Wolfe’s guitar and vocal are prominent. The song fades out correctly. On the second track, Todd Wolfe, former guitarist for Sheryl Crow, sounds like Jack Bruce and the feel that I got was very “Cream” like, a big sound, “this is the life I choose, & I won’t change it, No Returns and No Exchanges”. “See What Love can do” follows and I began to realize I was hearing something special. All the guitars played by Todd were perfect and David’s drumming infectious. “Tumblin’ Down” is very Rolling Stones like and at the end John Popper joined on harmonica again. “One Lost Love is another man’s gain”, slows the pace down. Most here are fine original compositions co-written by Todd Wolfe, but the Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper, Wayne Jackson cover “Things Get Better” is classic rock n’ roll. “Black Hearted Woman” has that Jack Bruce, “Cream” like feel again. “Someday your gonna’ Beg Forgiveness”, is a solid track; this “Love Gone Bad” continues this theme, and the extended guitar solos on the back end of these two cuts are creative. “Crowded in My Soul” continues to rock hard. The band then does an Allman Brothers type “Wolfe Jam”. “Gates of Heaven” closes out the record as its doors close our lives. This is a very impressive outing as the album has an overall flow which makes it very listenable. If you get to see this band “live” I’m sure you won’t be disappointed, I think they’ll be around for a long time as that elusive success story may be just another review or two away. Richard Ludmerer Director, NY Blues and Jazz Society ricdale2@yahoo.com