ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Sam Myers "Coming From The Old School" Electro-Fi Records Electro-Fi Records continues to release wonderful new recordings by Snooky Pryor, Mel Brown, Fruteland Jackson, and now that they have signed Sam Myers and Paul Oscher, two of the best blues albums of the year. When I first heard Sam Myers, he was already partnered up with Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets. Sam is a passionate blues singer and harmonica player who is capable of singing off the beat; it’s an “old school” lesson, which can be heard to the fullest on Electro-Fi’s new Sam Myers release, simply called, “Coming from the Old School”. Sam Myers career dates back to when he played drums with Elmore James and somewhere he learned to sing this way; and the passion is all Sam. Mel Brown’s guitar playing and Pat Carey’s saxophone give us a different sound then what we’re used to hearing with The Rockets. Sam wrote ten of the fourteen songs on the album and reprises Rice Miller’s “Ninety Nine” and Otis Spann’s “Burning Fire”. Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets featuring Sam Myers won the Handy award for the “Best Traditional Blues Recording” of 2003 with “Which Way is Texas?” look for this Sam Myers album to win the same award next year. Paul Oscher "Alone With The Blues" Electro-Fi Records I first heard Paul Oscher in 1989, I went to a “rib” restaurant near Penn Station in New York City. It was called “Rib’s n’ Blues”, and the owners were Chicago-ions or just blues lovers. That first night I was there the band consisted of Paul, Steve Guyger and Dona Oxford along with Paul’s drummer and Paul’s music was beautiful. Paul is a deep blues man who not only became Muddy Waters harmonica player but actually became a surrogate son, that’s how great their bond was. Paul Oscher’s previous albums “The Deep Blues of Paul Oscher” and “Knockin on the Devil’s Door” are underrated classics. Not only is Paul’s music lyrically deep he is one of the most accomplished harmonica players you’ll ever hear. Paul Oscher is the real deal. His newest album on Electro-Fi is “Alone with the Blues”. Most of the tunes here are recorded “solo” and those with other instrumentation are recorded sparsely, the overall feel is one of being alone. Paul opens with a harmonica instrumental “Walkin”. The next tune is That’s Allright”, written by James A. Lane (Jimmy Rogers), Muddy Water’s long time partner. When Paul sings “sometimes I wonder who in the world is gonna’ do it to you tonight”, the line kicks you in the head like a mule. “Standing at the Crossroads”, is at least partially autobiographical as Paul labored in absolute obscurity and oftened performed under the pseudonym “Brooklyn Slim”. “Alone with the Blues” is an instrumental reprised from “Knockin on the Devil’s Door” and shows Paul’s virtuosity on several different harmonicas. “Glory, Glory” is a traditional tune re-arranged by Paul and shows Paul’s depth as a performer. This album could be sub-titled “more real folk blues” as sometimes it seems that Muddy lives within him, just listen to the guitar playing on “Anna Lee”. The album concludes with a recorded testimonial, to Paul by Muddy himself. Richard Ludmerer Director, NY Blues and Jazz Society ricdale2@yahoo.com