ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Jimmy Thackery & Tab Benoit Telarc Records Tab Benoit is a guitar playing Cajun and a passionate singer who is unafraid to collaborate with other musicians or to re-record his own songs. Jimmy Thackery, ex-Nighthawk, has also carved out an illustrious career with his group The Drivers and his own brand of blues rock. In 2002 these two favorites teamed together and recorded the album “Whiskey Store” which, with the help of Charlie Musselwhite, harmonica; and the rhythm section of Double Trouble (Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton); received critical acclaim. Due to its huge success they toured in support of the album and thus recorded this 100 proof version of the finest grain this “Whiskey Store” has harvested. With Jimmy Carpenter, Sax; Ken Faltinson, Keyboards; Carl Dufrene, Bass; and Drummers Darryl White and Mark Stutso these two “brew” masters, Tab Benoit and Jimmy Thackery have created a superb blend. The album opens with Freddy’s Combo, a two guitar plus sax attack that ignites and prepares us for the incandescent pyrotechnics that are to follow. “I Got Loaded” is one of three new tunes that this super duo has included on this live recording. Tab’s vocal and Ken’s sax solo are perfect and the rhythm section here is outstanding. Tab and Jimmy’s guitars are never excessive as they allow each other room to move. Tab’s solo is first and his Telecaster has a thinner tone compared with Jimmy’s fatter Stratocaster therefore it is easy to tell them apart. This is the good stuff 100 Proof! Jimmy Thackery takes center stage with his vocal on the Bob Dylan cover “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”. Ken Faltinson’s sax is once again perfect and Jimmy takes the hat to the cleaners on his solo. Tab Benoit then trims the fat with his guitar on “Bone Pickin” only to have Ken and Jimmy stuff that “chop”. Tab then “buys a round” and slows it down a bit with his passionate vocal on “Away, Way Too Long”. Jimmy throws back a double shot with his vocal on “Strange Things Happen” and I’m getting high off the music again. Tab and Jimmy give us Tab’s “Bayou Boogie”; Tab then takes center stage with a terrific vocal on his rendition of Otis Redding’s “These Arms of Mine”. The “last call” is “Whiskey Store”. Whether your already a fan or just being introduced to these two seasoned veterans who collectively have released two dozen recordings this album is a must to own as it is the best live recording of 2004. Richard Ludmerer Director, NY Blues and Jazz Society ricdale2@yahoo.com