West Wind Blowin: Mountain Top Productions, Vol. 3 [Mountain Top]

This was 's first album after his move from Minneapolis to San Francisco, and his fifth overall. It's a nice mix of seven originals and eight covers, with two instrumentals. is one heck of a harp player, a good singer, and an especially proficient songwriter. Obviously the other musicians on the CD agree or you wouldn't see their names on the bill. They include first-call guitarists and (who relocated to California in 1994 after playing almost 20 years with several Chicago masters). Although not a live recording, has that sound. When you're listening to it, you feel like you've just walked out of a jumpin' club (sans crowd noise). The only exceptions to this are with just on harp and spoken word and on stand-up bass; and the closer, a slow, moody instrumental showcasing 's forlorn-sounding, chromatic harp playing. The best tracks are the straight up Chicago originals the swingin' tribute ' Not only a strong effort by , is one of 's best performances. Be sure to check out his vibrato on ~ Ann Wickstrom