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SUBSCRIBE!877-904-JAZZBLUESSlides, Joysand WhiskeyTas Cru: Grizzle n’ Bone(Crustee Tees 0901; 58:52)AAAA Cru, in upstate NewYork, makes his third albummemorable, using the richtone of his voice and thesharp edge of his slide guitarto give his melodic bluesrocksongs a robust fix onthe tangle of emotions present.He has the soul of apoet crafting the slow,sad/happy rumination “Let’sPretend” and a stark soloblues fittingly called “MakeMy Woman Cry.” His crackerjackarrangement of JackieWilson’s “Higher And Higher” takes himinto a slide guitar-induced state of joy onlyDerek Trucks a few others reach these days.Beyond blues, “The Prophet Of Lynchburg”is his perfectly acceptable digression intoAppalachian folk music. Like LeonardCohen, Cru seems to have cultivated a personalmusical vision growing up along thegrand Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, hisMississippi. Keyboards player Chip Lamsonand the Slow Happy Boys rhythm sectionhave presence without drawing attentionaway from the bandleader. But no thanksfor his chirpy female backup singers.Ordering info: tascru.comT-Model Ford: The Ladies Man (AliveNaturalsound 0103; 57:30) AAA The 88-year-old whiskey-swilling hero to the alternative/punkblues mob sounds more coherentand competent singing and twiddlingguitar here in 2008 than he did during hisrabid, unruly Fat Possum days. Ford’s stillobsessed with chicken heads, hip-shakingwomen and “kick[ing] yer asses.” And he’sno more original than he ever was, reprocessingmaterial swiped from MuddyWaters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, anyone.Ordering info: aliveenergy.comWillem Maker: New Moon Hand (BigLegal Mess 0212; 50:38) AAAA Singer-guitaristMaker forges a muddy sort of electricbluesthat carries in its bones the raw emotionalismof a deep-thinking Deep Southmusician who suffered 10 years with toxicmetal poisoning (hear his breathtaking“Lead & Mercury”). He’s plenty self-consciousand all the better for it, singing lyricsof rare imagery with an inimitable voice thatsuggests a small mass of acrid phlegm islodged in the back of his throat. Thisby Frank-John HadleyWillem Maker: DeepSouthern clarityAlabaman, in his 30s, benefits from theferocious musical clarity of his free-spiritedfriends, among them Mississippi hill countrydrummer Cedric Burnside and stringsspecialist Alvin Youngblood.Ordering info: biglegalmessrecords.comMark Nomad: Soul Proprietor (Blue Star71509; 66:20) AAA Each of the 10 songsthis talented vocalist and guitarist offers onhis first concert album—three originals,Chicago blues standards, classics fromSmiley Lewis, B. B. King and JamesBrown—holds a kind of suspense that offsetsthe predictability of familiar melodiesand rhythms. Tenorman Doug Jones has afresh voice, more influenced by GroverWashington Jr. and David Sanborn than thehonkers and bar-walkers of yesteryear. WithRonnie Earl’s Broadcasters seldom activeanymore, Nomad leads as entertaining ablues band as you’ll find in southern NewEngland.Ordering info: marknomad.comBilly Lavender: Memphis Livin’ (I55Productions 0200; 57:38) AAA Lavender, alefty playing a right-handed guitar upsidedown, brings the unlearned expressivequality known as Memphis soul to a mix ofblues, rock and funk on a session with otherlocal stars like guitarist Brad Webb, drummerTony Adams and singers Ken Dinkinsand Reba Russell (she’s worked with U2).This is a good album, despite hot, flamboyantproduction that incinerates a few tunes;even an exceptional one for the five minutesof Lavender and Webb’s slow-sizzling“Tonight,” where Dinkins and Lavendermake mesmerizing pleas for the rightnessof sweet romance.DBOrdering info: memphislivin.comWILLEM MAKER58 DOWNBEAT May 2010