JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD "DONE WITH THE DEVIL" Source: Dirty Linen Date: 12/2009 Writer: PEC

Jason Ricci’s previous album, and first for the Eclecto Groove label, got him a good degree of recognition, respect, and sales. The follow-up seems destined to be acclaimed as one of the best blues albums of 2009, at least by those who aren’t purists.  Besides being a highly innovative artist and a stupendous harmonica player, Ricci leads a very impressive band, and contributes vocals on a few tracks.

Although the album is consistently strong, several tracks stand out. “Broken Toy” is a riveting, soul-bearing song that leaves the listener in awe. A nine-minute rendition of Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue” briefly references “My Favorite Things.” The album ends with an eerie arrangement of Sun Ra’s “Enlightenment” that evokes a carnival straight out of “The Twilight Zone.” Most of the other tracks, apart from Glenn Danzig’s punk-like “I Turned Into a Martian,” are more conventional blues, but impressive in their own right.