JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Music City Blues Date: 10/2007 Writer: Don Crow

Lauded by Adam Gussow in his recent book, "Journeyman's Road," as one of the most promising young harp masters on the scene today, Jason Ricci and his band, New Blood, more than live up to their billing with their first release for Eclecto Groove Records, "Rocket Number 9." Jason is one of the most unique players we have ever heard, taking the harp to new territories heretofore left unexplored by a bluesman. He woodshedded at places like the Dan Lynch bar in NYC, honing his craft before any size of a crowd. He spent some time here locally, as well, working for a time with Big Al Lauro and the Heavyweights. We likened him to Harper, had Harper grown up absorbing the sights and sounds of the "big city" instead of the Australian Outback.

Jason certainly is a multi-dimensional player, but his backing crew, New Blood, are topnotch themselves. Consisting of Shawn Starsky on guitar, Todd Edmunds on bass, and Ron Sutton on drums, they have no difficulty whatsoever in keeping up with Jason's forays into deep blues, funk, jazz, soul, and jam-rock, often in the context of a single song!! A great example of this is the title cut, written by jazz artist Sun Ra, and given a brilliant treatment here, complete with oddball lyrics and several chord changes and abrupt stops.

Also, Jason pays tribute to one of his early influences on "Mr. Satan." This song was written for Sterling Magee, the "Satan" of the New York-based duo Satan and Adam (author-harpist Adam Gussow being the other member) from the mid-Nineties. They offered early encouragement to Jason, and this lively, driving piece has Jason's trademark growling delivery and is spiced throughout by warp-speed harp runs. Our favorite was the slow-blues, minor-key "The Way I Hurt Myself." It's the story of how people react to their problems and addictions, and their ability to conquer them, knowing that it'll be a daily, lifelong struggle to remain "clean and sober."

Jason Ricci and New Blood have certainly created a firestorm in the blues world. For an intimate glimpse into the future of the blues, take a ride on "Rocket Number 9" today!! Keeping the faith...Sheryl and Don Crow.