JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Washington Blues Society Date: 10/2007 Writer: Malcolm Kennedy

Rocket Number 9, the new Eclecto Groove release by Jason Ricci and New Blood, blasts off into new territory. The sonic assault of the opening track ”The Rocker” does flat out rock; but New Blood easily switch gears to more melodic tunes like “I’m A New Man”, Jason’s testament about walking the walk, when you talk the talk because talk alone is cheap. Jason’s self produced 2005 release “Blood On The Road” has sold an unprecedented 12,000 copies. Jason and Shawn Starsky, guitar, vocals; joined by the new rhythm section of Todd “Buck Weed” Edmunds on bass and Ron Sutton on drums continues to take New Blood on their journey into the stratosphere. Jason brings a wide
spectrum of influences into his music ranging from Punk Rock to Jazz and also has a definite jam band thing going on also. Jason takes his instrument, the harmonica, to a place that has no boundaries, not unlike Harper or Carlos Del Junco, although I am not making any musical comparisons there. I found Rocket Number 9 to be an excellent CD and recommend it to all who enjoy harmonica and guitars; but don’t feel bound by tradition. I particularly enjoyed the up tempo romp, “Mr. Satan” and the mid-tempo “Deliver Us” on which Shawn plays a very fluid solo. My favorite track is the classic slow blues “The Way I Hurt Myself” that builds in intensity as it progresses. “Snowflakes and Horses”, a tune Jason has been perfecting since he wrote it back in 1996 while living with David Kimbrough and playing with Jr. Kimbrough, RL Burnside and their other kids has been included at least twice on previous releases and is always a crowd favorite at live shows everywhere. I would be totally remiss if I didn’t say something about the haunting melody “Sonja” written and named by Shawn for his mother. It was developed from a piece they had been doing at sound checks and is absolutely beautiful. Rocket Number 9 should be the breakout CD for Jason Ricci and New Blood exposing them to new and bigger audiences.