Vance Kelly – Call Me – Wolf 120.877 CD

The first time I heard Vance Kelly’s brilliance was at The Checkerboard Lounge on E. 43^rd St. in Chicago.  And while Kelly isn’t much known outside of Chicago, his versatility and sheer talent level is astounding.  He has graduated to Chicago’s northside blues venues, but on this sterling outing, his deep Chicago southside blues, soul, and R&B roots are on full exhibition for all to revel within. 

Throughout a characteristic set of his wide musical catalog in one of Chicago’s blues venues, like when I first encountered Kelly and crew on the southside, an audience member is as likely to experience tunes by soul and R&B singers such as Tyrone Davis, Sam and Dave, or McKinley Mitchell.  Or maybe a particular set of Kelly’s music will be infused with the work of the silky-smooth blues panaches of an artist like Bobby Bland or Johnny Taylor.  Then again, the evening and early morning club hours may include Kelly’s takes on works by early contemporary blues pioneers like Junior Parker.  One just never knows with Vance Kelly!  Stir in some classic Chicago Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and for good measure a taste of innovative current-day contemporary blues, and one has the ingredients and framework of a distinctive Vance Kelly performance.  But no mistake is to be made; Kelly is not a copycat content to simply move through the motions of a show and make a night of it presenting others’ original work.  No, he is both deferential and reverent, but also risky and pioneering, showing he is not afraid to show his full hand in performance.  Kelly can wow an audience with an astute sense of its composition, hence, his essential capability to provide that audience what it’s ever-changing mood commands; he feeds from his listeners.  His guitar efforts are broad and surprising in their flexibility and mastery of his command of a wide swath of styles, yet they are tailored with broad subtle touches and shades.  Kelly’s vocals seep with sinewy feeling, and his evident dedication to band communication and assimilation make Kelly a blues heir whose various influences and dedication-to-craft are to be applauded.  This magnificent CD is an indication of his elevated synergies in molding his unique blues expertise. 

Below is the running track order of this distinguished outing.

Song Titles

• Doing My Own Thang
• Wall To Wall
• Hurt So Bad
• Woman In Every Town
• That’s The Way Love Is
• Somebody As Good As You
• In Of The Rainbow
• Use Me Right
• She Ain’t Good Looking
• Drivein Wheel
• Call Me
• Dog On A Chain

This is unconditionally essential blues!