Barry Levenson & Johnny Dyer - Hard Times Won

Modern electric blues from a singer/songwriter/guitarist who has mixed in both jazz and blues circles. He cites his influences as blues greats such as T-Bone Walker, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf and jazz guitar giants Kenny Burrell and Grant Green although all the tunes here are Levenson originals, from hard blues through tender love songs to the jazz/R&B-inspired number Slip Me Some Green, Jack, a tribute to Grant Green and organist Jack McDuff. The four accompanists include harmonica-player and singer Johnny Dyer, a hard-edged Chicago-style bluesman who grew up in Mississippi. This is pure, heartfelt blues with no frills, in an intense, intelligent, original style.