STEVE COHEN & JIM LIBAN

Hot Air
Kanie Records
 
One of the typical knocks against established musicians is that after a certain point, they just stop progressing creatively -- instead relying on recycled theatrics viewed through time-tinted rose-colored glasses. These two zephyrs of blues harmonica, however, seem to have escaped that fate. Instead, this disc takes the two Milwaukee veterans on a personal de-evolution from their rockin' blues legacies (Liban in Short Stuff; Cohen in Leroy Airmaster).

With the simplicity of dual harmonicas (or guitar/harmonica pairings), sans percussion, the versatility of their instruments comes front and center -- even crisper than on heralded 1940s and 1950s recordings.  What's left is a modern interpretation of rural Delta blues -- such as the field recordings captured by the Lomaxes. Some harmonica dueling sessions get pretty frantic within the otherwise mellow context of the disc (such as at the end of "Rocket 88"). But the best tracks feature Cohen's understated guitar and Liban's harmonica -- as on "Big Boss Man," or Willie Dixon's "My Babe," which takes a slightly slower, darker tone than the version made famous by Little Walter. While the disc might have been a bit more intriguing with lesser-known tunes, it shows that even the everyday standards in blues can be refreshed, in the right hands.

Dave Leucinger