Roly Platt
Album: Inside Out
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.rolyplatt.com

Roly Platt is a Canadian harmonica player who has been playing for over 35 years. Now after years of faithful service as a sideman, here he is coming out of the shadows and taking centrestage with the release of his first solo album.

One problem with such an album could be the lack of vocals but on this album Roly is joined by guest vocalists/guitarists Steve Strongman and Jordan John.

Steve co-wrote Good Mind to Wander with Roly. It's the third track on the album and features superb playing all round with great interplay between the harp and the guitar.

Roly can sure blow. But it's not all huff and puff. There is evidence of his musicality littered across this album.

The engaging Congo Strut is a jazz-tinged number with organ, guitar, drums and harp all blending well. A smashing track.

The evergreen Over The Rainbow is given the full treatment here. Beautiful harp playing, with delicious double bass, piano and drums. Simply stunning.

The upbeat Rippin' It Up changes the tempo to all-out boogie woogie rock n roll with a great driving beat and harp and piano that sizzle. Hot stuff indeed.

Steve Strongman returns for a slow burning blues number - Ocean Of Tears - with tasteful slide guitar and wailing harp.

I noticed in the sleeve notes, Roly plays a great number of imaginatively-named harps: first there's the Mouth Organ (yes we know all about that), the Tin Sandwich (mmm..), the Mississippi Saxophone, the Spit Coffin (!!) and the Misery Whistle. I might not know what they all are but he can sure play them.

The Ray Charles classic, I Got A Woman and Hoagy Carmichael's Georgia on My Mind both get the sparkling Roly treatment. So musical and not at all brash. Wonderful playing all round.

The album is brought to a conclusion with Jordan John singing James Taylor's Bartender's Blues.

It's a slow heartfelt blues which just cries out for some sympathetic harp and Roly Platt duly obliges

This is a lovely album which Roly and the band must be rightly proud. It's packed full of musical gems, that deserves to be heard by a wide audience. Try and find it - you won't be disappointed.

John Knighton