L.A. Beat

If you like your blues with a lot of horns, then you will love the Ben Racine Band.

 The Montreal based blues band are nominated for a Maple Blues Award for best new artist, and after one listen to their debut CD “One of A KInd,” you can see why.
 This is a CD that has been stuck in my CD player for a while and one I always come back to.

 Racine has a distinctive voice reminiscent of Little Milton, a little of Delbert McClinton, a touch of Stevie Wonder, and one of my favourite New York blues bands Fat Cat Voodoo with just a little gravel along the lines of Dr. John.
 The band also has a way with a catchy song and a lyrical hook.

“Too Busy Being Pretty,” is a highlight featuring a tasteful guitar leads and a  whimsical horn line which will make you grin.
Tenor saxophonist Little Frankie Thiffault and baritone saxophonist  Mat Moose Mousseau give the Ben Racine Band an immediately appealing big band sound, which pretty much takes you back to the ’50, especially when backed by special guest Vinz Pollet-Villard, who adds piano and B3 organ to a couple tracks including  “Early Times,” one of many highlights on the CD.

“Mighty Good Time,” another highlight which features organ and an unstoppable rhythm, is reminiscent of Long John Hunter.

 Most of the CD is full of sprightly toe tapping, smile inducing, horn powered blues, but they have a couple really pretty, slower numbers like “Bad LI’l Lady.”
 They end with “Marauder,” a highlight which is reminiscent of an amped up John Lee Hooker.
 To borrow a line from the title track, “One of A Kind,” this CD “makes my smile light up.”