It was a treat to see a rare local show from Lethbridge blues / R and B band the Janni Lee Band at the Slice, May 16. They don’t play very often, so it is always a special event to be able to hear them.
Bassist Pat Ackerman and lead vocalist Janni Lee added drummer Ryan Grie
ve for this show and special guest guitarist Eric Braun to their ranks for this show.
I had never seen Grieve play blues before, as he is best known as a punk and a garage rock musician, but I was very impressed with his feel.
Eric Braun, whose own band opened the show, provided beautiful solos reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughan on a variety of blues classics, and, I think, originals, but definitely music I hadn’t heard many times before.
They did excellent versions of BB King’s “The Thrill is Gone and the classic “ I Shall Be Released.”
Janni Lee showed off her magnificent voice as she strutted around the stage like she owned it while Ackerman and Grieve were locked in as an airtight rhythm section.
