This album is being released to coincide with what would have been Jeff's 50th birthday, had he not passed away at the terribly young age of 41.
Then again, he did start young so he got a lot done. Those of us who witnessed his star ascending will remember how he burst on the scene and captivated the hearts and minds of music lovers the world over. He managed to 'cross over' with his version of the blues in a way perhaps not dissimilar to Robert Cray. We will remember a blind man who sat with his guitar on his lap who blew everyone away.
What I didn't know is that he was adopted and actually he had his eyes removed due to oracular cancer at the age of one. What I thought were the eyes of a blind man were in fact prosthetic. Jeff Healey also had a 78rpm record collection numbering 30,000. That is a lot of 78s and a huge number of them were jazz records. What I also didn't know was that he played trumpet in a jazz band and he was darn good at that too. The man truly lived and breathed music and it is great to hear him play again. This album is a true labour of love overseen by his estate and it has really captured the essence of what made Jeff Healey such a great artist.
'Daze Of the Night' tears it up and rocks out. Jeff's voice is both roots and soul and his guitar incendiary. 'Moodswing' has plenty of meat and swagger to it as well. 'Baby Blue' is an acoustic ballad which is just class from start to finish. 'I Misunderstood' is actually a Richard Thompson song and I have not heard him do it but now I don't want to. Jeff's version oozes soul.
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'Please' fires up and then burns itself out in its own heat. Damn that's hot. 'Love In Her Eyes' could easily be overlooked but it's got some licks on it. 'Temptation' reminds me of Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' which was the best thing they ever did. 'Kiss The Ground You Walk On' gives us an idea of how he managed to cross over. He never let showing off get in the way of a good song, likewise 'All The Saints'.
'Put The Shoe On The Other Foot' puts the hammer back down and stomps around. Primetime. 'Under A Stone' is an understated blues rock number. 'It's The Last Time' sounds a little final but there must be a ton of stuff still in the vaults so let's hope not. God bless you Jeff, in Dixieland heaven.
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