Veteran bassist Aron Burton, after nearly four decades as a greatly in-demand sideman in the blues world, finally put together his own band in the early ’90s. This CD, his third recording as a leader, is very much a blues revue in the spirit of Johnny Otis. Burton sings on six of the 13 songs, sharing the vocal mike with guitarist Michael Dotson, keyboardist Allen Batts, drummer Kenny Smith, the fine harmonica player Lester Davenport and (on extroverted versions of “Fever” and “Hound Dog”) Liz Mandville-Greeson. Instrumentally, Burton sounds quite happy to liberally feature his sidemen and play a supportive role. Although all of the players fare well, each one displaying a strong musical personality, the high-powered guitarist Dotson often takes honors, demonstrating that he is a highly expressive and up-and-coming bluesman. Whether it be warhorses or newer material, the Aron Burton show keeps moving and never loses one’s interest. Recommended. – Scott Yanow
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