For ten years Marc Benno has been exploring his Texas blues roots, well beyond his work with Leon Russell and Eric Clapton and his pop star years in the early ’70s recording for A&M Records. This effort, originally produced for his own Marno label in 2004 and reissued in 2009 on the Blue Skunk imprint, is a fairly good representation of the kind of electric blues he favors, not so much rough and ready as toned, polished, and a bit slick. Benno — who also plays piano, organ, and a bit of slide guitar — is an average singer and good guitarist whose heart is in the right place on the shuffles “Alone in San Antone” and “Too Bad You’re No Good,” though he repeats themes of burned love affairs. Also included are a Chicago-style blues, a calypso/surf instrumental, slower songs, horns here and there, and rock-blues à la Chuck Berry, all with Benno’s identity firmly stamped. He’s not instantly recognizable or distinctive, but plays with enough energy and ability to push his voice just enough to get his points across. That the CD is barely over 30 minutes is cause for concern. But considering how long Marc Benno has been off the scene, he’s welcome to be back in the game. – Michael G. Nastos
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