BRYAN LEE

SIX STRING THERAPY

2009-10-17

Guitarist Bryan Lee, the “Braille Blues Daddy” has long been a mainstay of the New Orleans blues scene turning out blues for the tourists on Bourbon Street night after night. What sets him apart from the over-amped, paint by numbers, cover bands that mar that scene is the fact he avoids the standards and plays mostly original tunes or unknown gems. He’s also an adept guitarist with big gruff voice and a knack for a compelling story. Joined on this effort by a host of all-star guests, Lee weaves his way through the 12 cuts here like another night on the band stand with shouts of encouragement to the band interspersed with the lyrics. While the horns and keys added by the guests provide a dimension that doesn’t exist in his normal live shows there is still plenty of room for Lee to shine with stinging guitar work that is a treat from beginning to end. Albert Collins and the three Kings (Albert, B.B. and Freddie) can all take credit for the sounds that pour out of his guitar. Well worth the listen. Smitty