Simply put, in Blues and R&B music, vocalist and songwriter Jimmy “T99” Nelson is a legend!

In my early days of getting more involved in the history of the Blues, there I was at my turntable spinning singles with high revolutions and listening to Jimmy’s classic tunes from the late 40’s to the 60’s. What a voice, and those lyrics, if you heard one of his records from back then, you had to get them all. After one play of
Jimmy’s latest release, “The Legend” I realized nothing has changed since those old times, the man still moves me!

The album maybe new, but it is rooted in old style R&B due to the passion of the musicians that surround Jimmy on the session, recorded live at Duke’s Mood Room,
because they have also based themselves in this music’s background. And what a band it is with Duke Robillard on guitar, Sax Gordon on tenor sax, Doug James on
baritone sax, producer Carl Querfurth on trombone, Matt McCabe on piano and the rhythm of bassist Marty Ballou and drummer Neil Gouvin. Add special guest Sugar
Ray Norcia on harmonica and the band is ready to give Jimmy’s singing all it needs.

The disc kicks off with one of the six original compositions by Jimmy, “The Devil’s Sending Up A Blessing To You”. You gotta love a line from this swingin’ piece,
“you’re lookin’ at hell, and hell lookin’ right back at you, the devil’s sendin’ a blessin’ up to you”. The classic Louis Jordan song “Run Joe” follows. Sugar Ray blows
the harp on Willie Dixon’s “Help Me”, some straight ahead Blues, with a few extra lines by Jimmy. The pace slows down with the jazzy “Sleepy Time Down South”.
Back into the groove pocket with Jimmy’s “My Country Woman”. On the next track Jimmy keeps singing about his sweet woman on another deep down slow tune
called “My Woman”. But I guess his woman feelings changed for him to write “I’m Sick And Tired Of You”. Just to continue his personal roller coaster ride about the
ladies he had to write “One Step At A Time”. The next haunting tune is “Be Knowing What I Got To Do” and features some fine electric tone notes from Sugar Ray.
Back with the full band Jimmy belts out the Blues with “Sunrise Blues”. The record closes with the down and out Doc Pomus standard “Still In Love” which is hi-
lighted by some tasty acoustic licks from Duke.

In today’s world we call them compact discs, but the tracks on “The Legend” were like listenin’ to a stack of 78’s on a changer! Thanks guys for takin’ me back!

Although Jimmy is already one, legends are made with great music like this! ~Eddy B

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