Falzarano is one of those largely overlooked US guitarists with a pedigree that should give him a strong profile and following. Probably best known for his work with Hot Tuna frontman Jorma Kaukonen, he also played with the near -legendary New Riders Of The Purple Sage and is little short of a master of US roots music. This is a major blues/roots American sideman with an effortless touch and an astonishing ability and background.
‚I Got Blues For Ya‘ was first released over a year ago but is only now being actively pushed and promoted across the Pond. It‘s a twelve-track treat, featuring Falzarano‘s unfaltering fretwork, soulful guitar chops and sly, absorbing vocals.
With a background and grounding as a sideman to Jorma Kaukonen it comes as no surprise to find some Rev Gary Davis included in the mix and Falzarano‘s cover of one his most commonly covered and haunting numbers ‚Death Don‘t Have No Mercy‘ is a standout track here, together with the attention grabbing, rolling boogie of ‚Snake Box Boogie.‘
This album clearly shows why Falzarano has remained at the top of the blues-roots sideman tree in his native USA but leaves me wondering why he still, somehow or other, manages to maintain a low, below the radar profile elsewhere. (Hypnotation/Woodstock Records: WR0049)
