Albert Collins

While Collin's 1986 Alligator release is an R&B-heavy workout that may not be his strongest album, it does feature enough of the superhuman, expressive soloing the bluesman is famous for to satisfy most Modern Blues fans.

In which Bruce Iglauer shoots for a Grammy by setting up his big man with a big band--Jimmy McGriff, Mel Brown, Uptown Horns, the works. They do work, too. But nobody ever mistook Albert for Jimmy Witherspoon, much less Jimmy Rushing--he doesn't have the kind of built-in bullhorn essential to that big effect. As if NARAS will care. (Grade - B)