Joel Astley — “Seattle to Greaseland” — Blue Heart Records (Aug. 18 release)
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what do you get when a visual artist trades his images for blue notes?
In this case, the answer is the very excellent, rocking debut album of Seattle singer / songwriter / harmonica-wizard Joel Astley.
It was only about 10 years ago that Joel Astley formed his first band, after working for years as a visual artist. He soon began to garner an impressive list of multiple “Best Of The Blues” awards over the last six years from the Washington Blues Society for Best Harmonica Player, Best Male Vocalist, Best Songwriter and Best Performer.
He’s in fine company for this sparkling session of 11 finely crafted originals — Chicago’s Johnny Burgin on guitar; Charlie Musselwhite’s rhythm section of drummer June Core and Randy Bermudes on bass, plus backup singers Marina Crouse and Jill Dineen. Kid Andersen, whose nearly omniscient Greaseland Studios produced, adds keyboards and electric guitar.
And maybe because of his artistic background, Anderson says: “Joel Astley is the Picasso of the Blues.”
Everything kicks off with one of album’s sharpest tracks, the bluesy “Born Cryin’,” — “The blues has been around from the dawn of time, that’s why everything that’s born was born cryin’,” featuring a deliciously swampy harp solo. Next is the furious fun of a little jump tune, “Candy Shop,” with sweet guitar licks and romping B3.
“Just Right” follows with a touch of roadhouse rockabilly, and then “Karma Wheel” takes a philosophical turn on revenge behind a stinging guitar. “Secondhand Kid” features slyly self-effacing lyrics highlighted by Burgin’s guitar work and Astley’s soaring harp. “Takin’ It With Me” swings easily in defiance of the traditional thinking of “you can’t take it with you.” The smoking “Hot as Hell” rocks hard in tribute to a young lady who’s caught his lyrical eye.
“Down To The Rims” is another tough rocker about getting the most out of life, and “Work With You Got” is musically self-explanatory with a little response from backup vocals. “Bobby’s Place” is an ode to the former 88 Keys, known as Bobby’s Place, a woodshed for Astley’s earlier years.
The closer is “No Brighter Gold,” a gospel-flavored call-and-response with backup singers joining in an enthusiastic finale that leaves your feet tapping and your hands clapping in a joyous celebration.
Astley says of his music: “Every work of art has its ideal vessel; some creative statements are rendered in clay or oils, some are pounded out on the keys of a typewriter, and some are belted out in tiny blues clubs through a cigarette haze. The aim is always the same: to forge a human connection.”
The human connection here is Astley’s creative songwriting, his swinging harp work, and the genuine musical joy from the entire cast. You should make that connection, and enjoy the excellent music of Joel Astley.
I couldn’t find anything from the album, but here are Joel Astley & Johnny Burgin at Blue Velvet Studios – Aug 7, 2021
Track list:
Born Cryin’
Candy Shop
Just Right
Karma Wheel
Secondhand Kid
Takin’ It With Me
Down To The Rims
Work With You Got
Bobby’s Place
Blues Roadhouse 
The video used here was recorded and produced by Marty Sender You Tube exclusively.
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