"Mess of Blues" by Jeff Healy

I greatly enjoy the opportunities to be exposed to new music whether it be a new artist or release, or whether it be something as simple as being new to me because I was not paying attention the first time around or it passed under my radar for what ever reason. Such is the case with Jeff Healy.

ear ago when his hit single "Angel Eyes" was released I liked the song but never really knew who had released the song... until recently. Only it was not until I heard of hisdeath that I began to take enough notice to hear what Jeff Healy had to offer.

This blues guitarist had a very unique way of playing his guitar but it in no way took anything away from his playing ability and creativity.

Jeff Healy's last album was a live recording titled "Mess of Blues". But the album contained much more than the typical blues music. With cover osngs like "Jambalaya" and "Shake Rattle and Roll" Healy shows off his diversity as a musician. "Jambalaya" is a cajun/zydeco type piece and "Shake Rattle and Roll" is an old rock-a-billy tune first made popular by Bill Haley and the Comets.

Jeff Healy was an artist who did not fit into the typical blues man stereotype of an old black man from the south who had lived the blues so he could play them. Healy was a young white guy who could whail it with the best of them. On Mess of Blues" I very much heard and felt the similarity to Eric Clapton a fellow rockin' blues artist.

Jeff Healy, who was blind from infancy, was most comfortable playing his guitar laying flat across his lap similar to how a steel guitar is played. But no matter what manner Healy chose to play his guitar the music came out as pure rocking blues to sooth the soul, entertain his audiences, and I want ot hear more, let's rock the house vibe.

Besides being an incredible guitar player Jeff Healy had a pleasant voice that you wanted to hear and hear more of what he had to offer.

"Mess of blues" has only 10 tracks. Enough to whet the appetite, get you started, and then ask for more.

Jeff Healy may be gone, but his music lives on for others to enjoy or like me to discover at some point down the road. Jeff Healy, the talents of yeat another musician who was taken to early.