Maricela's Smile

Joe Moss has always loved the blues. By the time he was 15, the singer/guitarist was playing seven nights a week throughout Chicago and he often still works as many as 28 gigs a month. While his previous CDs have been almost strictly blues, on Maricela's Smile Moss stretches himself beyond blues, performing soul ballads, R&B-ish jams, and even touches of jazz. The liner note writer (Mike O'Cull of the Illinois Entertainer) is almost apologetic and defensive in describing Moss' desire to move beyond only playing 12-bar blues, but this is a natural evolution for blues performers. What is important is that Moss keeps the spirit of the blues as his base, he sings with a lot of feeling and sensitivity, he writes excellent songs (11 of the 13 selections are his originals), his guitar solos often sting, and there are a few more straightforward blues included along the way. Open-minded blues listeners will enjoy this well-rounded set, which is topped off by a lengthy live version of "Ain't Got No Money."