Sound Off

Travis Allison Band

Migrant Heart

(Independent)

Travis Allison has always had his finger on the pulse of the Lowcountry, and it shows in his music. Allison has the ability to write a song that is tranquil enough to attract the adult-contemporary contingent of music listeners without actually having to dilute his music to do so.

Edwin McCain does the same thing well, and I have always been a bit perplexed as to why Allison's career hasn't followed the same arc as McCain's.

Whatever the case, the new CD by the Travis Allison Band, "Migrant Heart," once again finds Allison laying down one soulful song after another. Allison is all over this CD, playing not just his usual keyboards, but also guitar, bass, percussion, harmonica, and even accordion.

John Picard, Whitt Algar, and Marty Parker round out the band, and the cohesiveness of the group is evident on just about every song.

Standout tunes include "Too Many Stations," "Falling Stars and Me," "Pete's Girlfriend" (which features McCain on backing vocals) and "The Fire Won't Start."

Possibly the best song on the CD though is "Almost Home," a wistful look back at the song subject's life.

Download These: "Almost Home," "Too Many Stations," "Falling Stars and Me."

Jack Bruce & Robin Trower

Seven Moons Live

(Ruf)

Just looking at the two names above this review is probably enough to get any blues enthusiast on board immediately. As a matter of fact, I'm betting that the chance to hear Robin Trower and Jack Bruce perform together has probably got blues fans drooling in anticipation.

Bruce really needs no introduction, and even if he did, it could simply go like this: "He played bass in Cream. The End."

Trower has enjoyed a long and successful solo career, before which he played with the classic rock group Procol Harum. Each musician has plenty of other credits to their respective resume, but in 2008 the men collaborated on a studio album, "Seven Moons," and then struck out on a tour.

"Seven Moons Live" was recorded during a stop in Nijmegen, Holland. Joined by drummer Gary Husband, who has played with the likes of Gary Moore and John McLaughlin, the trio blazes through bluesy numbers such as "Lives of Clay," "Carmen," and "Seven Moons."

The guys even delve into past territory, performing great versions of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room." Great stuff from a couple of true modern blues legends.

Download These: "Lives of Clay," "Carmen," "White Room."

John Wort Hannam

Queen's Hotel

(Black Hen)

Listening to the music of John Wort Hannam one is struck by his command of the English language. It should come as no surprise then that the folk singer used to teach high school language skills on a reserve in Canada.

In 1997, he heard an album by Loudon Wainwright III, and was drawn to the songwriter's style. After buying a guitar and learning some chords, Hannam quit teaching in 2002 to be a full-time musician.

To say that his second career has been successful is an understatement. Hannam has won the songwriting grand prize at the Calgary Folk Music Festival three times since 2004, and has collected other awards and fans along the way.

On his latest release, "Queen's Hotel," Hannam continues to deliver the same beautiful story-style songwriting that first gained him notice.

Standout tunes include "Worth a Damn" (a duet with fellow Canadian Jenny Whiteley), "Church of the Long Grass" and "Lucky Strikes." Perhaps the best song here is "With the Grain," which scored Hannam his latest award at 2009's Calgary Folk Music Festival."

For fans of songwriters such as John Gorka and David Wilcox, John Wort Hannam will be right up your alley.

Download These: "With the Grain," "Church of the long Grass," "Lucky Strikes."