The Kingbees is a selection of twelve jump swing style blues standards and originals by Mike Binder and Brantt Hamilton. Starting off in high gear with a very up version of Enough of You, harpist Brantt Hamilton set the pace with solid driving lines. Track two a refreshing un-Clapton like version of Crossroads, followed by Mustang Sally & Down Boy Down. The disc slows down on track five in the first of the four originals on the disc, Walk’in Home Blues as Mike Binder (guitar & vocals) belts out a “boy meets beer with no friends” blues. My favorite cut on the disk, My Baby waits for Me, sets a nice lazy, honky-tonk feel. Scott Wilson (keyboards) Wil Jones (drums) Reggie Redd (tenor sax) and Todd Becker (bass) create a very solid sound. Guests include Becky Boyd, Lenny Curry, Norm Tischler & Mike Rubin. Recorded at Magnetic North Studios, the audio quality and production values are superb, as is the playing. Buy it!

By Jim Martin