R.J. Mischo - Knowledge You Can't Get In College (2010) [CD Rip]

At the beginning of his career, R.J. Mischo was primarily a Fifties revivalist, keeping classic post-war blues styles alive. Since moving from Minnesota to northern California, Mischo has expanded his range of interests, a change reflected in a growing emphasis on jumping West Coast sounds, investigations into earlier blues styles, and occasional experimentation with other genres, like rockabilly. His newest CD moves in an unexpected, slightly more modern, direction. Knowledge You Can't Get In College finds Mischo in the company of Kid Andersen and Rusty Zinn (guitar), Sid Morris (piano, organ), Kedar Roy (bass and electric bass), and June Core (drums), and developing a new interest in greasy Sixties-style R&B. The title track, an ode to street smarts, lays a memorable instrumental hook on harmonica over an insistent, push-pull rhythm. "Don't Look Twice" features telepathic interplay between the band members, with strong syncopa- tion, a needle-gun solo from Andersen, and a serpentine Mischo harp break. "Two Hours From Tulsa," the slinky, noir-ish road tune that opens the album, incorporates funky organ stabs, wah-wah rhythm guitar, Mischo's haunting ride-out, and a liquid Andersen solo marked by singing bends a la Otis Rush. As exciting as the funky songs are, they in no way push aside the vintage-inspired blues. While Mischo takes a Sonny Boy II-style harp approach to his instrumental "Teacher's Pet," Zinn's guitar solo comes from a hillbilly jazz perspective. The juxtaposition works beautifully. Where "Rich Cat" and "Big Plans" are Fifties-oriented, "Ain't Nothin' New" has a more contemporary, slamming groove, big tone from Mischo, and a performance from Zinn that will shake your listening space. Where high-register harp adorns the Mickey Baker rumba "Down To The Bottom," squalling blasts accompany Walter Vinson's tough slow blues "Devil's Love Sin/The Wrong Man." Critics preach creativity from artists as they select cover songs; in presenting these wonderful obscurities, Mischo has mastered the art of crate digging. Combined with fine original material and inspired performances from the truly deep, versatile cast of players, Knowledge rests safely on the top shelf of recent releases. -Tom Hyslop