Jimmy Nalls - Ain't No Stranger (1999)

Jimmy Nalls returns to the studio to create an album of sheer perfection. With fluid, soulful guitar work that parallels and oftentimes even exceeds his Sea Level efforts, coupled with inspiring lyrics and vocal delivery, Ain't No Stranger will be one of the finer releases to make its way into your CD player in many moons. Nalls was battling the pain and coordination disruption of Parkinson's disease the whole time this record was being tracked, but there are no signs of stress to be found. Rather, the music herein bubbles with inspiration, clarity, and precision playing. With guests that include veteran Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers keyboard wizard Chuck Leavell, slide king Lee Roy Parnell, and former touring partner T. Graham Brown, the album exhudes creativity and stellar musicianship from start to finish. With heavy doses of jazz and funk, and good old fashioned rock & roll, Ain't No Stranger is as good as it gets.