Artist:     Reese Wynans

Album:     Sweet Release

Label:     J&R Adventures

Release Date:     3.1.2019

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Renowned keyboardist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Reese Wynans has appeared on countless albums, gigged relentlessly and has played with the giants of music in blues, rock, and country for over 50 years now. It’s as if he had only one item left on his bucket list—to make a solo album. At the behest of his friend, and, as it turns out, first-time producer, Joe Bonamassa, we now have Wynans’ solo debut. It reads like a tribute to the well-respected and beloved Wynans with a staggering lineup of guests.

Wynans is best known for his work with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble and pays tribute to that band with four selections, played with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon of Double Trouble. Other appearances (by no means all of them) include Bonamassa, Vince Gill, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Keb’ Mo’, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Farris, Warren Haynes, and Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie).

The approach is best described by Bonamassa, “…I was faced with the task of recording a solo keyboard record with a brilliant catalog of guitar songs. …I had this idea to reverse the ‘natural’ order of things that historically has gone on with these types of records. Reese would get the first solo, Reese would be the loudest and get the best and fattest breaks. It only seemed fair after 50 years.”

To be sure, this is a loud record and, with just a couple of exceptions, is done in Bonamassa’s comfort zone, blues-rock. The band comes out firing with Sam Moore singing the instantly recognizable SRV “Crossfire” followed by SRV’s “Say What!” both with Double Trouble aboard and Kenny Wayne Shepherd on lead. Mike Farris and Paulie Cerra sing on the Memphis-styled “That Driving Beat” while Doyle Bramhall II takes both the vocal and guitar lead on Otis Rush’s “You’re Killing My Love.” Oh, and it goes without saying that Wynans’ B3 is prominent in the mix and sounding great.

The centerpiece of the album is the title track which hearkens back to Wynans’ days in Boz Scaggs’ band on the West Coast. It’s a terrific gospel flavored tune that has these stunning vocalists in order: Paulie Cerra, Keb’ Mo’, Mike Farris, Jimmy Hall, Bonnie Bramlett, Vince Gill and Warren Haynes. It alone makes the album well worth hearing.

“The Shape I’m In” traces back to the Texas band, the Arc Angels, led by Charlie Sexton. Here we have Double Trouble and Shepherd again, with guitar help from Pearson and co-producer Josh Smith. Bonnie Bramlett then takes lead vocal on SRV’s “Hard to Be,” a group of mostly Nashville-based (as is Wynans) musicians. Double Trouble return for the gorgeous SRV instrumental ballad “Riviera Paradise” with Shepherd and Bonamassa sharing guitar leads.

“Take Your Time” goes back to Wynans’ early days in Jacksonville, FL playing with what later became The Allman Brothers Band. Appropriately, Warren Haynes takes the guitar and vocal lead. Bonamassa gets his turn on vocals and lead on Tampa Red’s (one of Wynans’ favorites) “So Much Trouble,” followed by Tampa Red’s “I’ve Got a Right to Be Blue,” stripped down with just Keb’ Mo’ and Wynans playing. Josh Smith takes lead guitar on The Meters’ “Soul Island” before Wynans goes completely solo for a classy exit on grand piano with Lennon/McCartney’s “Blackbird.”

This is first class musicianship, obviously. It’s impossible for Wynans to touch on all the key points of his storied career and he does a nice job of saluting SRV, The Allmans, Scaggs, and his recent role in Bonamassa’s band. Yet, considering the work Wynans did with Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Joe Ely, Carole King, and so many others, some more variety would have been nice. Maybe that will happen on the next one.

—Jim Hynes