Review: Luke Winslow-King – Flash-A-Magic
Luke Winslow-King – Flash-A-Magic
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Bloodshot Records
Release: 2024
Text: Tom Wouters
Luke Winslow-King is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter who covers a broad spectrum of authentic American music. His music is a journey through the heart of America with authentic sounding delta blues, roots music, rock and folk.
After a 15-year hiatus in New Orleans, where he is part of the Playing For Change project, Winslow-King has taken his music out into the wide world. ‘Flash-A-Magic’ is his eighth solo album recorded in Tuscany (Italy) and Memphis, Tennessee (USA). In Tuscany lives his musical companion slide guitarist extraordinaire Roberto Luti, who also is part of the Playing For Change-project and plays an important role in the sound of ‘Flash-A-Magic,’ an album on which Winslow-King and his musical companions seized the opportunity to let the songs breathe and to prefer spontaneity over perfection.
‘Flash-A-Magic’ opens with the vintage rock song , Everywhere You Go, There You Are with Luti in the leading role. In the title song Flash-A-Magic Winslow-King’s New Orleans funk influence is clearly audible supported by the beautiful organ playing of Rev. Charles Hodges (Al Green), and is followed by the Black Keys-like If I Were You.
Then follows for a change the sweet swinging doo-wop song Black Eyed Gypsy with Caribbean influences, in which the vocals of The Sensational Barnes Brothers excel. Also remarkable is Peaches, a roots song with psychedelic guitar playing, which is followed by the basic delta blues songs Ave (Steel Rail Angel) and Best Be Leavin’, convincingly sung by Winslow-King and with the beautiful slide guitar of Roberto Luti in the leading role.
In between is the soul song How Could I Forget, that gets a soulful rendition with the beautiful slide guitar of Roberti Luti (again) in the leading role. The closing song of this excellent album is the gospel song Good Morning, a piece of cake for The Sensational Barnes Brothers, who give it a beautiful jubilant performance.
‘Flash-A-Magic’ is an album with which Luke Winslow-King (and Roberto Luti) joins the ranks of authentic blues and roots musicians such as Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo. It is an album with very convincing and authentically performed Americana.
Tracks:
01. Everywhere You Go, There You Are
02. Flash-A-Magic
03. If I Were You
04. Black Eyed Gypsy
05. Peaches
06. Ave (Steel Rail Angel)
07. How Could I Forget
08. Best Be Leavin’
09. Good Morning
Website: https://lukewinslowking.com/
Tour:
20 november: Cobblestone – Oldenzaal
21 november: Mezz – Breda
22 november: Paard – Den Haag
23 november: Penninckshuis – Deventer