Billy Lavender

It’s a mighty long way from the figurative tracks of the Grand Funk Railroad to real funky Beale Street in Memphis. Guitarist William "Billy" Lavender has made that journey, in the process shedding bombast for soul and true inspiration. He was born December 2nd, 1959 in the city on the Mississippi named for the first capital of ancient Egypt that united two kingdoms, and Memphis could well be seen as uniting two cultures to create rock ‘n’ roll. Lavender took the initial influences of Mark Farner and then the Beatles, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix and eventually spiced them with the sonic BBQ sauce of the blues and R&B of his hometown to create a personal musical statement.

Leader Lavender takes a rare lead vocal on the rockabilly "Get Along" with a social message borrowed from Rodney King. Reba Russell returns for the atmospheric, mid-tempo pop rock groove of "Blue" that contains exotic sitar from Webb. Taking yet another sharp turn, the band launches into the charging shuffle of "Shake It" as Johnson comes back exhorting and blowing the Mississippi saxophone while Lavender solos with consummate taste and swinging authority. Russell again leads the way on the anthemic "Bottom Line" that contrasts with the medium shuffling, blues rock of "Bad Boy" that has Tony Adams growling and beating the skins as Lavender throws "snakes" from his guitar. Johnson steps forward to sing pleadingly and play harmonica on the melancholy minor key blues "3AM." Reminiscent of "The Thrill is Gone," it contains an emotion-laden solo from Webb with a dash of jazz, and one from Lavender that succinctly expresses the ache of a broken heart. The boss again steps in front of the lead vocal mic for "All the People" that echoes the Fab Four, as does his lead singing on "If I Could". The set closes with the heavy levee blues of "Delta Time" as Adams gets way "down in the alley" and Lavender layers lead and rhythm guitars in a nasty, churning instrumental stew.

In this age of histrionics and pretension in the blues, it is refreshing to hear an experienced musician backed by his friends and having a great time playing all the music he knows and loves. It is a great tribute to Memphis and all involved.