Is anything more gripping than the sound of a slide guitar? In the right hands, it can cry and moan, or soar and shout, with an electrifying power that feels like an untamed soul at its most genuine. For proof, check out veteran slide master Ed Williams of Chicago, who shows off his chops to maximum effect on the rousing Slideways, the first album in ten years from Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials. Co-starring half-brother James “Pookie” Young (bass), Michael Garrett (guitar), and Kelly Littleton (drums), this mighty combo boasts more than three decades together, and it shows in their efficient, no-frills attack.
The nephew of certified blues legend J.B. Hutto, Williams makes a righteous racket with his high-voltage instrument, doing forebears proud. The pure joy of playing radiates through every searing lick, whether he’s channeling Elmore James (“The Flirt in the Car Wash Skirt”), igniting a John Lee Hooker-style boogie (“You Can’t Strike Gold from a Silver Mine”), or aiming for a new land-speed record at a tempo worthy of punk rock (“One Foot on the Brake, One on the Gas”). While his bandmates mostly keep a low profile, the occasional contributions of Ben Levin on moody organ and barrelhouse piano enhance the sound nicely.
