Search - Kimberly Allison :: Old New Borrowed & Blues

1st Class Debut

Eric G Black | Logan City, Queensland Australia | 11/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first came across Kimberly Allison playing lead guitar on a Zola Moon CD late last year and remember being impressed by her guitar work, so I was more than happy when I found out she had released her debut album. Based in California, she has been playing at clubs and festivals since the age of sixteen and also has a degree in jazz guitar from the University of Southern California.Old, New, Borrowed and Blues has ten tracks. Kimberly is strictly a guitarist and the album features two guest vocalists, Morris Beeks who sings on I Want To Park My Hot Rod co-written by Kimberly and Charles Thomas and No Woman, No Dog, No Best Friend Blues also written by Charles Thomas. The other vocalist is Mister "Blues" Leshun who has played with the likes of Jimmy Reed, Big Mama Thornton and Rufus Thomas to name a few. Mister Blues only sings on the three covers that appear on the album, Open House At My House, Next Time You See Me and Just Got To Know.The remaining five tracks are all original instrumentals by Kimberly Allison. With obvious influences coming from Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan on Turn Up The AC and I 35 South respectively, her talent as a blues guitarist really shines through. Her interplay with the horn section on the jazz influenced Four Down Jump and Portland Boogie is just electric.With great chops and a clean tone Kimberly Allison is a master of the guitar. Old, New, Borrowed and Blues is a top class debut album."