October 10, 2006 - Sun Media Review

COLIN JAMES & THE LITTLE BIG BAND 3
MAPLEMUSIC | UNIVERSAL

There is something to be said for giving people what they want. Then again, there's something to be said for keeping yourself happy too. And when you get down to it, we're not sure who Canuck bluesman Colin James is out to please with the third instalment in his popular Little Big Band series. All we know is that these finger-popping, horn-fuelled covers of soul, R&B and jump blues chestnuts like Sam Cooke's That's Where it's At, Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite and Louis Jordan's I Want You to Be My Baby -- not to mention a couple of like-minded originals and a slow-burning version of Van Morrison's I Will Be There, all of which allow James plenty of space for his piercing guitar licks -- are guaranteed to feed your hep-cat jones. Too bad we'll probably have to wait another five years for No. 4.
***1/2 (out of 4)