Dying way too early at the age of only 41, Jeff Healey was a master guitar player. You might recall the blind blonde guitarist playing laptop style (with the guitar laying face-up across his lap) while he wailed with his band, Tom Stephen on drums and Joe Rockman on bass. Survivor of the roadhouse, in more ways than one, Healey’s Get Me Some, originally released in 2000, is now making its return.
A nice combination of slower acoustic numbers right alongside blistering chunky blues, these tunes show The Jeff Healey Band really at the top of their game. Opening with a blistering hot guitar on “Which One,” there is no misstep in what follows. Healey’s playing is masterful through-out as Stephen kicks back with a wild beat on “Hey Hey.” He simply smokes with a distorted guitar warble, beats it nice and nasty for “House Is Burning Down” and provides his wildest leads on “Feel Better.” Then Healey gets downright poppy on the jangly title track.
There’s just as much acoustic and some piano even on this record. On “Macon Georgia Blue,” the best tune of the 12, Healey plays both light piano and superlative acoustic guitar lead (and that’s Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers fame behind him on organ). Then there’s his light touch on acoustic on the last two tunes, “Runaway Heart,” and a song about his daughter, “Rachel’s Song.” Jeff Healey was one of those guys I always loved listening to if I didn’t necessarily follow his career all that closely (more fool I). On Get Me Some, I am reminded why I should have and am glad I can do so now with this great CD.
~ Ralph Greco. Jr.
