Lefty Williams
(self-released)
Unlike several baseball players over the years, Jason "Lefty" Williams comes by his nickname out of honest and somewhat harsh necessity. Jason's right arm stopped developing right around the elbow. Undaunted, Williams decided to start playing guitar before he was even old enough for kindergarten. By the time he was 6 he had adapted the first of a series of prostheses that would allow him to use a guitar pick.
Okay, so the kid had determination, grit and good old American stick-to-it-iveness. Big deal. So did General Pickett. Despite what Esteban's late night infomercials would have you believe, becoming a good guitar player is not that easy for anyone. Any guitar player can tell you that the elements of wrist, thumb and fingers all combine for optimum playing. The thought of trying to do without even one of those would put most players into apoplectic panic. That's why you rarely see signs saying "Guitar Player/Butcher" hung outside of a shop on Main Street. If Lefty learned to eke out a passable version of "Louie Louie" he's ahead of the game, right? Well, he's way ahead. He's one of the better guitar players you're likely to come across and he makes soulful southern blues-rock music that comes from the planet where Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd and Frank Zappa jam all night every night.
Snake Oil is Williams' third album, and with this one his songwriting has matured and he's noticeably more comfortable and in control as a singer with a voice and style that slightly resemble Boz Scaggs by way of Albert King. Lefty likes to get a nice comfortable groove going and lay a melody on top; the success of the formula is well showcased many times on the album. It may be at its best on "What I Believe" and the Robert Cray-like "On the Prowl," the latter cut having a jazzy tinge due mostly to the keyboard solo that reflects the balanced approach the album takes with its material - the songs come first.
As a player, Lefty can deliver the goods and he's not afraid to dazzle, but he's not a showoff. Snake Oil's best moments are reminiscent of the Bob Tench/Max Middleton era Jeff Beck Group: it's an ensemble project with songs, arrangements and players all pulling equal weight - testimony to Lefty Williams' taste and judgment. If he hadn't made himself into such a good musician he'd likely have a great career as a producer. As it is, he's doing just fine with his current gig.
Outstanding Tracks: "So I'll Stand", "What I Believe" RICK ALLEN
