When Music becomes a fundamental part of our lives, among its many positive effects, there is that one related to freedom of expression, that liberating feeling that helps people to channel their emotions and release them to the world, a special power that only Music is able to trigger.
For the last 15 years, Music and Blues Music in particular, have been a real catalyst for the American singer-songwriter and Harmonica Maestro Chris O’Leary, an artist that has lived and still lives quite an intense life on and off the stage, with Music being a loyal and trusted companion that keeps on fuelling his many artistic talents, helping him, at the same time, to share his endless tales of relationships gone wrong, military experiences (O'Leary served as a Marine in the Gulf War) and unfortunate judgements through his impressive vocal skills and on playing harmonica.
O'Leary, perhaps unbeknown to some, has a highly impressive musical background; mentored by The Band's drummer and vocalist Levon Helm, with whom O'Leary played too for many years in Helm’s own project called The Barn Burners and raised on the powerful sound of James Cotton's Harmonica (Cotton and O'Leary will then become close friends too) playing on Muddy Waters' Hard Again album, the American singer-songwriter has also shared stages with the Sancta Sanctorum of the Blues industry, including fellow artists such as Jimmy Vivino, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dan Aykroyd, Dave Edmunds and many more.
With a new album just released a few days ago and called Blue Collar, O'Leary demonstrates once again why he is regarded as an authentic musician who is wonderfully respectful of the traditional canons of the Chicago Blues style.
Across the eleven tracks of Blue Collar, the American singer-songwriter and Harmonica player crafts moments that are memorable not only within his own impressive career to date, but also within the broader landscape of contemporary American Blues.
Backed by a host of musicians whose talent shines through in numerous passages of the album, O'Leary’s gift for storytelling, ranging from tracks steeped in irony to those where his keen eye captures the full essence of life in modern society, goes hand in hand with his immense talent as a vocalist and a master of the Harmonica.
Among O'Leary's many artistic gifts, there is also his ability to be equally convincing as a gifted performer in different genres too, whether he is tackling a delightful sonic mash-up of Jazz and Swing ("Justice Must Be Blind"), or whilst delivering an irresistible traditional Rock'N'Roll track like Live Baby Gators.
The American artist demonstrates impressive vocal versatility and an authentic performance style that mark him as one of the finest talents not only in the world of contemporary American Blues, but also on a wider and more global stage.
Furthermore, it needs to be said that Blue Collar is an album that, rather brilliantly, celebrates respectfully the traditions of Chicago Blues, while confirming, at the same time, the immense, well-rounded talent of a genuine artist like Chris O’Leary.
Blue Collar is out now and it can be purchased via Alligator Records
