In these live recordings, Kai Strauss vibrates with deep musical understanding and shows a real grounding in fundamentals and an instinctive urge to fit together the right notes and solos. - there is nothing here that is filled with uncalled-for, frenzied guitar lines. Nothing mechanical or out of place. His repertoire on this CD sounds as if it came from Theresa's Lounge in Chicago 1967. You can't actually label Strauss as Just another European and separate him out from American artists - he is too good for that. In fact, he's just about the last of musicians still jumping the authentic Blues with inspired fine blues guitar improvisation firmly grounded in that old Chicago-bred music that we all love. In choosing his songs or the appropriate intros, he shows the killer instinct that the old masters like Magic Sam had - Highway Blues is one example. Strauss' so good here it's scary. Clearly, Real Blues is embedded in Kai's skull, and I think he finally did it and is steering himself fittingly. As BB King says on his greatest live recording: We're going to do our best to try and move you tonight ? if you like the blues, I think we can." . Kai Strauss and his ace band will do the same here. Otis Grand January 2019 London, England Recorded live 2018 - 2 CD set, fold-out CD case, 8 page booklet Vocals & Guitar: Kai Strauss Bass: Kevin DuVernay Drums: Alex Lex Harmonica & Saxophone: Thomas Feldmann Keyboards: Nico Dreier, Mo Fuhrhop, Horst Bergmeyer SPECIAL GUESTS: Rhythm Guitar: Jimmy Reiter Rhythm Guitar: Richard van Bergen