Florida Blues
Joel Zoss
Label: Joel Zoss
Review Date: August 2, 2015

Remember the Bonnie Raitt recordings, “Too Long at the Fair” and “I Gave My Love A Candle”?  The writer of those songs, Joel Zoss, has just released his latest CD, “Florida Blues”, and has, once again, proven that there’s lots more where those two beautiful tunes came from.

Joel’s latest studio album, FLORIDA BLUES, featuring his acoustic trio, was recorded and mixed by Grammy-award-winning engineer Ron Taylor at Echo Beach Studios in Jupiter, Florida. All songs on the disc were written by Zoss except “Key to the Highway” (by Big Bill Broonzy) and the Lead Belly tune, “Goodnight, Irene”. Ten cuts in all, Zoss serves up a delightful plate of mouthwatering, acoustic blues that all fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy. With Joel on acoustic guitar, he is backed by Jeff Adkins on the upright and electric bass, Matt Calderin on drums, and Jeff Harding guesting via guitar solo on “Key To The Highway”.

Zoss’s unique fingerpicking style and moving vocals have entertained audiences from blues clubs and concert halls to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. From 2007-2009 he opened shows for B.B. King and Etta James in theaters across the country. He has performed and recorded with many highly regarded artists including  David Bromberg, Taj Mahal, James Taylor, Paul Butterfield, and Howlin’ Wolf.

Joel cut his teeth in the 1960’s in Chicago with some of the world’s greatest bluesmen and began his recording career with Arista in the 1970’s. Reflecting his years living in North Africa and Spain, some of his songs are as at home in the World Music category as they are in American Roots. Joel performs solo; as a duo with upright bass; and as an acoustic blues trio with upright bass and drums.  

If you love acoustic blues (and who doesn’t?), then “Florida Blues” is a must have addition to your listening library.