Guitarist Jeff Healey to Release Mess of Blues Due April 22

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Jeff Healey, arguably one of the most distinctive guitar players of our time, is releasing his first blues/rock album in eight years — a bustling, bright collection of tunes he's titled Mess of Blues. It was recorded late last year, with the musicians who regularly accompany the guitarist at Jeff Healey's Roadhouse in Toronto. While most of the new album was recorded in the studio, two tracks were in fact recorded live at the club, and two more cut at a concert in London, England. The Jeff Healey Blues Band was formed as a "house band" to accompany guests who sit in when Healey plays the club that carries his name, and to meet the ongoing international demand for the artist's powerful and unusual guitar work.

The guitarist calls his group "the best damned bar band in Canada, " and it consists of Dave Murphy on keys (he also sings on two cuts), bassist Alec Fraser (who co-produced the record with Healey), Dan Noordermeer on guitar and Al Webster on drums.

"Making this record is a chance to introduce the band to wider international audiences and give some great songs a new and fresh lease on life, " says Healey.

Choosing the songs for Mess of Blues was easy, he says. "For the most part they're tunes that get the best response when we play them live, either on tour or at home in the club." Classics like "The Weight, " "Jambalaya, " "How Blue Can You Get, " and "Shake Rattle and Roll" are all marked by Healey's innovative and sparkling guitar work.

Adds Healey: "I'm really grateful to Ruf Records for giving me the opportunity to show people that my respect for the blues remains as strong as ever, as does the commitment we all have to the people who come out to hear us when we play."

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