Cat Lee King The Quarantine Tapes (CD)

(Rhythm Bomb Records) 13 tracks, digisleeve

The young singer and pianist from Bonn not only has an amazingly full and Afro-American timbre as well as a sharp look, he has already earned an excellent reputation in the rock'n'roll, swing and boogie scene for years, previously playing with RAY COLLINS' HOT CLUB, among others.

In the pandemic year 2020, KING had to cope for the most part without his perfectly rehearsed Cocks and recorded the 13 songs presented here at home - with minimalist equipment, overdubbing and, for the first time, as drummer and guitarist! The final production did not go completely without his friends, so we can look forward to some guest appearances by his band musicians as well as RAY COLLINS.

In addition to his own compositions "Final Call", "Whoever Made You" and "Virology", KING interprets songs by artists as diverse as HANK WILLIAMS, ALBERTA HUNTER, WILLIE DIXON or ZUZU BOLLIN. But the best thing is that "The Quarantine Tapes" sounds like a jump blues jewel recorded live in the 40s, despite adverse circumstances. And can definitely hold a candle to the quality of the Cocks debut album from 2018.