AYNSLEY LISTER

“Everything I Need”

Ruf Records

Aynsley Lister is one of the young leaders of this generation’s British blues invasion. Playing his first musical gig at the age of 13, Lister developed his musical influences from listening to his father's record collection, and by the age of 18, he began to write his own material. Lister soon drew the attention of Ruf Records, and was subsequently billed with artists such as Walter Trout, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray. Despite making a name for himself in Britain, Lister’s music had yet to reach the shores of the states until now, with Lister and Ruf Records reworking and re-releasing “Everything I Need”, Lister's debut album from 2000, by replacing five tracks and re-recording the original material. “Everything I Need” is now a compete offering from Aynsley Lister, and American blues fans can now absorb music they have been missing all this time.

9 of the 11 tracks on “Everything I Need” are Lister’s original material, incorporating rock-based, gritty Chicago blues with two outstanding acoustic covers, Tony Joe White’s “As The Crow Flies” and Jimi Hendrix’ classic “Little Wing”. The disc kicks off with the Texas-blues influenced title track, driven by a ZZ Top-like riff. The transition into “Angel O’ Mine” works perfectly, delivering the swagger and sway of emotional blues. Lister and his band (Matt Kay-bass and Wayne Proctor-drums) offer up a diverse mix of musical styles; the instrumental “Quiet Boy”, for example, is heavily SRV influenced, while the slow, bluesy “Need Her So Bad” cries out with the emotional pain of loneliness that only the blues can deliver. There’s the brash, in-your-face “Soundman” or the rhythmic “Without You”, clearly deserving of commercial airplay, with Lister’s melodic voice serving as the perfect accompaniment to his soulful guitar work. Lister’s musical creativity, emotional vocals, and diverse guitar style make “Everything I Need” an enjoyable listening experience from start to finish.

Aynsley Lister’s next recording (his seventh) and first U.S. tour is scheudled for 2007. Keep this name in mind as a major player in the future of guitar-based blues music. Aynsley Lister is the certainly the real deal, and his exposure in the states should only help catapult his career to new musical heights.

- Don Sikorski

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