onurblues: Nakia - Blues Grifter (2018)

June 14, 2023

Nakia - Blues Grifter (2018)

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A matter of voice

Raised in Alabama, living in Austin, built like a wrestler, gifted with powerful vocal genes, Nakia Reynoso was a semi-finalist of the singing reality show contest “The Voice” in 2011. Immediately you worry ! At the same time, as his album is labeled as blues, curiosity gets hold of you. So you play it, just a bit, to check if it's true…

And, surprise !, what you hear is blues indeed, a heavily soul-infused blues sung with a powerful gravel-textured voice backed by a nice little band, the Blues Grifters, featuring a skilled guitarist named Mac MacNabb.
“I wanted this album to be a homage to the great blues artists who inspired me", he explained, and that's exactly what it is, an exciting collection of horn-filled R'n'B-flavored covers.

Things start with a heavy barn-burning version of Elmore James' “Yonder Wall”, in a style only Texan blues musicians can play, featuring blazing (slide) guitar from MacNabb. In the same vein, Nakia and his musicians later deliver another outstanding track, if not the best one, with their stirring fast and funky cover of Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson's “Woman Don't Lie”.

The man seems to have a liking for Jimmy Reed and performs two successive titles : "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" played with a “Blues Brothers” sound, and "Go on to School” carried by MacNabb's greasy slide guitar.

Nakia also has a deep taste for soul & R'n'B : he gives a fine rendition of “Somebody's Sleeping in My Bed” (a Bettye Crutcher-Allen Jones song notably covered by Johnnie Taylor and Buddy Guy) laid over a rich horn and churchy organ backing crossed by sax and guitar, while the always refined guitar of MacNabb is more prominent on “Gimme Some of Yours” (Bobby Rush-Milton Middlebrook), and on the intense 7-minute “I've Got to Use My Imagination” (Gerry Goffin-Barry Goldberg) where, after a weird introduction on organ, fortunately quite short, MacNabb guitar comes in for the best while Nakia is in full control of his powerful voice.

MacNabb (left) & Nakia

Both Nakia and MacNabb are equally soulful on their taking version of Otis Rush' “Double Trouble”, and the lively R'n'B revisit of Rockin' Tabby Thomas' “Hoodoo Party” transports you right in the swamps of Louisiana with its typical rhythmic pattern, fine sliding guitar and New Orleans style piano and horns.

The same rhythmic recipe is also used in the version of Willie Dixon's “300 Pounds of Joy” but this time taken on the rock'n'roll side reminding Jerry Lee Lewis “Great Balls of Fire”, and enlightened by Vince Limon's hoarse saxophone.

Limon is also giving a R'n'B feel to the interesting final track, a taking cover of the Allman Brothers “Whipping Post”.

Nakia was already singing with the Blues Grifters before The Voice, and the strong point of this album that took eight years to complete, is undoubtedly his passionate, deeply soul voice. Applause also for MacNabb, he deserves it. You don't regret one bit you overcame your prejudice and succumbed to your curiosity. Moral of the story : even a commercial TV singing contest can reveal a real talent sometimes... ■