Mississippi Mudd by Bobbie "Mercy" Oliver and the Jam City Revue

Bobbie "Mercy" Oliver's main musical influence is Jimmy Reed, and like Reed, he also plays harmonica, guitar and sings.

Bobbie taught himself to play as a child on a Sears and Roebuck guitar his oldest sister ordered him, unknown to their father until the bill arrived.

Bobbie left his (Atlanta, TX) for Chicago, soon after graduating from high school, forming his first band in Chicago.

The present band, Jam City Revue, was formed around 1996 and includes Bobbie "Mercy" Oliver on guitar, harmonica and lead vocals, Mr. Tee on bass, Oran"Orie"Gipson on lead guitar as of now. on bass guitar and vocals, Booker Carpenter on drums and Winston "Commando" Watson on guitar.

All of the music on this cd was written and arranged by Bobbie "Mercy" Oliver.

Bobbie's harmonica shines in every song with his unique and relaxed style, and the title song is no exception; this is a great tune. My personal favorite is not the title song , however, but "Hex on Me, Part II". This one opens with a cool laid-back harmonica and equally cool guitar licks. This version, just music, no vocals, has a deceptively lazy and rollicking beat, one of those songs that sorta sneaks up on you and inevitably turns one's mind to something besides music.

His "Ramblin' Mind" and "Highway 61" are blues of the love gone wrong genre, and listening, I'm hearing every woman he knew before the woman who he calls "Mama." Mama Eva manages all the details and travels with him, and he refers any inquires to Mama, the woman "who knows all about it." "Love is the Loc" sounds like his tribute to her.

The closing tune, "Jazzy Harmonica Blues," is an upbeat and, indeed, jazzy, song that I loved; I'm tempted to go back and call it my favorite instead of "Hex on Me II", but I had to pick one for a favorite, not an easy task on a cd full of great music.

The keyboardist (Robert "Mr. Debonaire" Wilcots) is excellent as well as the regular band members; the whole band jells around the wonderful harmonica rifts of Bobbie "Mercy" Oliver.

This is an imminently enjoyable CD from a great live band; I heard them at the Hog Wild Saloon at the King Biscuit in 2004 and was immediately taken with them; they know how to rock the house, and make the floor dance. I recommend it for part of your essential collection of contemporary blues.

This cd can be bought from Oliver's Buy Music Direct page, and the band can be booked by contacting him via email (bobbieoliver@sbcglobal.net) or check out his website http://bobbieoliver39.tripod.com.