JEFF HEALEY: See The Light (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

In 1989, many people discovered a blind guitarist playing opposite Patrick Swayze in the film "Roadhouse". Playing his instrument on his lap, this young prodigy magnifies the film's soundtrack from start to finish, exuding blues and rock from every pore of his skin, supported by a rhythm section as discreet as it is effective. This is how Jeff Healey's talent bursts onto the scene. And yet, a year earlier, the trio had released an album entitled "See The Light", which reached the heights of blues/rock, and whose title proves the disarmingly smiling young prodigy's sense of humor.

Alternating covers and compositions, the 12 tracks on this opus are as many gems carried by Jeff Healey's warm voice, but also, and above all, by his dazzling guitar playing. His special technique gives him a unique vibrato, and every note lives and vibrates at 100%. While the covers are performed with talent, personality and enthusiasm, the compositions stand up perfectly to comparison, which is particularly astounding from such a young artist. At just 22 years of age, he's perfectly capable of interpreting songs by John Hiatt, Freddie King or ZZ Top, but his own compositions are no match for these classics. Hiatt's 'Confidence Man' gets the album off to a dynamic, driving start, while 'My Little Girl' follows on an equivalent basis.

What's more, Jeff Healey and his band cover a wide range on these 12 tracks, from traditional, instrumental blues à la John Lee Hooker ('Nice Problem To Have') to more Eric Clapton-like, melodic numbers such as 'I Need To Be Loved' and 'River Of No Return'. And if all the tracks are worthy of our attention, we can't fail to mention 'Don't Let Your Chance Go By', with its haunting riff and chorus, and incandescent solo, and the hit ballad 'Angel Eyes', the feeling-filled version of ZZ Top's 'Blue Jean Blues' or the fiery version of Freddie King's 'Hideway', and last but not least, the catchy, Jimi Hendrix-like 'See The Light', with its distorted, molten 6-string.

As you can see, The Jeff Healey Band has produced a breathtaking opus. It's truly exceptional to come across a debut album of such a high standard, both in terms of interpretation and composition. Technique, melody and feeling all come together in a work that loses none of its sparkle with each listen, delivering its magic with the same intensity. - Official website

JEFF HEALEY

SEE THE LIGHT

ARISTA

ROCK