This was an enjoyable show! Jimmy sang and slung guitar, backed by bassist and singer Jim Spears, guitarist Glenn Gross and drummer Brice Foster. Jimmy led his group through a wide variety of blues flavors, from jump blues to slow blues to New Orleans, funky flavors and more; blending original songs and his versions of blues classics along the way. He got folks dancing with numbers such as “Cordelia,” “Drivin’ My Cadillac,” “Sugar Cookie,” “Fingertips,” “You’re Lookin’ Good,” “Grease Alley” and others. He honored requests for several songs such as the jazzy “Walk Right In, Walk Right Out” and the slower “Midnight Rooster,” and did select covers of Muddy Waters’ “Rich Man’s Woman,” B.B. King’s “Jump With You Baby,” Jimmy Reed’s “Found Love” and Otis Rush’s “Right Place, Wrong Time.” Jimmy made his guitar sing early and often, displaying finesse with nuanced solos that always served the mood of each song. He ran the gamut from mild to wild, playing the guitar behind his neck on one song. His bandmates were skilled as well, all providing the proper accompaniment and also serving each song. Jimmy also added humorous and witty quips along the way, and as a high school English teacher by day, offered up a story about teaching Shakespeare and even reciting some Shakespearean lines to open the group’s final set.

The Venue Of Merging Arts is a great room for shows like this, as the crowd is there to listen to the music and pay full attention to what’s happening on the stage. Watch for Jimmy Adler’s return to VOMA sometime soon, or catch one of his shows in the Pittsburgh area!