Lucid Intervals

Massachusetts native George Kelly has made his home in the Detroit area since 1995, which may account for the strong blues and soul base he brings to the songs on Lucid Intervals, his debut album. A fine slide guitarist, Kelly is also a careful and literate songwriter, somewhat in the John Hiatt vein, and his straight, unaffected vocals on these tracks allows each song room to breathe. The ensemble playing is crisp and full, and the overall tone and sound of the album is a bit like Steely Dan playing the blues. The standout track here is the six-minute "Otis Spann," which unfolds as an intimate homage to the great blues pianist. The concluding cut, "Pyrrhic Victory," is also strong, and has an historic and epic reach that marks Kelly as an artist and writer to watch.