Kevin Burt & Big Medicine Thank You Brother Bill ...  A Tribute To Bill Withers Gulf Coast Records

I'm on record as a big fan of the music of Iowa blues cat Kevin Burt, so even if he was singing names out of the phone book I'd be digging it.

But a full album of Burt doing Bill Withers songs? Yeah, I'm in on that one. I've heard him doing one of Brother Bill's songs live, I think it was "Lean On Me," but I'm not sure. Regardless, Burt obviously has a love and affection for the music of Withers, and it comes across on his latest release, Thank You Brother Bill ... A Tribute To Bill Withers (Gulf Coast Records).

Burt is backed here by a group called Big Medicine, consisting of Scot Sutherland (bass), Ken Valdez (guitar, background vocals), and Eric Douglas (drums, percussion). Solid accompaniment to our star's booming voice, nice guitar picking, and harmonica playing.

Opening this session is a wonderful version of "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?," a song that's been covered by numerous singers recently, either on recordings or in live shows. (Feel free to ask me abouty Sugaray Rayford's version of this song from his most recent Phoenix appearance!). The band gives this version a little bit of Memphis funk, with the appropriate guitar effects from Valdez, while Burt breathes plenty of life into this tome of jealousy, and of course includes the expression "dadgummit" multiple times. The price of the album has already been justified with this cut alone.

Jumping ahead, another of Withers' best-known songs, "Ain't No Sunshine," gets more of a blues treatment with a touch of island rhythm as Burt's voice booms through the well-known lyrics. I'll put this one down as the best rendition I've ever heard of this soul classic, especially as he goes through the iconic "I know, I know, I know ..." chorus with fury.

He turns around with a more restrained, lovely version of "Lean On Me," at least until he puts more power and range into his vocals, even going acappella for a spell. Wonderful!

I've now given you three reasons why you should immediately acquire this album because of these versions of Withers' best-known songs. But wait, there's more!

"Kissing My Love" starts with a funky drum beat followed by more Memphis-style guitar, before Burt's booming voice comes in with his testimonial to his woman and how she makes him feel when he's showing her the appropriate affection. He later follows with a spirited harmonica solo that rounds out his triple-threat skills.

"World Keeps Going Round And Round" is a much more subdued number, giving Burt's voice more room to move through a range of emotions. It leads in nicely to the mid-tempo love song "Just The Two Of Us." Very nice harmonica solo highlights this one.

"I'm Her Daddy" starts very slow and quiet, with subtle guitar accompaniment to Burt's voice, before the rest of the band comes in as he asks questions about that young woman, especially wondering if she knows that he's her daddy. Very emotional song, and that mix of sadness and love comes out in his voice before Valdez lays down a very fine blues guitar solo.

The mid-tempo Christmas-themed song, "Let Us Love," gets a little funk from Douglas' drum beat while Burt's vocals and harmonica riffs interact. A very nice harmonica solo frames the song's two halves before Burt implores everyone to feed your brother and love your neighbor. "Another Day To Run" is a slower, bluesy number with tasteful guitar picking throughout, while "Grandma's Hands," another Withers classic, slows the tempo even more with gospel-ish humming from Burt before he goes into the advice that he got from his grandmother throughout his life. Valdez lays down very strong blues guitar accompaniment before later turning in a smoldering solo.

Burt packs plenty of emotion into the mid-tempo "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh," with powerfully commanding vocals shouting out his blues about what that love turned into. Valdez returns with a searing guitar solo to emphasize Burt's case of the blues. "Hope She'll Be Happier" is a very slow lament about his lost love, with the pain pouring out of Burt's voice especially when he holds the notes for multiple seconds.

Closing the album is Burt's own tribute to Withers, "Thank You Brother Bill," as he sings about how many of the songs affected his life. It's an appropriate ending to this w loving homage to the songs that inspired him both in his music and in his life.

What a remarkable album Burt has given us with Thank You Brother Bill. I'll be listening to it over and over, and I suspect many of you will do the same. It's the early front-runner for best album of 2024.

--- Bill Mitchell