“a sassy take on Memphis Minnie's ‘Black Rat Swing’ where Danny Abrams on sax adds oomph”

Blue Moon Marquee is the stage name of Canadian blues duo A.W. Cardinal (vocals, guitar) and Jasmine Colette (vocals, upright bass) and here they present a 10-song collection featuring four originals with the rest being covers written by blues greats. With Colette on vocals the pair go way back for a sassy take on Memphis Minnie's "Black Rat Swing" where Danny Abrams on sax adds oomph to the old time blues arrangement. The old timey sound is a Blue Moon Marquee specialty and both singers rollick through a swinging take on the Leadbelly-associated "Ain't Going Down" while the sound is appropriately a bit woozy for an interpretation of Bo Carter's "Let's Get Drunk Again." The four original cuts include the swamp funk of "Trickster Coyote" with harmonica flourishes from sideman Jon Atkinson, the slow, crying barroom blues of "What I Wouldn't Do" and a rocking romp called "Red Dust Rising." Also included are takes on the oft-covered classic "St. James Infirmary" and a nice version of Lonnie Johnson's "Got the Blues So Bad," sung by Cardinal and with more harpoon from Atkinson.