There are extremely moving versions of such durables as Robert Johnson's Me & The Devil, as well as two Sonny & Brownie nuggets: I Got Fooled and Lose Your Money. Pickett’s admiration of McGee & Terry is so heartfelt and fulsome that I do believe he will eventually do an entire release of their timeless material. The other five tracks are all self-penned, many of which were originally featured on his aptly titled Solo release. In a sense, several of Pickett’s compositions are about undiluted love, which is a rather uncommon theme in the Blues vernacular. But how else can you categorize Blues Is A Friend Of Mine, which is a heartfelt tribute to the glories of the genre that has supplied Pickett with such an endless sources of inspiration during a lifetime? The exact same thing holds true for Cecil & Spadina, which is an ode to Toronto’s historic and very unpretentious Grossman's Tavern (and its equally famous street junction), burnished deep in Canadian Blues folklore as the friendly confines wherein numerous developing and established Blues artists have earnestly plied their trade. And of course, there is Louise (another tune from Solo), which is a moving paean of affection and appreciation for his wife and soulmate--someone who has always been there for him. Bill's Song, an instrumental, demonstrates Pickett’s subtle mastery of down-home finger picking. Everything was so perfect during this masterful one-man performance. The timing was absolutely impeccable, the mood was so festive, and every audience member responded appreciatively, not merely by clapping their hands, but also by bobbing their heads and tapping their toes in unison to the wonderful rhythms, smoking vocals, and instrumental prowess that Pickett was putting down. Michael Pickett made many new friends that evening. MP3-  Bill's Song | I Got Fooled |