JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Tennessean Date: 12/2007 Writer: Dave Paulson

Nashville harmonica wizard Ricci and his versatile backing band rip, strut and slink through 12 blues-inflected numbers on their latest, produced by Grammy-winner John Porte (Los Lonely Boys, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo').

Ricci's a decent, husky-toned vocalist, but Rocket is par for the jam-band course, in that its traditional song elements don't match the thrill of the fiery instrumental passages. But Ricci has got a deeper well to draw from than most free-spirited jam-band frontmen. Now nine years sober, he did jail time for his drug use. This is a potent, distinctly Nashvillian mix of hard-earned soul and pro craft.